Menu
The Clean Bus Planning Awards (CBPA) program is open and accepting applications on a rolling basis.
Funded by the Joint Office of Energy & Transportation and managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), CBPA recipients receive free technical assistance for comprehensive and customized school bus electrification transition plans. Fleets eligible for EPA Clean School Bus program funding are generally eligible to receive CBPA assistance.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) currently has a school bus award opportunity open to districts that own and operate their own transportation fleets.
Clay County USD 379 will host a one-day Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) proxy testing event on Nov. 7, at Clay County Community High School, 1630 9th Street, in Clay Center. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
Register here in advance: https://events.ksde.org/sf/CDLTesting.aspx
Clay County USD 379 will be hosting a one-day Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) proxy testing event on Nov. 7, at Clay County Community High School, 1630 9th Street, in Clay Center. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
National School Bus Safety Week is Oct. 21-25 and Kansas School Transportation Appreciation Day is Wednesday, Oct. 23.
This important public education program is an excellent way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operations, school administrators, and other interested parties to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the latest round of funding for the Clean School Bus Rebate Program is available to school districts.
Applications for this year’s Clean School Bus Rebate Program are due on the EPA online portal by 3 p.m. CST, on Jan. 9, 2025.
Wabaunsee USD 329 is hosting an Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) and Commercial Driver License (CDL) permit training exam event, Oct. 23-24, in Alma.
Click here to register: CDL permit training. The training will be 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. each day at the Alma Community Center, 1050 Ohio Street. The ELDT Theory will be Oct. 23; the CDL written test will be Oct. 24. There will be an open lunch both days.
Start making plans now to celebrate National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 21-25.
Applications for this year’s Clean School Bus Rebate Program are due on the EPA online portal by 4 p.m. EST on Jan. 9, 2025. Applicants can request up to $325,000 per bus for up to 50 buses per application, an increase in the total buses per project in response to stakeholder feedback for larger projects to help achieve faster fleet turnover. Funds can be used to cover bus and infrastructure costs for awardees requesting electric school buses, as well as eligible training costs for bus drivers, electricians, and others working with the new buses or infrastructure.
KSDE’s School Transportation Unit will host school transportation meetings/forums for the 2024-25 school year at 15 locations in September.
School transportation professionals are encouraged to attend one of these meetings. This may be the only occasion during the year where you have an opportunity to attend a meeting at a close, convenient location to your district. All meetings are 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s School Transportation Unit will be holding school transportation meetings/forums for the 2024-25 school year at 15 locations in September.
We understand you are busy but please consider attending one of these meetings. This may be the only occasion during the year where you have an opportunity to attend a meeting at a close, convenient location to your district. All meetings are 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Beginning July 1, 2024, the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) will go cashless and there will NO longer be toll tickets and toll booths.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s School Bus Safety Unit wishes to thank the school districts who participated in the Kansas One Day Stop Arm Violation Count which was conducted on April 17, 2024.
The Kansas School Transportation Safety Conference and State Driving Competition will be held June 5-7, at the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview, in Wichita. During this three-day event, school transportation professionals will connect and learn how to improve operations and safety for their transportation teams.
Forms for bus and school vehicle inspections have changed.
The KSDE School Bus Safety Unit is strongly recommending district transportation directors, or someone on the transportation staff, take time this summer to check the CDL status and medical self-certification category for all district bus drivers.
The Environmental Protection Agency anticipates awarding up to $932 million in competitive grant funding under the 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grants Program Notice of Funding Opportunity.
As the end of the 2023-2024 school year quickly approaches, the KSDE School Bus Safety Unit is providing the following information about events and workshops:
The Kansas School Transportation Safety Conference and State Driving Competition will be held June 5-7, at the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview, in Wichita.
As the end of the 2023-2024 school year quickly approaches, the KSDE School Bus Safety Unit is providing the following information about events and workshops.
The early bird registration deadline is Friday, May 10.
The Kansas School Transportation Safety Conference & State Driving Competition will be held June 5-7, at the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview, in Wichita. During this three-day event, school transportation professionals will connect and learn how to improve operations and safety for their transportation teams.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s School Bus Safety Unit thanks all the school districts and bus companies that participated in the Kansas One-Day Stop Arm Violation Count initiative on Wednesday, April 17.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s School Bus Safety Unit is seeking assistance from all Kansas school districts during the Kansas One-Day Stop Arm Violation Count initiative on Wednesday, April 17.
The KSDE School Bus Safety Unit is offering a five-hour informational workshop for any mechanic performing the Part I Mechanical School/Activity Bus Safety Inspection. This workshop is designed to provide information to assist mechanics who perform this inspection, which is required by KSDE School Bus Regulations. Class instructors will be personnel from the Kansas Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.
The KSDE School Bus Safety Unit (SBSU) is offering a five-hour informational workshop for any mechanic performing the Part I Mechanical School/Activity Bus Safety Inspection. This workshop is designed to provide information to assist mechanics who perform this inspection, which is required by KSDE School Bus Regulations. Class instructors will be personnel from the Kansas Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.
KSDE’s School Bus Safety Unit (SBSU) has a few training opportunities coming up in February and March.
The 2024 School Bus Safety Poster Contest, co-sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) School Bus Safety Unit and the Kansas State Pupil Transportation Association, is open to all Kansas students interested in participating.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reminds people that the deadline for submissions for the Kansas Clean Diesel Program is Jan. 22.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Sept. 28 the second rebate funding opportunity available through the 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program.
The Kansas State Department of Education School Bus Safety Unit will be holding Transportation Basics Workshops for transportation directors/supervisors from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, in Great Bend.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) School Bus Safety Unit offers this important reminder about district-owned vehicle markings:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Sept. 28 the second rebate funding opportunity through the 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program.
Reminder: Anyone who drives a school bus and/or activity bus with a passenger rating of 16 or more (including the driver) and/or a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, per federal and state law, is required to have a commercial driver’s license with a school bus and passenger (P&S) endorsement.
The Reasonable Suspicion Training on Wednesday, July 19, brought 85 commercial driver’s license supervisors to Topeka.
Kansas State Department of Education’s School Bus Safety Unit is hosting free Transportation Basics Workshops for transportation directors and supervisors in July.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) School Bus Safety Unit has a variety of events planned for the 2023 summer months, said Keith Dreiling, director of the unit.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to host a public hearing on a proposed rule that could impact heavy-duty engines and vehicles, including school buses.
After reports earlier this month from Fairfax, Virginia, about suspicious buses being used in attempts to pick up children, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) offers some general school bus and transportation safety tips.
So far, 14 Kansas school districts have applied for a total of 43 electric buses, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
With the school year starting, it’s a good time to remind drivers to be vigilant when school buses are in the vicinity and to obey the law, which requires all motorists to stop when approaching or overtaking a stopped school bus displaying its flashing red stop arm.
In this edition | Feature Story | Assessments and Accountability | Reporting and Operations Standards and Instruction | Student Health and Nutrition | Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition
Questions about this page contact:
Denise Kahler (785) 296-4876 dkahler@ksde.org
In this edition
Sections
The Kansas State Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. (more information...)
To accommodate people with disabilities, on request, auxiliary aides and services will be provided and reasonable modifications to policies and programs will be made. To request accommodations or for more information please contact the Office of General Counsel at gc@ksde.org or by 785-296-3201.