Kansas currently does not  require seatbelts in school buses. New School Buses manufactured with a GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of under 10,000 pounds are required to be manufactured with seatbelts.

If a school district elects to equip a new school bus with seat belts the seat belts must be lap/shoulder belts. Lap belts shall not be installed on school buses except in conjuction with a child safety retraint system.

If a school bus is equipped with lap/shoulder belts, Kansas does not require them to be worn. This would need to be addressed in individual school district policy. 

PBS News Hour
May 17, 2017 - Special correspondent Lisa Stark of Education Week reports that a record number of states are considering legislation to require seat belts and other safety upgrades, but for many school districts it may not necessarily pay to have students buckle up.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/seat-belts-school-buses-required/#disqus_thread

National Traffic Safety Board Video
November 27, 2016 - In this video, NTSB Dr. Kris Poland, a Biomechanics Engineer, highlights recent investigations, compartmentalization, and the enhanced safety benefit of lap/shoulder belts on school buses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksw67zFnuAE

Sixteen million shcool bus stop-arm violations occur nationwide each school year putting children in danger.  Doug S. Messer, former Manhattan-Ogden School Transportation Director, helped produce two Public Service Announcements regarding Illegal Passing of Stopped School Buses which are linked below.  If you would like to utilize these on your local television network please contact:

Andrea Adams
Transportation Director
Manhattan-Ogden USD 383
1120 Hayes Drive
Manhattan, KS 66502

USD 383 Female Student PSA

USD 383 Male Student PSA

This video from the National Safety Coalition, a non-profit, grassroots traffic safety organization encouraging safe and responsible driving, emphasizes the importance of obeying the law when a school bus stop sign is extended and to educate drivers to ensure the safety of the 26 million children who ride buses to school every day.

All It Takes is One

Stop Arm Poster 11 x 17 (PDF) Poster with graphics indicating when vehicles are required to stop under  Kansas law for a school bus displaying an activated stop arm and flashing red lights.

Kansas School Bus Stop Arm Law Pamphlet (PDF)

4.25 x 11 inch pamphlet

These pamphlets contain basic information pertaining to Kansas School Bus Stop Arm  Law. The information in these 3 pamphlets is identical, however one is designed as a 4 page pamplet to be printed on an 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of paper front and back with 2 variations depending on your printer. The second is also designed to be printed on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper (preferably card stock) front and back and then cut length wise in half for a finished card which is  4.25 x 11 inches.

School Bus Safety PowerPoint Presentation for Kids (Power Point Presentation)

School Bus Safety Presentation for Kids (PDF)

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Safety Poster (PDF)

Post Trip/Child Check Poster (PDF) 8.5x11 poster for reminding school bus drivers the importance of post trip inspections

Stop on Red, Kids Ahead is a campaign launched by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) to bring awareness to the Kansas school bus stop arm law.

It is critical for drivers to be vigilant when school buses are in the vicinity and to obey the law, which requires all motorists to stop when approaching a stopped school bus from either direction when it’s displaying its flashing red lights and stop arm. Motorists have to remain stopped until the bus is no longer displaying its flashing red lights and stop arm. Violation of the law endangers children and is punishable by a fine and court costs in excess of $420.

The Stop on Red, Kids Ahead campaign includes news releases, social media reminders, posters for schools, safety flyers, informational handouts and bumper stickers.

Surveys are conducted every year at the request of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services.

When a school bus stops and activates its stop arm and flashing red lights, all traffic must stop from both directions – despite if it is a two- or four-lane roadway. When a school bus stops and activates its stop arm and flashing red lights on a divided highway with a median separation, traffic approaching the bus from behind must stop.