This document was prepared by the Kansas Department of Education School Bus Safety Unit with the goal of providing a comprehensive document to assist Kansas school transportation personnel as they ensure the safest possible transportation for thier students.  If you have any questions please contact us.

While we strive to provide accurate information, there may be inadvertent inaccuracies and typographical errors in this document.  Unless otherwise noted all information from this document is reproducible.

Kansas School Bus Regulations, Standards, Statutes & Information Manual (PDF)
revised August 2023

The 2015 National Congress on School Transportation is the latest in a series beginning in 1939 and continuing in 1945, 1948, 1951, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1970, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010.  All congresses (referred to as "conferences" before 2005) have been made up of official representatives of state departments of education, public safety, motor vehicles, and police or other state agencies having state-wide responsibilities for the administration of student transportation;  local school district personnel;  contract operators; advisors from industry and representatives from other interested professional organizations and groups.  Each conference has resulted in one or more publications that contain the recommendations of the respective conference.

The National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures is a document that is nationally and internationally known as a guideline appropriate for school bus construction and operations.  It is reviewed and revised every five years.

K.A.R. 91-38-4 requires the seller or lessor of a school bus to certify to the buyer that school buses purchased meet these standards, as well as all federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) in effect on the date of manufacture for the bus.

FMVSS Website

Even though it is the seller's responsibility to document compliance with these standards, each superintendent, school transportation director, and contract manager is encouraged to be familiar with the National Standards to ensure compliance.

2015 National School Transportation Specifications & Procedures (PDF)

Past Issues

• 1985 (PDF)
• 1990 (PDF)
• 1995 (PDF)
• 2000 (PDF)
• 2005 (PDF)
• 2010 (PDF)

Document containing a number of pupil transportation mandates to be followed by Kansas public school districts, contract transportation providers and non-public schools.  Further information is contained in the Kansas School Bus Regulations, Standards, Statutes & Information Manual.

Current Mandates (PDF) Revised January 2020

Bus Driver Mandates (PDF) Document containing legal mandates to be followed by drivers any time Kansas students are transported in an activity bus, school bus or school passenger vehicle.Revised February 2020

FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS

FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS (FMVSS)

FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER REGULATORY GUIDANCE

FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATION INTERPETATIONS

MANUAL ON UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES

SKILL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION CERTIFICATE PROGRAM (For Physicals conducted by a National Registry Medical Examiner)