Policy Resolution ETE-25-12

WHEREAS, equitable access to education remains a significant challenge in the U.S., disproportionately impacting youth and families from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds;

WHEREAS, providing reliable school transportation for every student helps to promote equal access to education, and school attendance is a powerful predictor of student outcomes;

WHEREAS, as society and the communities we live in have evolved and student needs have diversified, the work involved in safely and efficiently transporting our most vulnerable groups has become increasingly more complex;

WHEREAS, according to a recent report by the White House, chronic absenteeism has emerged as a significant barrier to a student’s academic achievement and future success;

WHEREAS, many of the factors that contribute to chronic absenteeism are more prevalent in marginalized and economically disadvantaged communities;

WHEREAS, with a growing emphasis on addressing inequities in transportation services and improving access for underserved communities and students with unique needs, schools are being asked to do more with less;

WHEREAS, hardworking school transportation teams are being stretched to the max, doing everything they can to meet the diverse needs and expectations of the students and families they serve to ensure that no student gets left behind;

WHEREAS, lack of adequate student transportation is a nationwide issue that contributes to late student arrivals and fewer hours in the classroom;

WHEREAS, bus driver shortages contribute to chronic absenteeism, which soared during the pandemic and has yet to retreat to pre-pandemic levels; and

WHEREAS, it is important for state-wide regulations to set the minimum bar that allows school districts to utilize innovative options and to implement any additional safety standards as needed.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) encourages the examination of state legislation that advances the use of small passenger vehicles in student transportation that support school district’s efforts in addressing chronic absenteeism;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL supports utilizing all available resources to combat chronic absenteeism in school districts nationwide, including the use of traditional school buses, and Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) that specialize in transportation of unaccompanied minors, and other passenger vehicle providers that specialize in transporting unaccompanied minors;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NBCSL believes that before permitting any driver to provide transportation to students, a supplemental student transportation service should

ensure that drivers obtain full background checks that meet or exceed the requirements placed on

traditional bus drivers in the state and local jurisdiction as applicable; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a supplemental student transportation service must ensure any driver that transports students under a contract with a school or school district must meet the following requirements: have an valid driver’s license; pass drug and alcohol tests; utilize live GPS tracking available to school and guardians; utilize technology that detects unsafe driving; receives the necessary safety training, training for special needs children and training for the necessary care of children; provide daily vehicle safety inspection reports; provide timely report of incidents to school districts and children’s guardians; and meet other requirements from the state and local jurisdictions as applicable.

• Resolution ID: ETE-25-12
• Sponsored by: Rep. Marcus Evans (IL)
• Policy Committee: Energy, Transportation, and Environment (ETE)