Florida School Transportation Update Introductions School Bus Bid - how we’re doing Profiles - what to expect next year Bus Inspector Tidbits – online test and other bus inspector application changes in the works

State of the State 2016 FAPT Summer Conference, Destin, Florida July 12-16, 2016 FDOE School Transportation Management Staff

What’s Happening Now? HB 7029- School Choice Signed by Governor Scott April 14, 2016, and becomes effective July 1, 2016. Enables students beginning in the 2017-2018 school year, to attend any public school in the state, including charter schools, subject to the maximum class size requirements, capacity and other specified provisions. The district may provide transportation at its discretion.

State Board of Education Status Report Rules 6A-3.0141, 6A-3.0151 and 6A-3.-171, Florida Administrative Code, were submitted for revisions as requested by a vote of the FAPT membership in June of 2014. On February 18, 2016, the State Board of Education adopted all proposed revisions, which went into effect on March 23, 2016.

State Board of Education Status Report Rule 6A-3.0141, FAC: Replaces the DOE physical with the DOT physical. This rule is currently under analysis and possible revision due to a challenge about the medical variance language. Currently prevents medical examiners from issuing medical waivers.

State Board of Education Status Report Rule 6A-3.0151, FAC: Is repealed. It explains the DOE physical requirements and is no longer neccessary.

State Board of Education Status Report Rule 6A-3.0171, FAC: Removes the requirement to report crash data to the FDOE. Removes the requirement to report hazardous walking locations to the FDOE. Removes the requirement that school bus operators may not carry firearms on school property, superseded by statute.

State Board of Education Status Report Rule 6A-3.0171, FAC (con’t): Removes requirement for districts to maintain a list of physicians for DOE physicals. Removes the 55 MPH speed restriction for school buses, which is superseded by statute.

What’s Next? Rule 6A-3.0171, FAC: Currently being amended to reflect the Florida School Bus Safety Inspection Manual, Revised 2016. The 2016 Manual is complete and will be released to the districts when this rule change is approved.

What’s Next? Rule 6A-3.0141, FAC: Will be amended to remove the requirement for a 40-hour pre-service certificate to be issued by the district from the Commissioner of Education. School districts and charter schools are already required to maintain the training documentation, which is the “official” record.

Repeal of 6A-3.037, F.A.C. Alternate Fuels for School Buses and the Florida School Bus Alternate Fuel Manual. This language and 1992 manual is obsolete and superseded by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

What’s Next? School Transportation Management to update the following manuals by the end of the 2016-17 school year: FL Guidelines for the Seating of Pre-school Aged Children on School Buses. (2001) Charter School Transportation Resource Guide (2006) School Bus Operator Curriculum (2007)

Resources Florida Statutes: www.leg.state.fl.us Florida Administrative Code: (also known as State Board of Education Rules) www.flrules.org Florida Assoc. for Pupil Trans. (FAPT): www.faptflorida.org FDOE School Transportation Mgmt.: www.fldoe.org/transportation

School Transportation Management Cassandra (Cassie) White Contacts School Transportation Management Florida Department of Education 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 834 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400 850-245-9795 Terri Egler Program Specialist, Fleet & Administration Terri.Egler@fldoe.org 850-245-5038 Robert Manspeaker Program Specialist, Fleet & Operations Robert.Manspeaker@fldoe.org 850-245-9928 Cassandra (Cassie) White Program Specialist, ESE & Operations Cassandra.White@fldoe.org 850-245-9924

Questions?