1. Training for Annual Bus Stop Driver Assessments
November 2013
About 20 minutes long if you click & read. Also allow about 10 additional minutes at the end for Q & A.
Let me start by saying that we have planned some time for Questions and Answers at the end, so please make a note of your questions as we go along. Many will likely be cleared up as the presentation progresses and those that aren’t, I’ll answer for you at the end.
On December 17, 2012 you received the newly developed GaDOE Pupil Transportation Annual Bus Stop Driver Evaluation, Instructions and Guide A slightly revised version was sent out in March 2013.  The only change in this November 2013 version is the change in terminology from “Evaluation” to “Assessment”.
Total emphasis of this annual assessment observation process is on school bus stop safety, to include assessment of the physical location of bus stops, assessment of bus drivers carrying out their required duties at bus stops and students executing essential safe behaviors at bus stops. 
If you are already performing annual assessment observation rides, please consider utilizing the forms and process included in this presentation.  If you are not performing an annual assessment ride with your drivers, please consider doing so.

2. Georgia Bus Stop Fatalities 2009-2013
x 2
We’ve experienced 9 Georgia School Bus Stop fatalities in the past 3 school years!
**And we have added two this school year to make it 11!

3. Georgia has Led the Nation for 3 Consecutive Years
National School Bus
Loading And Unloading Survey
= 5 GA Bus Stop Fatalities
= 2 GA Bus Stop Fatalities
= 2 GA Bus Stop Fatalities
= 2 GA Bus Stop Fatalities
Every year the Kansas State Department of Education compiles the National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey.
**During the 2010 school year, Georgia led the nation with 5 of the 13 national fatalities.
**During the 2011 school year, we led the nation again with 2 fatalities and
** in 2012 Georgia’s 2 fatalities placed us number one again.
**We’ve just shared that there are two additional 2013 fatalities.
** Leading the nation in school bus fatalities has to end.
Georgia has Led the Nation for 3 Consecutive Years

4. Are Your School Bus Stops Safe?
What can you do to know your stops are safe?
Pupil Transportation Records Assessment
Section 3, item “F”
Annual on-board skill assessment is administered
GaDOE has not previously provided
Specific forms or
Defined on-board assessment process
GaDOE Annual Bus Stop Driver Assessment provided on 12/17/12
Complete tool to score yourself and reverse trend of student fatalities
What can each local school system do to ensure their bus stops are safe when students are loading and unloading?
**In the Pupil Transportation Records Assessment Section 3, item 9 asks if you are doing an annual on-board assessment ride with your regular drivers and with your subs.
**In the past, the GaDOE has not provided specific forms or a process for the recommended Annual On-Board Assessment of school bus drivers. Most systems have just used the “with students” assessment form designed for use with new trainees, but only a small portion of that assessment focuses on loading and unloading.
**The newly provided Annual Bus Stop Driver Assessment process and forms are designed to be a complete tool for you to reach and use to score your existing drivers in critical bus stop areas and to reverse the current trend of student fatalities.

5. Purpose Improve driver performance & learning
Drivers should be treated as professionals
Purpose is to help them
Not a threatening or gotcha process
Use annual assessment to improve bus stop safety
Identify and resolve any issues with:
1. Safety of bus stop locations
2. Bus drivers carrying out required duties
3. Students executing essential safe behaviors
The annual on-board school bus driver assessment process is focused on improving driver performance and learning on school bus stop safety.
**An effective assessment observation program results when school bus drivers are treated as professionals. The goal is to identify any areas needing improvement and to help drivers resolve those issues. This MUST NOT be, or be seen as, a gotcha process.
**The purpose of the Annual Bus Stop - Driver LOADING & UNLOADING Assessment is to totally focus on 3 areas. **You want to identify and resolve any issues at the bus stop with:
The safety of school bus stop locations
**With bus drivers carrying out their required duties
**And with students executing essential safe bus stop behaviors

6. Brief Overview Pre-Assessment Orientation On-Board Observation Ride
Inform drivers on
Areas and items to be observed & assessed
On-Board Observation Ride
Good score = Official assessment of record
Poor score = Extended phase with remediation
To be followed w/another assessment observat.
Post Observation Conference
Required after each extended phase
Required after some satisfactory assessments w/limited issues
Let’s take a brief look at what is involved. We’ll go into more detail on each part a little later, so please be patient.
First there will be a Pre-Assessment Orientation for school bus drivers so they understand the areas and items that will be observed and assessed.
**Then the On-Board Assessment Observation Ride will take place. If the school bus driver scores well enough, the assessment will become their official assessment observation of record.
**If the driver does not score well, this will become an extended phase assessment observation period with remediation training provided. This will later be followed by another assessment observation(s).
**A Post Observation Conference will be required after each extended phase observation and
**on some satisfactory assessments that contain only a limited number of Developing scores (developing = good, but not quite perfect).
**So you will 1st train all of your drivers on the process and form.
**2nd - You will ride, observe and score.
**And finally you will hold a conference with those who had issues.

7. Pre-Assessment Orientation
Let’s go into more detail on the Pre-Assessment Orientation.

8. Pre-Assessment Orientation
Roll out to drivers is critical. They must . . .
Not be caught off guard
Not be seen as threatening
Not be seen as gotcha process
Everyone wants the same thing
Students to be safe at bus stop and when loading & unloading
Fatality history has taught what is required
Meet with drivers prior to their assessment
Promote driver understanding to get buy-in
Essential to success
Emphasize of getting driver buy-n. Without it you’re doomed.
How you roll out the Annual Bus Stop Driver Assessment is critical. Drivers must not be caught off guard. They must not see this as a threatening or gotcha process. They need to understand the purpose of the process.
**When it comes to student safety, we should not be at odds – Everyone wants to keep our students safe and based on our past failures, we know what is required to be sure our bus stops are safe when loading and unloading.
**You should meet with your drivers to provide them information on the annual assessment prior to their assessment observation.
**You want to promote driver understanding in order to get driver buy-in. Use your concern for student safety and your concern for protecting your drivers as your reasons for the annual on-board assessment, and drivers for the most part, should go along. This will be essential to your success.

9. Pre-Assessment Orientation Cont'd
You want your drivers to understand
The overall process
The scoring guidelines
The forms that will be used
Provide a copy of the Loading & Unloading scoring forms
Ensure drivers have the new Unit 6
Internet – Business-Operations/Pupil- Transportation/Pages/School-Bus-Safety.aspx
Or provide an actual printed copy
In the meeting you will want to discuss the process, the scoring guidelines and the actual forms.
**It is recommended that you provide each driver a sample copy of both the loading and unloading assessment form.
**Additionally, you will want to tell where drivers can obtain the new Loading & Unloading Unit 6 – October 2012 that replaced the old Unit 6 in the Bus Driver Training Manual back on November 1, 2012.
Inform drivers where they can go on the internet (GaDOE School Bus Safety web-page under Bus Drivers) to find the new Unit 6 and/or
**Provide a printed copy for those without internet access.

10. On-Board Assessment Observation Ride
Here’s a more in-depth look at the On-Board Assessment Observation Ride.

11. On-Board Assessment Observation Ride
You decide who performs ride
You
Supervisor
Trainer
Lead bus driver, etc.
Whatever works – Find a way!
Can be either a morning or afternoon load
If AM this year, then maybe PM next year
Ride multiple loads if possible in AM or PM
Ride – Get school – Ride different load
YOU decide who performs the On-Board Assessment Ride. It might be you, a supervisor, or a trainer, etc. You might even use a lead school bus driver by putting a sub on their route to free them up to do the assessment ride.
**Whatever works for you – no excuses, but determine how you can make it happen.
**The assessment observation will occur with the assessor observing and scoring on either a morning or afternoon route/load. If you do a morning ride this year, you can target an afternoon ride next year.
**It may be possible to ride multiple loads each morning or afternoon. You might ride one load with a driver and then get off the bus at a school and then board a different bus and score another driver.

12. On-Board Assessment Observation Ride Cont'd
Overall Satisfactory score = Official assessment of record
Failure to score overall Satisfactory
Extended Phase period
Post observation conference
Related remedial training
Follow-up assessment observation(s)
Until driver scores overall Satisfactory
Overall Satisfactory score = Becomes official assessment of record
If the school bus driver scores an overall Satisfactory, (we’ll go into the overall scoring a little later) the assessment will become their official assessment of record for this annual assessment period.
**If the driver does not score Satisfactory on the overall assessment observation, there will be an Extended Phase assessment observation period.
**This period will include a Post Observation Conference and related remedial training with follow-up assessment observation(s) until the driver scores an overall Satisfactory.
**This Satisfactory assessment will then become their official assessment of record for the annual assessment period.

13. Post Observation Conference
Let’s now take a closer look at the Post Observation Conference.

14. Post Observation Conference
NOT required
If driver scores Satisfactory on ALL items
IS required to provide clarity & direction
If driver has up to 2 Developing scores in area
Driver was really good, but not quite perfect
Discuss items needing attention
If driver scores poorly – Extended Phase
Discuss area(s) & item(s) needing improvement
Clarify what remedial training will be provided
Discuss time frame for corrections
A Post Observation Conference is NOT required if a driver scored Satisfactory on all items.
**A Post Observation Conference IS required to provide clarity/direction on any overall Satisfactory assessment where a driver was really good, but there were one to two (1-2) Developing scores (not quite perfect) in an area.
**Additionally, a Post Observation Conference IS required after each Extended Phase observation where a driver scored poorly. The purpose in this instance will be to discuss items needing improvement, to clarify action(s) required and the time frame for corrections.

15. Scoring Key
Now we’ll look at the key for scoring.

16. Key for Scoring Items Place check mark in appropriate space
Use N/A as needed
Use this key in making scoring decisions:
Satisfactory = Meets or exceeds expectations
They got it right
Developing = Overall meets expectations with limited exceptions
They got it right most of the time
Needs Improvement = Does not meet expectations
They got it wrong
You will place a check mark in the appropriate space for each item scored. Use “not applicable” (N/A) as needed. Example – The load might not have a stop where students cross the road. That would be a N/A for those items.
**Use the following key in marking your scoring decisions:
Satisfactory = Meets or exceeds expectations
**They got it right
**Developing = Overall actions meet expectations, with limited exceptions (Example - If scoring "Taps/flashes brakes", at 10 bus stops the driver might have failed to do so a couple of times)
** They got it right most of the time
**Needs Improvement = Does not meet expectations
**They got it wrong

17. Scoring for Bus Stop Requirements/ Recommendations
The assessor will be scoring in 3 main areas on the assessment ride:
Bus stops,
Driver duties
& student safe behaviors
Everything starts with having a safe bus stop location.

18. Sample Bus Stop Requirements/Recommendations
As an example, these are the bus stop location items to be scored under loading on the assessment form. You can find these on page 7 of what you printed and brought with you today. Note that the loading form and unloading form are designed to print front and back. One form front & back for loading – one form front & back for unloading.
Read a few items without and a few items with the asterisks. Remember that only items with “**” will be counted in the driver assessment.
__________________________________________________________________
NOTE - “Where Possible” on the 1st two items was not on the 12/17/12 form we sent. The current slide view is included on the form in the March 2013 version.

19. Scoring Bus Stop Requirements/Recommendations
Items are based on New Unit 6 material
Some items not responsibility of driver
Only items with ** count towards driver’s score
Needs Improvement score for bus stop items
Resolved by Transportation Office
Adjust stop, if possible, to improve safety
There will be no Developing scores
Only Satisfactory or
Needs Improvement
All bus stop location items scored are based on the New unit 6.
**When observing and scoring you will be looking to be sure your school bus stops are safe, but There will be some items that might not be the responsibility of the school bus driver.
**Therefore, only items with a double asterisk in this area should count towards the school bus driver's overall assessment observation.
**A Needs Improvement score for "Bus Stop" item(s), should be resolved by the Pupil Transportation Office through making an adjustment, if possible, to any school bus stop(s) identified by the assessor as needing review.
**There will be no Developing scores issued for Bus Stops.

20. Scoring for Driver Duties
The 2nd area you’ll be scoring is how drivers carry out their duties when loading or unloading.

21. Sample Driver Duties
Here is a sample of some driver duty items to be scored when loading. You can find these on page 7 of what you printed and brought with you today.
Read a few items.

22. Scoring Driver Duties Items are based on New Unit 6 material
What is the driver doing
As they approach the stop?
When loading or unloading?
When leaving the stop?
Score all items in this area
Use N/A as needed
Use the Scoring Criteria Guide provided
All driver duty items are based on the New Unit 6 material.
**You will want to see if your driver is performing their required duties as they approach a stop, when at the stop and when leaving the stop.
**Score all "Driver Duty" applicable items.
**Use the "Scoring Criteria Guide" provided.

23. Sample Scoring Criteria Guide for Driver Duties
The Guide is on pages 3-6 of your material.
Use of the Scoring Criteria Guide ensures consistency in what the assessor is looking for in order to place a check mark in a box.
Read item 1 of scoring criteria as an example.

24. Scoring for Student Safe Behaviors
The 3rd & final area you will be scoring is how students carry out safe behaviors when waiting for the bus and when getting on & off the bus.

25. Sample Student Safe Behaviors
Here is an example of some Student Safe Behaviors. Go to page 8 of your material and you will find these items for when students are loading in the AM from the door side.
Read a few items.
___________________________________________________________________
NOTE - “Where Possible” on the forth item was not on the 12/17/12 form we sent. The current slide view is included on the form in the March 2013 version.

26. Scoring Student Safe Behaviors
Items are based on New Unit 6 & School Bus Safety Curriculum
Students must execute safe behaviors
School Bus Safety Curriculum may or may not be taught in schools
Bus driver is teacher, enforcer & reinforcer
See and know what students are doing
Have duty to ensure students are safe
Evaluate driver on Student Safe Behaviors
Only if on route/load for 4 weeks
Need time to train students
Student Safe Behavior items to be scored can be found in both the New Unit 6 and in the School Bus Safety Curriculum for students.
**Bus stops cannot be safe without students executing essential safe behaviors. Hopefully, the School Bus Safety Curriculum is being taught in your schools, but whether it is or it isn’t,
**The school bus driver is the primary teacher, enforcer and reinforcer of student safe behaviors when at the bus stop and when loading and unloading.
**They see and know what students are doing and above all other student behavior management goals – it is the driver’s duty to ensure that students carry out behaviors that will keep them safe.
**It is recommended that these “Student Safe Behavior" areas be assessed only when the driver has had the opportunity to work with student riders on the route/load for a minimum of four (4) weeks.
**You don’t want to hold a driver accountable for student safe behaviors unless they’ve had time to properly train their student riders.

27. Overall Assessment Score
Once all items are scored in each area, the assessor will then determine an Overall Assessment Score.

28. Sample Overall Assessment Score
Here is a view of the assessment form where the assessor will record the overall assessment score and provide their signature and get the driver’s signature. Look at the bottom of page 8 of your material.
By signing, the driver is acknowledging that the assessment was performed – NOT that they agree with the assessment.

29. Overall Assessment Score
Satisfactory School Bus Driver Assessment
Recommended overall Satisfactory score =
Becomes official assessment of record
No Needs improvement scores at all or
Up to 2 Developing scores in same area
(Up to 2 in any or all of 3 areas) =
Driver Duties
Student Safe Behaviors Door Side
Student Safe Behaviors Across the Road
Detailed guidance at Post Observation Conference
It is recommended that an assessment with no Needs Improvement scores at all, and/or an assessment up to two (2) Developing scores in the same area, result in this being the official Satisfactory assessment of record for this annual assessment period.
**So a driver could have up to 2 Developing scores in any or all of these areas –
**Up to 2 for driver duties
**+ Up to 2 for student behaviors door side
**+ Up to 2 for student behaviors crossing the road and still get an overall Satisfactory score.
**The assessor will discuss and provide detailed guidance on any Developing items needing further attention, at a Post Observation Conference.

30. Overall Assessment Score Cont'd
Extended Phase Assessment Observation
Recommended Extended Phase =
3 or more Developing scores in same area
1 or more Needs Improvement scores in any area
Becomes informal diagnostic assessment
Detailed guidance at Post Observation Conf.
Followed by related remedial instruction/training
Followed by another assessment observation
Repeat process until Satisfactory is achieved
Final successful assessment becomes official assessment of record
It is recommended that an assessment with three (3) or more Developing scores in the same area or an assessment with one (1) or more Needs Improvement score(s) in all areas combined, result in this observation being used as an informal diagnostic assessment with an Extended Phase assessment observation period. You are going to use the informal assessment to fix what went wrong.
**The assessor will share the outcome of the informal assessment at the Post Observation Conference.
**This will be followed by related remedial instruction/training provided to the driver.
**Once the appropriate training is complete, another assessment observation will occur as soon as feasible. You will want to prioritize retraining this driver with identified deficiencies, and riding with them again before finishing the first observation ride with all drivers. Fix your problems as you go along of if you find that most of your drivers are falling into the extended phase, it might be wise to just stop and provide in-service training on the new Unit 6 to everyone, prior to assessing them.
**If the latter assessment is an overall Satisfactory, it will then become the official formal assessment observation of record. If not, the Extended Phase observation period will continue (if the school system desires) with more remediation activities, until a Satisfactory assessment is achieved.
The scores from the Extended Phase assessment observation are for diagnostic purposes only and upon the driver achieving an overall Satisfactory assessment, the Extended Phase assessment observation will not be part of the official annual assessment of record.

31. Overall Assessment Score Cont'd
Unsatisfactory School Bus Driver Assess.
Recommend overall Unsatisfactory score
ONLY if driver fails to remediate in Extended Phase after repeated attempts
School system decides how many attempts to retrain, rescore, etc.
Becomes official assessment of record
Pressure is on you to rehabilitate the driver
Stakes are high for driver and for school system
So after exhausting all effort . . .
Can you keep an Unsatisfactory driver?
It is recommended that if the school bus driver fails to remediate in the Extended Phase assessment observation period(s) or if the school system determines that they will not continue to retrain/retain this school bus driver, an Unsatisfactory overall assessment of record for this annual assessment period will result.
**Your goal is that all drivers score satisfactory, so the pressure is on you and your training staff to ensure this happens.
**But after exhausting all effort with a driver, in the end, it might be that an Unsatisfactory overall assessment score results.
**Neither you, your school system or your parents want this deficient, unsafe driver responsible for the safety of the students you serve. In this case you’ll need to work with your Human Resources folks to take appropriate action.

32. Summary
You have been provided the resources required to help protect your students
School Bus Safety Curriculum
Elementary school
Middle school
New Unit 6 – Loading & Unloading
Power Point and narrative for new Unit 6
Annual Bus Stop Driver Assessment
Instructions & defined process
Required forms
This PPT to use in training your staff
So, there’s no work required on your part to develop materials. We’ve provided the School Bus Safety Curriculum materials for school bus safety to be taught to all elementary and middle school students.
**We’ve provided the new and improved Unit 6 material for your school bus drivers. And we’ve provided a 145 slide Power Point and narrative (on Portal in Model Training Units) to use in teaching the new Unit 6.
So your students should know what to do and your school bus drivers should know what they should do and what they should be teaching students.
** And we’ve now provided the Annual Bus Stop Assessment, so you can go out and see if your drivers and students are doing what they’ve been taught!
**Additionally, we’ll be sending you this PPT so you can use it, if desired, in training your staff in the annual assessment process and forms.

33. Do You Know What is Going On at Your Bus Stops?
Help to Protect Your Students!
You Can Make this Happen
Without the annual on-board assessment, do you really know what’s going on at your bus stops?
**You can make this happen in your school district
** and help to protect your students.

34. Questions and Answers
Questions and answers.