In a recent blog post, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood pointed out that bus drivers are the "first education ambassadors our kids see every day" — a message NAPT Executive Director Mike Martin hopes policymakers will take to heart as they evaluate their difficult budget options.

It’s what we do today and tomorrow that contributes to preventing future accidents. Tight budget situations are not a reason to retreat but to become even more engaged in the conversation locally and nationally about why yellow bus transportation is vital to learning.

Here’s a look at some of the latest pupil transportation products that were on view at the NAPT trade show in Portland, Ore. New offerings included a student safety seat, a three-point latch vest and a wheelchair securement module.

The Ohio state director has been involved in pupil transportation for more than 30 years. He is a driving force for improving school bus safety and service standards in his state.

Speakers at the NAPT Summit take on such topics as bus loading and unloading safety, bullying and cutting costs, and sharing information to ensure student safety and increase efficiency at one’s operation.

In the wake of a highly publicized incident on a school bus in September, the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) issued a white paper on bullying. It is excerpted here.