New Jersey Launches Special-Needs Transportation Training
All school bus drivers and aides in the state have to go through the training program, which was mandated by a bill passed last year.
Thomas McMahon・Executive Editor
September 30, 2016
All school bus drivers and aides in New Jersey have to go through a new special-needs training program, which was mandated by a bill passed last year.
1 min to read
All school bus drivers and aides in New Jersey have to go through a new special-needs training program, which was mandated by a bill passed last year.
TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) has developed a transportation training program on how to interact with special-needs students.
The training was mandated by a bill passed last year. As of the program’s launch on Tuesday (Sept. 27), all existing school bus drivers and aides in the state have to go through the training within 180 days. New drivers and aides need to do the training before transporting students.
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The training is delivered in a 28-minute video, available on the New Jersey DOE website, that gives an overview of specific disabilities and covers issues like behavior management, medical emergencies, communication devices for nonverbal students, and securement systems.
After watching the video, drivers and aides enter their information to get a certificate of completion.
The bill that was passed last year also required the state DOE to develop a student information card for school bus drivers and aides, to be completed by parents of students with individualized education programs. The template for that card is available below the video on the DOE web page, along with other resources.
What’s changing in special-needs transportation? This year, student transportation operators report a rising need, easing driver shortages, growing tech adoption, and evolving challenges. Sponsored by AMF Bruns of America.
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Brianna Pauwee, product application specialist at AMF Bruns of America and a wheelchair user shares practical securement and training insights, plus why she launched the “Beyond Mobility” podcast. The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.
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