The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) was established in 1968. The purpose of the association is to provide leadership and assistance to the nation’s school transportation community with the goal of providing safe, secure, and efficient transportation to school children in certified school bus vehicles. NASDPTS members gather every fall for the Annual Conference, and the 2024 event is quickly approaching. 

Celebrating the 56^th anniversary, the 2024 NASDPTS Annual Conference will be held November 16-19 at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City in Arlington, Va.

The conference allows state directors of pupil transportation and other NASDPTS members to include state staff, former state directors, state school transportation associations, and manufacturers and vendors of school transportation products and equipment to hear the latest information from speakers of interest to school transportation, conduct the affairs of the association, and network with colleagues in the industry.

Utilizing the closest airport, attendees fly into Washington’s Ronald Reagan Airport and can be at the hotel within minutes. Flying into the nation’s capital often gives greater flexibility on direct flight options, and utilizing the Washington metro transit system once you arrive makes on-the-ground travel even easier. These easy travel logistics allow attendees to focus on the conference and all it has to offer, rather than worrying about how to get there.

Hosting the conference in the Washington, D.C. area allows us to meet in-person with our federal partners. As the association for the state directors of pupil transportation, relationships with and updates from the federal agencies are critical to operations. Invited agencies presenting include the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Education Department (USDOE). 

The conference will also feature updates from school bus manufacturers, to include electric buses, and our industry partners. There will also be a few state director panels on the top issues of the day.

The conference will feature an in-depth discussion on the status of preparations for the National Congress on School Transportation (NCST), to be held May 3-7, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. As the last NCST was held in 2015 (the 2020 NCST was canceled due to COVID), there will be many first-time attendees. This discussion will include relevant information for state delegations as they prepare to view, and perhaps offer comment, on the proposals later this year. Attendees will also be given information about the actual workings of the Congress so they will know what to expect next spring.

In addition, the conference includes a Supplier Showcase where vendor and manufacturer partners display information and products. This tabletop exhibit is designed to bring members and sellers together to share industry products and experiences in a friendly, small-scale format. While there won’t be buses, for example, there will be individuals who can speak to and provide information on their products.

This year’s NASDPTS Annual Conference will also feature a half-day TSA security exercise. Held on the last day of our conference, this exercise will not only delve into security issues facing school districts, but will also feature a state director component to ensure these individuals are ready to assist their districts in the event of an emergency. 

Given the ever-changing dynamics within our country, no one is ever over-prepared for an emergency, and this exercise is designed to give attendees a better comfort level when faced with the unexpected.

The conference is about learning, but it is also about networking and socializing. Due to our size, attendees have the luxury of staying together for the entire conference, including through sit-down lunches and evening functions. In addition, the evening functions are designed to be casual and informal, allowing everyone the opportunity to get to know their colleagues and to have fun. 

From beginning to end, NASDPTS ensures your conference experience is as complete, educational, and fulfilling as possible.

“When looking at the industry calendar, the NASDPTS Annual Conference is always the most applicable event to my day-to-day business,” said NASDPTS President-Elect and NASDPTS Conference Chair Tyler Bryan, who is Delaware’s state director. “Between the federal updates, the opportunity to meet with and learn from my state director colleagues, and time with the vendors and manufacturers that serve our industry, this conference always delivers and often over-delivers. We are all looking for the maximum return on our investment, and the NASDPTS conference is invaluable.” 

While you must be a NASDPTS member to attend the conference, membership and registration information can be found on the NASDPTS website. We hope to see you there!

About the Author: Mike Stier is the current president of NASDPTS and state director for Illinois.