ATLANTA — Georgia’s Department of Education (DOE) recently honored 16 of the state’s school districts at its second annual Pupil Transportation Safety Awards.

The winners were recognized at the Georgia Association for Pupil Transportation conference on June 17 in Jekyll Island. The awards, sponsored by Blue Bird and Yancey Bus Sales and Service, recognizes school districts that are committed to providing safe and efficient student transportation, according to a news release from the agency.

During last year's inaugural awards, the association highlighted the safety efforts of eight school districts.

“Our pupil transportation professionals are entrusted with precious cargo and work incredibly hard each day to make sure Georgia’s students arrive at school safe and ready to learn,” said Richard Woods, the state’s school superintendent. “These 16 districts are going above and beyond to ensure student safety and recognize the school bus as an extension of the overall climate and culture of a school. I thank them for their efforts and commend them for their work.”

The winning districts were split into a total of eight divisions based on enrollment size, and then selected by a panel of judges, based on an application that evaluated a number of factors that impact school bus safety, according to the state DOE. Those factors included but were not limited to: completing safety training, evacuation drills, and other safety initiatives with students; evaluation of accidents and internal practices to prevent accidents; and innovative initiatives used to inspire safe practices, hire and retain drivers, and enhance student safety.

Here is a full list of this year's winners:

Division 1

(districts with a full-time student enrollment between zero and 1,260)
Blue Award Winner – Towns County School District
Green Award Winner – Treutlen County Schools

Division 2

(districts with a full-time student enrollment between 1,260 and 1,799)
Blue Award Winner – Atkinson County School District
Green Award Winner – Clinch County School System

Division 3

(districts with a full-time student enrollment between 1,800 and 2,869)
Blue Award Winner – Mitchell County Schools
Green Award Winner – Jefferson County Schools

Division 4

(districts with a full-time student enrollment between 2,870 and 3,649)
Blue Award Winner – Morgan County School District
Green Award Winner – Pierce County Schools

Division 5

(districts with a full-time student enrollment between 3,650 and 5,149)
Blue Award Winner – Madison County School District
Green Award Winner – Cartersville City Schools

Division 6

(districts with a full-time student enrollment between 5,150 and 8,799)
Blue Award Winner – Thomas County Schools
Green Award Winner – Ware County School District

Division 7

(districts with a full-time student enrollment between 8,800 and 19,999)
Blue Award Winner – Camden County Schools
Green Award Winner – Marietta City Schools

Division 8

(districts with a full-time student enrollment above 20,000)
Blue Award Winner – Cobb County School District
Green Award Winner – Gwinnett County Public Schools

To read more about the school bus safety efforts at each of the winning districts, go here.