Yesterday, the National Congress on School Transportation announced that its Steering Committee for the 18^th Congress has convened, and a new date has been set.

18th NCST Event & Committee Information

The next National Congress on School Transportation will be held May 4-6, 2029, in St. Louis, Missouri. The decision to move it up by a year (to meet after year four of the new NSTSP) will mark the first time the event's cadence has changed in decades .

According to the announcement, it was determined to meet in 2029 after considering the survey results provided during the 2025 NCST and discussion. "We ask that you hold the date for now as information will be forthcoming much closer to the event," they said.

Steering committee members for the 18th congress include:

• Mike Bullman, NASDPTS, Chair
• Brian Reu, NASDPTS, Vice Chair
• Tyler Bryan, NASDPTS, On-Site Chair and Technology Coordinator
• Mike LaRocco, NASDPTS
• Keith Henry, NAPT
• Keith Kaup, NAPT
• Dan Kobussen, NSTA
• Curt Macysyn, NSTA
• Lydell Banks, NSC
• Laura Greene-Halley, NSC

Call for New Writing Committees

In preparation for the 18th NCST, writing committees will soon form.  The work of the Congress is broken into the following writing committees:

• The Vehicle Specifications Committee includes School Bus Specifications, Specially Equipped School Buses, School Bus Inspections, Emerging Technologies, and Alternative Fuels. 
• The Operational Procedure Committee includes General Operations, Transportation for Students with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs, Infants, Toddlers, and Pre-Schooler Operations, School Transportation Security and Emergency Preparedness, Activity Bus Operations, and Alternative Transportation. 
• The Special Committees include Terms and Definitions, Resolutions, and Appendices.

Under the NCST Manual of Operations, the selection criteria for writing committee chairs and vice chairs is as follows:

• The Steering Committee shall select the chairpersons and vice chairpersons via an application process.
• To the extent possible, the individual(s) selected to serve as chair(s) of writing committees shall be neutral in the discussion of proposed revisions or additions to the NCST publication. 
• Their goal as writing committee chair is to reach a consensus vote among committee members on each issue and/or proposal.
• As part of this process, the chair shall ensure undue influence on the committee’s work by industry partners and therefore, chairs and vice chairs may not be consultants.
• Candidates must have access to a Microsoft 365 personal or business account, allowing them to use Microsoft OneDrive and Microsoft Teams sharing functions.

Apply to be a writing committee chair or vice chair via this form by April 30, 2026.

Please direct any questions to Mike Bullman, NCST Chairman, at ncstcongress@gmail.com.

The NCST supporting organizations include the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), the National School Transportation Association (NSTA), and the National Safety Council (NSC).