COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohioans are reminded to show their support on Monday for the people who transport students to school, as it is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day in the state.

“Safely transporting students to and from school is a responsibility that should not be taken for granted,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Stan Heffner said. “Pupil transportation is vital to the success of our students. The professionalism of Ohio’s 15,000 school bus drivers is why the school bus remains — by far — the safest way for students to get to school.”

Ohio school bus drivers transport more than 900,000 students daily, traveling 1 million miles per day to accomplish that task.
 
To qualify to become a school bus driver in Ohio, an applicant must complete pre-service training and certified on-bus training, pass a driving evaluation and obtain a commercial driver’s license. In addition, drivers must pass pre-employment background and drug screenings. Drivers are required to be recertified every six years.

The Ohio Legislature designated the first Monday in May as School Bus Driver Appreciation Day to “increase public recognition of the important function that school bus drivers serve in safely transporting children to and from school,” officials said.