Business and Noninstructional Operations
Administrative Regulation No. 3542
Revised: August 15, 2025
SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS
Qualifications, Training and Monitoring
In order to provide a safe and efficient student transportation service, the district may employ its own school bus or student activity bus drivers or may contract with an agency that provides such transportation service. Such school bus or student activity bus drivers shall be required to comply with Board Policy 3540 - Transportation and other applicable district policies and regulations.
Qualifications
All drivers employed to operate a school bus or student activity bus shall: (Education Code 39877, 39878)
1. Hold a valid California driver’s license for the appropriate class of vehicle
2. Be at least 18 years of age
3. Pass a criminal background check, including fingerprint clearance consistent with Education Code 45125 for district employees and Education Code 45125.1 for all other compensated drivers
4. Have a satisfactory driving record that does not include any of the following:
a. Within three years, has committed any violation that results in a conviction assigned a violation point count of two or more, as defined in Vehicle Code 12810 and 12810.5
b. Within three years, has had driving privilege suspended, revoked, or on probation for any reason involving the unsafe operation of a motor vehicle
c. Has been determined by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to be a negligent or incompetent operator
5. Not have demonstrated irrational behavior to the extent that a reasonable and prudent person would have reasonable cause to believe that the driver's ability to perform the duties of a driver may be impaired
6. Not have been convicted of an offense listed in Vehicle Code 13370(a)(1), (a)(5) or (b)
7. Provide the district or the private entity contracting with the district a report showing the driver's current public record as recorded by the DMV and participate in the DMV's pull-notice system
8. Comply with the district's drug and alcohol testing in accordance with Administrative Regulation 4112.42 - Drug and Alcohol Testing for School Bus Drivers, subject to the cannabis discrimination limitations specified in Government Code 12954
9. Complete a medical examination not more than two years prior to the driver performing student transportation by a qualified health professional
a. The driver shall provide a copy of the medical certificate to the district or the private entity contracting with the district
b. The driver shall complete a medical examination pursuant to this paragraph every two years after the initial examination and provide a copy of the medical examiner's certificate of clearance to the district or the private entity contracting with the district
c. Within the same month of reaching age 65 years, and annually thereafter, the driver shall undergo a medical examination and provide a copy of the medical examiner's certificate of clearance to the district or the private entity contracting with the district
10. Submit and clear a tuberculosis risk assessment pursuant to Education Code 49406
Additionally, all drivers employed to operate school buses or student activity buses shall possess, and retain in their immediate possession while operating the bus, a certificate issued by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) which permits the operation of school buses or student activity buses, as applicable. (Vehicle Code 12517, 12517.4)
The Superintendent or designee may use an electronic fingerprinting system, managed by the California Department of Justice, to fingerprint an applicant for an original certificate to drive a school bus or student activity bus. (Vehicle Code 12517.3)
When initially applying for or renewing a license or certificate to drive a school bus or student activity bus, and annually upon reaching age 65 years, the driver shall submit to the DMV and to the Superintendent or designee a report of a medical examination conducted in accordance with the timelines and procedures specified in Vehicle Code 12517.2. (Vehicle Code 12517.2; 13 CCR 1234)
The Superintendent or designee shall notify each driver of the expiration date of his/her driver's license, certificate, and medical certificate and shall ensure each document is renewed prior to expiration. (13 CCR 1234)
The Superintendent or designee shall notify the DMV within five days whenever any driver refuses, fails to comply, or receives a positive test result on a drug or alcohol test; is dismissed for a cause related to student transportation safety; or is reinstated after being dismissed for a cause related to student transportation safety. (Vehicle Code 1808.8, 13376)
Training
In addition to any other training required to obtain or renew the certificate authorizing operation of a school bus or student activity bus, drivers shall receive training which includes, but is not limited to:
1. The proper installation of mobile seating devices in the bus securement systems (Education Code 56195.8)
2. The proper actions to be taken in the event that a school bus is hijacked (Education Code 39831)
3. The district's Transportation Safety Plan
All drivers employed to operate school buses or student activity buses shall complete training at least equivalent to the American Red Cross first aid training program, or hold a valid and current first aid certificate issued by the American Red Cross or equivalent. Additionally, all drivers shall complete training sufficient to gain proficiency in all of the following: (Education Code 39877, 39878)
a. Pretrip vehicle inspections
b. Safe loading and unloading of passengers
c. Proper use of seatbelts and child safety restraints
d. Handling accidents, incidents, and emergency situations
e. Providing proper accommodations for students with disabilities
f. Defensive driving
g. Operations in inclement weather
h. Operations at night or under impaired visibility conditions
To determine any other needs for professional development, the Superintendent or designee shall periodically review accident reports involving district drivers and may seek input from drivers, district and school administrators, students, and/or other stakeholders on desired topics for professional development.
Authority
Students transported in a school bus or in a student activity bus shall be under the authority of, and responsible directly to, the driver of the bus. The driver shall be held responsible for the orderly conduct of the students while they are on the bus or being escorted across a street, highway or road. (5 CCR 14103) (cf. 3540 - Transportation)
A bus driver shall have the authority to discontinue the operation of a school bus whenever he/she determines that it is unsafe to continue.
This regulation and Administrative Regulation No. 5131.1, Bus Conduct, related to bus driver authority shall be made available to parents/guardians, students, teachers and other interested parties. (5 CCR 14103)
(cf. 3543 - Transportation Safety and Emergencies)
(cf. 5131.1 - Bus Conduct)
Responsibilities
The driver’s primary responsibility is to safely transport students to and from school and school activities. He/she shall follow procedures contained in the district’s transportation safety plan and regulations pertaining to transportation safety.
The driver shall stop to load or unload students only at school bus stops designated by the Superintendent or designee, or authorized by the Superintendent or designee for school activity trips. (Vehicle Code 22112)
(cf. 3541 - Transportation Routes and Services)
The driver shall activate the amber warning light system, flashing red signal lights and stop arm signal and shall escort students in accordance with Vehicle Code 22112.
The driver shall not require any student to leave the bus en route between home and school or other destinations. (5 CCR 14103)
The driver also shall report the following to the Superintendent or designee:
1. The condition of the bus at the completion of each workday (13CCR1215)
2. His/her duty status for each 24-hour period, including, but not limited to, the number of hours on and off duty (13 CCR 1213)
3. Any traffic accident involving the bus (13 CCR 1219)
4. Traffic violations
5. Consistently late school dismissals that cause transportation delays
6. Overload runs
7. Recurring and serious student misbehavior
8. Parental and student complaints
Vehicle Idling
The driver of a school bus or student activity bus shall: (13 CCR 2480)
1. Turn off the bus engine upon stopping at a school or within 100 feet of a school and not restart the engine more than 30 seconds before beginning to depart
2. Not cause or allow the bus to idle at any location greater than 100 feet from a school for more than five consecutive minutes or for an aggregated period of more than five minutes in any one hour
However, vehicle idling may be allowed under limited conditions, including, but not limited to, occasions when idling is necessary to: (13 CCR 2480)
1. Stop for an official traffic control signal or device, for traffic conditions under which the driver has no control, or at the direction of law enforcement
Ascertain that the bus is in safe operating condition and properly equipped
Operate equipment designed to safely load, unload, or transport students with disabilities
2. Operate a heater, air conditioner, defroster, or other equipment as necessary to ensure the safety or health of passengers
3. Cool down a turbo-charged diesel engine before turning off the engine
Recharge a battery or other energy storage unit of a hybrid electric bus or vehicle
The Superintendent or designee shall notify all drivers, upon employment and at least once per year thereafter, of the requirements specified above and the potential legal and employment consequences of failure to comply. All complaints of noncompliance shall be reviewed and remedial action taken as necessary. The Superintendent or designee shall retain records of the training and of any complaints and enforcement actions for at least three years. (13 CCR 2480)
Reports
The Superintendent or designee shall retain records of: (13 CCR 1234)
1. Each driver's duty status and supporting documents provided pursuant to 13 CCR 1201 and 1213. Such records shall be retained for six months and made available to the CHP upon request.
2. The different types of vehicles and vehicle combinations each driver has demonstrated capability to operate.
3. Records of each driver's license, certificate, medical certificate, first aid certificate, and training as specified in 13 CCR 1234.
4. Daily vehicle inspection reports prepared by drivers pursuant to 13 CCR 1215.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
39800.5 Qualifications of driver of 15-passenger van
39830-39842 School buses
40080-40090.5 Training required to obtain or renew bus driver certificate
45125.1 Criminal background checks for contractors
56195.8 Training in installation of mobile seating devices
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
39640-39642 Vehicle idling, penalties
PENAL CODE
241.3 Assault against school bus driver
243.3 Battery against school bus driver
VEHICLE CODE
415 Definition of motor vehicle
545 Definition of school bus
546 Definition of student activity bus
1808.8 Dismissal for safety-related cause
2570-2574 Contracts with private school bus contractors
12516-12517.4 Certification requirements
12522 First aid training for school bus drivers
13370-13371 Suspension or revocation of bus driver certificate
13376 Driver certificates; revocation or suspension; sex offense prosecution
22112 School bus signals; roadway crossings
23123-23125 Prohibitions against use of wireless telephone and text communications while driving; exceptions
25257-25257.7 School bus equipment
34501.6 School buses; reduced visibility
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
14103 Authority of the driver
14104 School bus driver instructor
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 13
1200-1202.2 Motor carrier safety
1212-1228 School bus driver requirements
1234 Reports regarding school buses and bus drivers
2480 Vehicle idling
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 49
40.1-40.413 Transportation drug and alcohol testing programs
382.101-382.605 Controlled substance and alcohol use and testing
571.222 Federal motor vehicle safety standard #222