Who is responsible for ensuring the safety and regulation of pupil transportation?

The responsibility for ensuring the safety and regulation of pupil transportation falls primarily on each state board of education. State boards of education establish policies and standards that govern student transportation, including the qualification and training of school bus drivers, maintenance of school buses, and compliance with safety regulations. This is critical for maintaining a uniform standard across school districts and ensuring that all transportation policies meet state and federal guidelines.

While the state government plays a significant role in overarching transportation laws, and school administrations are responsible for executing the day-to-day operations of pupil transportation, it is the state board of education that develops and enforces the rules that ensure compliance and safety standards are upheld. Parents, though concerned with their children's safety, do not have formal regulatory power in this context. They may advocate for safety but are not the ones responsible for the systemic regulations that govern pupil transportation. Each state board of education, therefore, serves as a crucial entity in promoting and safeguarding the safety of student transport.