NC Education Code · Regulation
Title 16 — root / Chapter 06 — SubChapter B
Plain English summary
This subchapter governs the student transportation system in North Carolina public schools, covering local board policies for safe bus operations, passenger safety instruction requirements, bus purchasing standards, and DPI evaluation access. Several rules have been repealed or expired, while active rules require LEAs to provide documented bus safety training to students, enforce passenger capacity and seating rules, and purchase buses through state-approved contracts.
Key requirements
- Each local board of education shall adopt policies to assure the safe, orderly, and efficient operation of the public school transportation system under its jurisdiction and shall direct the local school administrative unit to adopt rules and regulations to implement those policies.
- The local school administrative unit shall post to its website a copy of all policies, rules, and regulations adopted in accordance with this Rule.
- Local school administrative units shall permit the Department of Public Instruction to evaluate their public school transportation programs, including the LSAU's supervisory and safety practices, and shall comply with DPI requests for access to vehicles, equipment, workspace, and information regarding those programs.
- LEAs shall provide instruction in school bus safety to all students during the first five days of each new school year and at least once during each semester thereafter.
- LEAs shall document the date on which training was provided to each student.
- LEAs shall not allow the number of passengers being transported to exceed the official rated capacity for the specific vehicle being used.
- LEAs shall ensure that all passengers are seated within the seating compartment, when any bus or other vehicle is in motion.
- LEAs shall ensure that no passenger is standing or sitting in the aisle or stepwell when any bus or other vehicle is in motion.
- LEAs shall require school bus drivers to utilize the North Carolina crossing signals described in Parts (a)(1)(A) and (B) of this Rule to communicate to students when it is safe to cross the street.
- LEAs shall provide safety instruction to students riding in activity buses or commercial buses, including instruction and demonstration of emergency exit operation for the specific vehicle in which they are riding.
- Local education agencies shall purchase school buses from the statewide term contracts approved by the Secretary of Administration under G.S. 143-49 and shall purchase school bus brake pads, brake shoes, and brake hardware that have the same specifications as the original equipment.
Affected parties
- Local boards of education
- Local school administrative units (LSAUs)
- Local education agencies (LEAs)
- School bus drivers
- Students riding school buses or activity buses
- Department of Public Instruction