National Congress on School Transportation: What Is Changing?

published on June 10, 2025 by Sonia Mastros

Transportation Management Software, bus scheduling software, school bus scheduling software, school bus management software

The United States Capitol and reflecting pool in Washington, DC.

The National Congress on School Transportation (NCST) is the nation's primary group concerned with school transportation policies and best practices. Their National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures manual is considered the go-to resource for school bus transportation management and safety.

Typically, they meet every five years to revise the manual, but the 2020 Congress was canceled due to COVID. So, for the first time in ten years, their recommended practices have been updated.

What's changed? These are the highlights.

Major Changes in the 2025 National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures Manual

  • Recommending a second stop arm: Buses over 30 feet in length are suggested - but not required - to have two stop arms, one in front and one in back. The arms, if installed, must conform to FMVSS No. 131.
  • Specific child restraint language: Buses for special-needs students should include Child Safety Restraint Systems which conform to FMVSS No. 213.
  • Optional climate control: Special needs buses should possibly have climate control systems isntalled that include both heaters and coolers. Due to differences in climate around the country, this is not considered mandatory.
  • Battery systems must be legally compliant:
The batteries in Electric Vehicles must conform to all relevant FMVSS and SAE safety standards.

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  • Drivers can threaten students with expulsion from transportation:
Drivers are empowered to inform students that bus-riding is a privilege, not a right, and threaten to revoke the privilege for misbehavior. This does not apply to special-needs students covered under the McKenny-Vento Act, who have a defined legal right to school bus transportation.
  • Alternative transportation: A new definition of alternative transportation was adopted, stating that it covers all non-bus vehicles, carrying 10 or fewer people, which are provided by the school or a third-party being paid by the school. It does not include parent drivers or parent-sourced alternatives, nor public transportation such as bus systems with regular routes. The wording emphasizes that school buses are the safest option, and should be considered the first choice.
  • Alternative transportation safety: Alternative vehicles used by schools must include critical safety gear, including lap-shoulder belts, bodily fluid clean-up kit, CSRS and mobility equipment, first-aid kit, and a communication device.

Overall, it was a highly eventful Congress, focused on improving bus safety while keeping school budget restrictions in mind.

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Sonia Mastros

Sonia Mastros

PRESIDENT

 Sonia has been involved with BusBoss since the late 1990’s, and has personally overseen many projects for various customers ranging from large urban and suburban districts to smaller rural school districts from all over the country.