School Bus Driver Training Program Policies

It is the goal of the Elk Grove Unified School District’s School Bus Driver Training Program to train and develop safe and dependable School Bus Drivers to transport our children. This program consists of approximately one hundred (100) hours of training and generally takes two (2) months to complete. As you proceed through the paid training program (Classroom Instruction is not paid),  your progress will be closely monitored by our instructors. If at any time, Elk Grove Unified School District determines, in its sole discretion, that your progress and performance in any component of the training program fails to meet acceptable levels, your participation in the training program may be terminated.

There are four basic components to the School Bus Driver Training Program that must be successfully completed:

Classroom Instruction

Classroom Attendance: Trainees must attend all classroom sessions and must arrive promptly at the beginning of each session.  Trainees must make up any portion of a missed class prior to completion of the classroom instruction component.  If any emergency arises that requires your absence from class, to remain in the program you must obtain a written approval from the Supervisor of Training before the next scheduled class session.  Failure to attend all classroom sessions will result in the termination of your participation in the training program.

Classroom Participation: To become a successful School Bus Driver, you must possess a strong ability to communicate with students, parents, teachers, principals, dispatchers, supervisors, and other drivers.  Our instructors will evaluate your communication skills in part based on you willingness and ability to participate effectively in classroom discussions.  All trainees are required to participate in such discussions and are strongly encouraged to ask questions whenever they do not understand any part of the instruction or discussion taking place.  If your instructor determines that you lack the necessary communication skills to become an effective School Bus Driver, your participation in the training program may be terminated.

Classroom Quizzes and Tests:  The classroom component of your training will include a series of quizzes and tests.  Trainees must pass all quizzes and tests with a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher.  If you fail a quiz or test but receive a score between fifty percent (50%) and seventy percent (70%), you must take the test again and achieve a passing score or your participation in the training program will be terminated.  If you receive a score below fifty percent (50%) the first time you take a quiz or test or below seventy percent (70%) the second time you take it, you participation in the training program will be terminated.

Final Written Exam

At the end of the classroom component of your training, you will be required to take a final written exam.  The California Department of Education requires that you achieve a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to be certified as a School Bus Driver.  If you do not pass the exam your first time, you may re-take the exam within seven (7) days.  To do so, you must make the appropriate arrangements with your instructor.  All other training will be suspended until you have successfully passed the final exam.  If you choose not to re-take the exam or if you do not achieve a passing score on your second attempt, your participation in the training program will be terminated.

Driver Training

Cadet Riding and Driving Sessions:  In addition to the classroom component and written exam, you will be required to participate in a cadet riding program and a cadet driving program. Each of these programs consists of twenty (20) hours of training, and they are designed to provide you with hands-on experience that will give you a better understanding of what a substitute bus driver actually encounters on a daily basis.

Behind-the-Wheel Sessions:  You must also complete a minimum of twenty (20) hours of behind-the-wheel training.

Trainees must attend all cadet-rider, cadet driver, and behind-the–wheel sessions and must arrive promptly at the beginning of each session.  If you cannot attend a session, you must notify your instructor in advance and obtain the instructor’s prior approval to reschedule the session.

During these training sessions, your instructor will closely monitor and evaluate your driving skills. If at any time during your driver training your instructor determines that your driving skills are not progressing sufficiently or fail to meet the standards necessary to become a safe and reliable School Bus Driver, your participation in the training program may be terminated.

Throughout all three components of the School Bus Driver Training Program, trainees will also be monitored and evaluated to ensure that they can:

• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others
• Understand and follow oral and written directions
• Meet schedules and deadlines in a timely manner
• Communicate and interact with students, parents, administrators and others in a polite, diplomatic, and effective manner
• Observe a strong and positive work ethic

If at any point during the training program, Elk Grove Unified School District determines that your attitude or conduct demonstrates that you lack any one of these qualities, your participation in the training program may be terminated.

Consideration

After successfully completing the entire School Bus Driver Training Program, applicants may be considered for substituted employment as a School Bus Driver with Elk Grove Unified School District once they successfully complete all of the following:

• Interview Process
• DMV Clearance
• A Pre-Placement Physical and Strength Test
• An Alcohol and Drug Test
• Fingerprinting through the California Highway Patrol
• Fingerprinting through the Elk Grove Unified School District Office
• Tuberculosis test

Either the Training Department or the Human Resources Department will set the time, date, and location of your interview (s), your alcohol and drug test, and your California Highway Patrol fingerprinting.  You are responsible to obtain your DMV permit, your physical and strength test, your tuberculosis clearance and to complete your fingerprint at the district office.