Community assessment data often reveals that Head Start-eligible families who are most in need can only access the program when transportation services are provided. While Head Start programs are not required to offer transportation services, many view this service as critical to the enrollment and attendance of eligible children.

Head Start programs must follow federal transportation regulations when providing some or all enrolled children with transportation services.

The Head Start Program Performance Standards, including those at Transportation, 45 CFR §1303 Subpart F, require all program options to:

• Help families arrange transportation for their child to and from the program
• Offer transport and riding safety education
• Only release children to adult individuals who have been authorized in writing to receive them by their parent or guardian
• Follow requirements for hiring, training, and keeping records on bus drivers and monitors

Head Start programs should consider the following factors to address transportation barriers that affect child and family enrollment and attendance:

• Community assessment — Do families who meet the selection criteria need transportation services to access and attend the program?
• Cost-benefit analysis of transportation options — Is it more effective for the program to provide its own transportation services or is contracting for services a better option? Is it possible to partner with a local school district, rural transportation provider, or other agency who can meet the requirements for Head Start transportation services?
• If families have access to public transit, are the stops and schedules aligned with Head Start centers and hours of operation? If not, can program staff and families work with transit officials to add or adjust stops and hours?

Community Assessment

A Head Start agency must complete a community assessment at least once over its five-year grant period to gather information about the strengths, concerns, and conditions in their community (45 CFR §1302.11(b)). Part of this community assessment should cover how the community's needs for transportation services to and from Head Start services are being addressed.
The techniques for a community assessment will vary from program to program. However, a thorough assessment involves a combination of the following:

• Separate focus groups for parents, service providers, etc.
• Community forums
• Interviews
• Surveys
• Action research

Discussion topics involving transportation services may cover the following questions:

• Where do eligible families live, work, and attend school?
• Where are other child care providers (e.g., centers, family child care homes) located? Is the location of the Head Start center accessible to working parents and to families with the highest needs, such as those experiencing homelessness?
• How many families have Head Start-eligible children? How many children with special needs are there in the community?
• Are the local roads, streets, and highways accessible from children’s homes? Are there any conditions (e.g., dangerous intersections, highway projects) that may impact access to the program?
• Which languages and cultures are represented in the community?
• Are there available, safe, and reliable public, private, nonprofit, or school district transportation services?
• Does the program have contracts or memoranda of understanding among preschool transportation providers, school districts, or with other human services agencies?
• Does the state or local school district offer any bus driver training in the area?
• What drug testing services are required for transportation staff in your state or jurisdiction?
• Are there local or state resources, such as police and fire departments and community partners, that can assist with bus safety and evacuation training?

Child Restraint Systems

Agencies offering transportation services must make sure that each vehicle used to transport children is equipped with the appropriate child safety restraint system (45 CFR §1303.72). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has established safety standards that require motor vehicle manufacturers to improve the compatibility of child restraint systems (CRS) and vehicles and make them easier to install.
Local programs are required to make sure:

• All children are restrained in a CRS (45 CFR §1303.72(a)(1))
• The CRS is in compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213
• The CRS used for each child is appropriate for age, height, and weight
• The CRS is properly installed

Route Planning

Each agency offering transportation services must make sure the safety of the children is the primary consideration when planning transportation routes. The following aspects must be in place (45 CFR §1303.73):

• Fixed routes
• Transit time under one hour whenever possible
• At no time may the vehicle capacity be exceeded
• Vehicles must not be required to back up or make U-turns unless unavoidable
• Stops must be located to minimize traffic disruptions
• Drivers must know what to do if an emergency disrupts the planned route and the planned emergency route

Vehicle Maintenance

Agencies are required to make sure that vehicles used to offer transportation services are always maintained in safe operating condition. At a minimum, Head Start programs are required to (45 CFR §1303.71):

• Conduct a thorough annual inspection
• Guarantee systematic preventive maintenance
• Conduct daily pre- and post-trip inspections
• Equip the vehicle with a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, reverse beepers, communication system, and seat belt cutter

Transporting Children with Disabilities

School buses or allowable alternate vehicles (AAVs) adapted or designed for the transportation of children with disabilities must be available (45 CFR §1303.75). This requirement does not apply to the transportation of children receiving home-based services unless school buses or AAVss are used to transport the other children served under the home-based option by the grant recipient.

Each agency must work with a child's Individual Education Program or Individual Family Service Plan team to implement any special accommodations or goals related to transportation services (45 CFR §1303.75(b)).

Key aspects include:

• Pick-up and drop-off
• Seating arrangements
• Equipment needs
• Special assistance
• Specific training for bus drivers and monitors

Recordkeeping

Bus drivers should maintain accurate records for three years regarding their vehicle and the children transported. These records must be in an area available anytime for inspection, in accordance with federal regulations. Recordkeeping includes:

• Pre- and post-trip inspections for the operation of the vehicle
• Contact information for release of a child to a parent or guardian
• Regular vehicle maintenance records
• Accident reports

Each bus driver must have an annual evaluation that includes an on-board observation of their performance while driving a bus route (45 CFR §1303.72(d)(3)). Use the Bus Driver Road Performance Observation Form to complete this requirement.

Vehicle Evacuation Drills

Programs offering transportation services must perform at least three emergency vehicle evacuation drills per year, including one during the first week of the program year.

Last Updated: May 24, 2024