Training Materials

Pupil Transportation Training Materials

The Department of Education has found that as Training increases, School Bus Accidents decrease.  All school bus drivers must complete an 8 hour Core class, 15 hours of Behind the Wheel training and a First Aid course.  Additionally, all school bus drivers must complete an average of 8 hours training a year.

• Manuals Order Form
  for authorized trainers and their supervisors to order copies of ODE printed references
  
• Electronic Training File Instructions 
  for submission of approved training hours to our administrative team for school bus drivers
  

Federal standards for new commercial driver license applicants known as Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) are effective February 7, 2022.  Visit the Training Provider Registry for more information on these federal standards, and review the complete regulations using eCFR (49 CFR Part 380 - Special Training Requirements).

You may review Oregon's approach to ELDT compliance in school transportation operations in the following bulletins intitally published to our Pupil Transportation listserv:

• Update on Federal Compliance (March 3, 2021)
  
• Compliance Date & DMV testing details (January 26, 2022)
  
  

ODE's Behind The Wheel program has been updated to meet the federal ELDT curriculum requirements. ODE's Core Curriculum may be used to partially meet the ELDT theory instruction requirements, but will not meet all requirements without supplemental material and an assessment. Review this document for details: ODE-ELDT Theory Comparison Crosswalk

Lending Library

Our unit maintains a collection of resources that may enhance your instruction efforts in your local operations. If you would like to acquire materials on loan, please complete and submit the form linked below and submit to buslicense@ode.oregon.gov; you may view our current catalog list linked below as well. Note that credit hours are not automatically associated with most of these materials, but requests for credit may be submitted to our unit as regulated in OAR 581-053-0225 (Approved Training for School Bus Drivers).

• Library Loan Form
• Lending Library Catalog
  
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Scheduled Instructor Workshops

Behind The Wheel class registrations will open in January each year.
Core Instructor class registrations will open in April each year.
You will only be able to register for one Core week; if you are available for either, you may include a note in your registration materials submission.

Class dates are announced each year in January for the coming calendar year.

Applicants should initiate registration by sending an email to buslicense@ode.oregon.gov after enrollment opens for the class they are interested in attending.  Note that this initiates the registration process, but does not guarantee a place in the class; applicants are prioritized by order of registration once all requirements can be met and verified by our staff. Those who indicate interest will receive further instructions by email. Contact Brock Dittus with any questions.

Driver Training Events

The Oregon Pupil Transportation Association (OPTA) hosts several training opportunities for drivers each year, including a winter workshop in the South Willamette chapter region and a summer training workshop in the Northwest chapter region.  Visit the OPTA website's events page for details on these events as they are announced.

The Grants Pass School District typically hosts a training workshop each summer, and the district's transportation office can provide additional information.

Contact buslicense@ode.oregon.gov with any questions.