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Pupil Transportation

School Buses

Published: 9/16/2024 2:27 PM
​​All school buses in Kentucky public and independent school districts are inspected each month by a Kentucky State Certified School Bus Inspector. School Bus Inspectors must have a minimum of two (2) years of heavy truck or school bus experience, possess a Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL), and complete training by a certified School Bus Inspector Instructor. Testing to become a Certified School Bus Inspector includes eight (8) hours of classroom instruction followed by a hands-on test. If you have questions on how to become a School Bus Inspector, please ​contact Carl Meehan​ at (502) 564-5279 Ext. 4442.​

Each year, the Kentucky Department of Education School Bus ​Specification Committee meets to make any necessary changes to the school bus specifications for the upcoming school year. This committee is comprised of Superintendents, ​Directors of Transportation, School Bus Driver Training Instructors, CDL 3rd Party Examiners, School Bus Inspectors, Technicians, and School Bus Drivers.

Upon the completion of the school bus specifications and bid process, school districts are able to purchase new school buses. 

School Bus Ordering

Orders for buses are placed electronically by KDE Pupil Transportation Branch staff. The bus ordering system typically opens on October 1st and closes on June 30th. Any school district that would like to finance their buses through KISTA must submit their orders by November 15th. For questions related to bus ordering, please contact Carl Meehan via email or telephone at​ (502) 564-5279 Ext. 4442.​​​​​

​School Bus Inventory

School bus inventory is updated once a year, starting in October and finalized in December. Kentucky public and independent school districts provide the inventory data and must ensure that all Kentucky school buses​ are listed in KDE's school bus inventory.

2023 - 2024 Kentucky School Bus Inventory​​​

For questions related to bus inventory, please ​contact Carl Meehan​​ at (502) 564-5279 Ext. 4442.​​

Students walking toward a school bus.

School Bus Insurance

​P​er 702 KAR 5:030, the Kentucky Department of Education requires liability or indemnity insurance for school buses and sets the coverage limits. If there are pupils transported on school buses or other vehicles contracted to the Board of Education, the Board must enter into an agreement with the contractor to secure fleet rates for liability or indemnity insurance for all of these vehicles. 

The main requirements for schools include:
  • Districts must insure their school bus fleet and contract carriers, at a minimum, with the coverage prescribed by the Kentucky Department of Education.
  • Districts must ensure that all contract carriers that transport pupils are properly insured.​
​KDE School District Insurance Guide 

Carl Meehan
Office of Finance and Operations​
Division of District Support
300 Sower Blvd., 4th Floor
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 564-5279  ext. 4442
Fax (502) 564-6771

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