LAC 28:CXIII.503. Pre-Service Training

A. Classroom Instruction. The Louisiana School Bus Operator Training manual requires a minimum of 30 hours of pre-service instruction. 1. Unless exemptions are authorized in accordance with the preceding section, pre-service classroom instruction must include instruction in the following courses: a. First Aid Course (any approved first aid course)―4-8 hours; b. Drug/Alcohol Awareness Policy and Testing Procedures―2 hours; c. National Safety Council Bus Driver Defensive Driving Course, ("Coaching the School Bus Driver")―6-8 hours; d. appropriate units of DOE School Bus Driver Instructional Program―6-8 hours; e. Assertive Discipline/Passenger Management―1-2 hours; f. Transporting Students with Disabilities―1-2 hours; g. applicable federal and state laws and regulations, local ordinances, state and local policies governing school bus transportation―2-4 hours; h. state and local reporting procedures―2 hours. 2. Additional classroom instruction may include the following topics: a. Drug Abuse Prevention Awareness; b. Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse; c. Preventive Maintenance; d. Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Pre-Test Training; e. special activity trip requirements; and f. other topics approved by the DOE. B. Vehicle Familiarization and Operation Training (4 hours) 1. Prior to certification as a school bus driver, applicants must complete a minimum of four hours of vehicle familiarization and operation training (behind-the-wheel). 2. This instruction must be conducted in the type of vehicle(s) the applicant will drive and should cover at least the following operational topics: a. pre-trip, enroute, and post-trip inspection procedures; b. starting, stopping, and turning procedures; c. proper use of school bus signals; d. proper backing procedures; e. loading and unloading students; f. emergency procedures, including emergency evacuation; g. procedure at railroad crossings; and h. student safety instruction. C. On-the-Bus Training. Prior to certification as a school bus driver, applicants must complete a minimum of 10 hours of driving a school bus. This phase of the training cycle is designed to introduce the driver to the actual school bus driving task. Additional training on-the-bus training may be required as determined by the supervisor of transportation. Supervised on-the-bus training should include, but need not be limited to, the following: 1. observe regular driver―2 hours; 2. drive empty bus―2 hours; 3. drive loaded bus―6 hours.