Minimum Standards For School Buses

(1) All school buses purchased by a county, local school system, or private contractor shall meet the Tennessee Minimum School Bus Standards approved by the State Board of Education and all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards. (a) Use of a fifteen (15) passenger van, defined as a vehicle that seats ten to fourteen (10- 14) passengers, not including the driver, to transport students is prohibited. PUPIL TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER 0520-01-05 (b) Van-type equipment, designed to transport no fewer than seven (7) nor more than nine (9) persons, not including the driver, may be used to transport students to and from interscholastic athletic or other interscholastic or school sponsored activities. Such van- type equipment may be owned and operated by the local education agency or public charter school or may be operated by or for the local education agency or public charter school under a rental or for hire arrangement entered into by the agency with respect to the specific activity in connection with which such transportation is to be furnished. 1. Any van-type equipment used to transport students must be in apparent safe operating condition insured to comport to the minimum requirements of T.C.A. §§ 29-20-101 et seq., and driven by a properly licensed employee of the school system or public charter school. 2. Notwithstanding any part of this rule to the contrary, any van-type equipment used by a local education agency or public charter school shall conform to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) if used for pupil transportation. (2) Vehicles constructed for transporting children with disabilities shall comply generally with the Tennessee Minimum School Bus Standards approved by the State Board of Education, but because of special equipment, appropriate modifications shall be made for children with disabilities.