Michigan Department of Education

Pupil Transportation Best Practice

End of Route Student Checks

Leaving even one child unattended on a bus is a serious concern for Michigan families and schools. The possibility of leaving a child on the bus after a completed bus route is not acceptable and has potentially serious safety ramifications. This is a preventable problem that can be addressed with an effective policy that requires drivers to check their bus before they exit it at the end of their route. Most districts have procedures for the drivers to check the bus at the end of a route, but not all districts have a board policy to reinforce the importance of end of route checks.

The State Board of Education encourages all districts to adopt a policy that defines the responsibilities for all school transportation providers that ensures no students are left on school buses after the completion of a route.