School Transportation Task Force

Overview

SB23-094 creates a School Transportation Modernization Task Force to study the issues facing school transportation systems and use the study’s findings to develop and recommend policies, laws, and rules to improve public school transportation across the state in order to better meet student needs and alleviate burdens on school districts.

The Commissioner’s designee shall chair the task force.  The task force shall meet at the call of the chair at least two times from August through December 2023 and at least four times from May through November 2024.  CDE has selected the Dillinger Research to facilitate the task force meetings, take minutes and write the official report.  The Task Force’s report with findings and recommendations for improving school transportation services for students is due on or before December 1, 2024. The statute outlines the items that must be included in the report:

(a)     Identification of transportation challenges that create barriers to students attending a school district-assigned neighborhood public school, public school of choice, or career pathway programs;

(b)     Recommendations for implementing a simplified reimbursement process for school districts based on the findings or recommendations from the transportation subcommittee of the financial policies and procedures advisory committee of the department of education;

(c)     Identification of existing and potential funding sources for providing school transportation;

(d)     Recommendations for creating and implementing sustainable funding mechanisms to meet school transportation needs;

(e)     Recommendations for creating and implementing a transportation innovation fund to support local efforts to create new and innovative transportation solutions that may serve as a model to scale and sustain in other school districts and charter schools;

(f)     Recommendations for facilitating partnerships among school districts, district and institute charter schools, public transportation providers, private transportation providers, and local nonprofit organizations to meet transportation needs and create cost efficiencies, while maintaining safety standards;

(g)     Recommendations for creating pathways and talent pipelines for transportation provider and logistics careers;

(h)     Recommendations for competitive salaries and benefits packages necessary to recruit and retain school transportation drivers;

(i)     Identification of outcomes from transportation assistance grants from the department of education, and recommendations for replication or expansion;

(j)     An analysis of the costs and benefits associated with requiring route school buses that can control traffic with alternating flashing red lights to have automated vehicle information systems, as defined at section 42-4-110.5 (6), to record motor vehicles that unlawfully pass a stopped route school bus; and

(k)     Recommendations for legislation or rules that may improve school transportation, including recommendations for legislation or rules that do not exacerbate the marginalization of communities through separation while protecting public funds with clear accountability and transparency.

Task Force Members

Task force membership is outlined in 22-107-103, C.R.S.

Meeting Resources

The task force is a state public body and therefore are subject to Colorado Open Meeting Law and Colorado Open Records Act.  

2023-2024 Taskforce meeting dates and times:

Contact 

Susan Miller, Supervisor of the School Transportation Unit - miller_s@cde.state.co.us