New or prospective school bus drivers are required to complete an initial school bus course, including a segment of first aid procedures and school bus driver safety, in a program approved by the Secretary of State and must be in the employment process with a school district or bus company.

All drivers must register with the Regional Office of Education #11 by calling 217-348-0151 or emailing Katie O’Dell with the following information:

•        Legal First Name
•        Middle Initial
•        Last Name
•        Driver’s License Number
•        Place of Employment
•        Email Address
•        Cell Phone Number
•        Employment Begin Date

The cost of the initial course is $10.00.   All drivers will need to provide a valid driver’s license the day of the training.

ROE #11 also provides the Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) Theory portion of the MAP 21 requirements. The cost of this training is $75.00.

The new Illinois Professional First Division School Bus course is now available!

This course is for drivers of first division vehicles (defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code as motor vehicles designed to carry no more than 10 persons total). This new training will not include the multi-function school activity bus (MFSAB/white activity bus). If a driver takes this course, it will restrict the driver to a first division vehicle only. For example, if a driver wants to upgrade their driver’s license in the future to a CDL, he/she will be required to take an initial course and upgrade their driver’s license to be eligible to transport students in a school bus. This training would be ideal for anyone you have transporting students in a minivan for curriculum purposes. 

All drivers must register with the Regional Office of Education #11 by calling 217-348-0151 or emailing Katie O’Dell with the following information:

•        Legal First Name
•        Middle Initial
•        Last Name
•        Driver’s License Number
•        Place of Employment
•        Email Address
•        Cell Phone Number
•        Employment Begin Date

The cost of the initial course is $10.00.   All drivers will need to provide a valid driver’s license the day of the training.

The Illinois School Code (ILCS 5/11-406 (b)) identifies a school bus accident as: whenever a school bus is involved in an accident in this State, caused by collision, a sudden stop or otherwise, resulting in any property damage, personal injury or death and whenever an accident occurs within 50 feet of a school bus in this State resulting in personal injury to or the death of any person while awaiting or preparing to board the bus or immediately after exiting the bus, the driver shall as soon as possible but not later than 10 days after the accident, forward a written report to the Department of Transportation.

Accident Reporting

Your responsibilities for reporting the accident include:

• Completing the Uniform School Bus Accident Form
  
• Obtaining a copy of the Illinois Traffic Crash Report (SR1050-510M) from Police Department.
• Submitting these completed forms to:
  Illinois Department of Transportation
  2300 S. Dirksen Parkway
  Springfield, IL 62764

• Submitting an additional copy to:
  Regional Superintendent of Schools
  Attention: Katie O’Dell
  730 7th Street
  Charleston, IL 61920
• Keeping a file at the school district with a copy

When do we contact the Secretary of State Office?

If there is a human fatality as a result of accident; or if there is bodily injury to one or more of the persons requiring transportation to a medical facility AND the school bus driver involved is issued a traffic citation; or one or more vehicles must be towed from the scene of the accident AND the school bus driver involved is issued a traffic citation.

Fax a copy of the uniform school bus accident report, a copy of the latest medical form and refresher training certificate for the bus driver to the Secretary of State at (217) 524-3654.