Motor vehicle crashes continue to be one of the leading causes of death among children in the United States. Many of these deaths can be prevented. Buckling children in age- and size-appropriate seating reduces serious and fatal injuries by up to 80%. This course trains Head Start staff on best practices, standards, and key regulations that they can use to keep children and staff safe during transportation.

Child safety is a top priority for Head Start and Early Head Start, and that extends beyond the classroom/center. Even if programs do not provide transportation services, all staff should be prepared to transport children in case of emergency. This course is designed to help you learn how to safely transport a young child. Additionally, this course will prepare you to support and provide referrals for the families in your community to ensure they are safely transporting their children.

Start Date: Available on-demand

Course Level: Beginner

Requirements/Prerequisites: None

Target Audience: Instruction and Effective Practice, Leadership and Management, Parents and Families, Program Operations, Support Services

Course Meeting Times: None

Completion Timeline/Duration: One Month

Alignment with the Head Start Program Performance Standards: This course supports programs in meeting the 1303.72 Vehicle operation of the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) in which programs must “ensure any person employed as a driver receives training prior to transporting any enrolled child and receives refresher training each year” and in which programs must “train each bus monitor before the monitor begins work on child boarding and exiting procedures, how to use child restraint systems, completing any required paperwork, how to respond to emergencies and emergency evacuation procedures, how to use special equipment, child pick-up and release procedures, and how to conduct and pre- and post-trip vehicle checks.”

Course Outline

Module Topics: 

• Passenger Restraint
• Transportation
• Vehicle Safety
• Bus Safety

Learning Objectives:

Learners will understand how to safely restrain a child on a bus.

Learners will understand the basic process for ensuring children are safely restrained in a vehicle. 

Learners will understand the importance of proper restraint practices. 

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Facilitator

Academy Experts

DRAFT

Course Author

Dr. Deborah Bergeron

Dr. B served as director of the Office of Head Start from 2018-21. From 2019-21 she broadened her leadership as director of the Office of Early Childhood Development in the Administration for Children and Families. Known as “Dr. B” to former students and teachers, she spent three decades in pre-K–12 public education as a classroom teacher and school administrator. She currently serves as deputy director for Community Engagement and Innovation at the National Head Start Association.