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Alternative Transportation – What About 11-15 Passenger Vans?
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Here are some frequently asked questions about Yes. If a JTED/CTED has an agreement or contract
the new 925-vehicle law and policy: with a school district and/or is transporting high
school students pursuant to the students’ normal
If a third-party vendor is contracted for student educational activities or curriculum, then the law
transportation and uses an 11-15 passenger van must be followed.
to transport students, does the third-party carrier
have to comply with student transportation laws? The DPS rules are intended to protect Arizona K-12
students while they are engaged in their education
It depends on how the contract is written. If the and/or participating in school-sanctioned or
contract is between the parents and the vendor, -sponsored events and activities. Therefore, the
then no — the third-party vendor is not required DPS safety standards still apply when an Arizona
to comply with student transportation laws. If the JTED/CTED provides transportation to these
contract is between the school district and the students.
vendor, yes — the third-party vendor is required
to adhere to student transportation laws. A district A district currently utilizes vans that fall into
should not, therefore, use a vendor whose 11-15 the 11-15 passenger van category and it wants to
passenger vans do not comply with requirements follow the new law but lacks adequate resources,
under the law. such as CDL drivers and school buses. What can
the district do to ensure the Auditor General’s
If a district needs to rent a vehicle for a field trip Office does not cite it for using illegal vehicles?
or other school-sponsored event, can the district
utilize an 11-15 passenger van? First, the district should assess all of the vehicles
it has in circulation. Once this is done, it may
No, it is illegal for a school district to rent an 11-15 determine that, in fact, it has enough vehicles to
passenger van for any student transportation use, meet its needs.
including extra-curricular events.
For example, the district might consider
Does the Arizona Department of Education re-purposing 11-15 passenger vans previously
(ADE) definition of an allowable vehicle for used for student transportation by assigning them
daily student transportation mean that a school to the facilities or maintenance departments (a
district may use 11-15 passenger vans? district can also use them for adult trips with no
students). Removing a bench seat is prohibited
No. The ADE verbiage for allowable vehicles is and does not reduce passenger count or result in
for funding purposes only and does not consider reclassification of the vehicle. The VIN number
DPS regulations for school bus transportation. dictates the vehicle’s passenger count.
The law you reference applies to K-12 districts, This could potentially free up resources for
but what about college programs, such as JTED purchase of a compliant vehicle or for contracting
and CTED, that transport high school students? with a third party whose vehicles are compliant.
Do they have to comply with the same law?
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