The curriculum for the school bus driver safety training program will be developed by the department and approved by the director, or designee.

1. (1) The certification course shall include instruction in each of the ten units comprising the current Course Guide for School Bus Driver Training in Texas as developed by Southwest Texas Quality Institute (SWTQI) and approved by the department. It is highly recommended that at least four hours of each course be devoted to relevant and appropriate laboratory activities, and that each unit be taught in accordance with the following class time allocations:

   1. (A) Introduction--1 hour;
   2. (B) Student Management--2.0 hours;
   3. (C) Know Your Bus--2.0 hours;
   4. (D) Traffic Regulations--1.5 hours;
   5. (E) Responsible Driving--4.0 hours;
   6. (F) Emergency Evacuation--2.0 hours;
   7. (G) First Aid--1.5 hours;
   8. (H) Procedures for Loading and Unloading Students--2.5 hours;
   9. (I) Special Needs Transportation--1.5 hours;
   10. (J) Awareness of the Effects of Alcohol and Other Drugs--1.5 hours;
   11. (K) Summary and Written Test--1.0 hours.
2. (2) The recertification course shall include safety training material developed by Texas Engineering Extension Service Transportation Training Division of the Texas AM University System, (TEEX) and approved by the department or Units II, IV, V, VIII, and X of the current Course Guide for School Bus Driver Training in Texas. If teaching Units II, IV, V, VIII, and X, it is highly recommended that at least one hour of instruction be allocated to each of these five units, with any remaining or additional time devoted to other relevant and appropriate topics or activities.
3. (3) It is recommended that a comprehensive pre-test and post-test regarding course content be administered to each trainee, with a minimum score of 70% closed book or 80% open book be required for satisfactory completion of both the twenty-hour basic course and the eight-hour refresher course

Source Note:The provisions of this §14.32 adopted to be effective October 7, 1996, 21 TexReg 9243; amended to be effective July 7, 1999, 24 TexReg 5023; amended to be effective February 6, 2001, 26 TexReg 1161.