Safety Drills

All public, non-public and charter schools, including Pre-K and Early Intervention sites, are required to conduct at least three school bus safety drills per school year.

Section 3623 of the State Education Law and Revised Title 8, Chapter II, Subchapter J, Section 156.3(f) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education require that school districts conduct at least three school bus drills per school year:

The first during the first week of the fall term (the first seven days).
The second between November 1 and December 31.
The third between March 1 and April 30.

2013-14 Safety Drill Schedule for Public Schools
DRILL 1	DRILL 2	DRILL 3
Completed by September 17	Completed by December 31	Completed by April 30
Entered in OORS by October 9	Entered in OORS by January 14	Entered in OORS by May 14

Once the drills are completed:

Public schools must enter bus drill information into the Online Occurrence Reporting System (OORS). Schools should visit the Office of School and Youth Development for more information.

All schools, public, non-public and charter, must complete the Certification of Performance and retain the form at their school.

ALL schools, whether they regularly use busing or not,
are responsible for conducting three bus drills.

The following sections provide further details on conducting school bus safety drills:

1.1 Section 3623 of the State Education Department and Revised Section 156.3(f) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education require drills on school buses including practice and instruction in the location, use and operation of the emergency door, fire extinguishers, first-aid equipment, and windows as a means of escape in case of fire or accident.

1.1.1 Drills shall also include instruction in safe entering and exiting procedures with specific emphasis on when and how to approach, board, disembark, and move away from the bus after disembarking.

1.1.2 Each drill shall include specific instructions for pupils to advance at least ten (10) feet in front of the bus before crossing the highway after disembarking. Most importantly, after disembarking on New York City streets, pupils are to advance to the corner and a sufficient distance to make eye contact with the driver, before attempting to cautiously cross the street at the intersection.

1.1.3 Each drill shall emphasize specific hazards encountered by children during snow, ice, rain, and other inclement weather including, but not necessarily limited to, conditions where the driver has poor visibility, reduced vehicular control, and/or reduced hearing.

1.1.4 All such drills shall include instruction in the importance of orderly conduct by all school bus passengers with specific emphasis given to student discipline, rules, and regulations promulgated by the Board of Education.

1.2 School bus drill instruction and the conduct of such drills shall be given by teachers.

1.3 While all pupils are required to participate in these drills, whether or not they are transported to school by bus, classroom instruction covering the content of drills may be provided as an option for those pupils who use buses only for field trips.

1.4 No drills shall be conducted when buses are on routes.