The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s Office of Pupil Transportation issued a Sept. 29 bulletin with several deadlines and reporting changes for school districts and drivers.
T-2 report amendments must be submitted by Sept. 30, 2026, the end of the fiscal year’s first quarter, the office said. It said it has contacted superintendents and treasurers about identified discrepancies so they can check accuracy. If an amendment is needed, the office will decline the report to permit edits, and the completed report must be reviewed, signed and submitted by Sept. 30.
The office planned a webinar for Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. on preparing the T-1 Ridership Report in DRIVES, ahead of count week. It said the T-1 is required annually by Ohio Administrative Code 3301-83-01. Count week is the first full week of October when school is in session; districts without a full five-day week during the week of Oct. 5 should move to the following week without needing office permission, the bulletin said. Ridership data certifies pupils transported and daily miles and is used to calculate the pupil transportation payment under Section 3317.0212.
A reporting change: miles and students previously reported by individual bus in SFPS are now aggregate totals in DRIVES, the office said. It said reporting schools must still record vehicle use by school type, daily mileage and student ridership by individual vehicle for Auditor of the State purposes.
Optional online pre-service school bus driver training moves to Ohio Learn on Sept. 30, with separate pathways for new and recertifying drivers. The course covers required theory content but does not replace in-person classes; drivers must also complete behind-the-wheel, range and applicable tests.
Regional School Bus Safety Road-E-O competitions are set for Oct. 3, 2026. The top six drivers per region advance to the state event Oct. 17 at Berlin High School in Delaware, Ohio. National School Bus Safety Week follows Oct. 19-23. Contact information was included for the pupil transportation office.