Resources

Grant Funding

Nevada Charter School Transportation Grants (AB 400)

  • Nevada has approved $7 Million of charter school transportation funding for each year of the 2023-2025 Biennium.

  • Our partner schools have used these funds for activities including:

    • Purchasing buses, shuttles, and vans.

    • Contracting with us to operate their student transportation services.

    • Purchasing RTC bus passes.

    • Enhancing student attendance supports to reduce chronic absenteeism.

    • Providing transportation to field trips, sporting events, and extracurricular activities.

  • Access official application materials on the State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA) website.

  • Bright Yellow Lines offers pro bono grant support, even if you don’t work with us. Email grants@yellowlines.us for more info.

Purchasing

Regional Transportation (RTC) Bus Passes

  • Students are eligible for reduced-fare RTC passes. Current rates are available on the RTC website.

  • Charter schools can purchase passes in bulk by completing this form.

  • We help schools integrate RTC transportation into their transportation plans or help facilitate family workshops about RTC transportation solutions. Contact paige@yellowlines.us to learn more.

New Bus Purchases

  • There are multiple great bus manufactures to choose from. We currently operate only ThomasBuilt Buses.

  • The authorized Thomas new bus dealer in Nevada is BusWest. Tania Kaylor is the BusWest representative for the state of Nevada.

Used Bus Purchases

  • New buses can cost $200,000 or more, and safe, reliable used buses can cost as little as $20,000, with many options in between. A well-maintained school bus can run safely for hundreds of thousands of miles.

  • Schools purchasing used school buses should be aware of the relevant school bus standards. The Nevada Highway Patrol must inspect each purchased bus before it can begin student transportation, and each bus must pass an annual inspection thereafter.

School Van & Shuttle Purchases

Nevada Law (NRS 484A.230) defines a school bus as a “motor vehicle which is designed or used to carry more than 10 passengers in addition to the driver and which is …. [o]wned by or under the control of a public or governmental agency or a private school and regularly operated for the transportation of children to or from school or a school activity.”

Therefore, if schools wish to purchase vans or shuttles that are not painted, labeled, and driven like school buses, 12- and 15-passenger vans do not qualify for school use.

Eleven-seat vans can be difficult to find at standard car dealerships, but there are special manufactures who can meet this need for schools who wish to purchase 11-seat vans or shuttles.

Compliance & Reporting

Bus Driver Certification

All school bus drivers must maintain a current Commercial Drivers License (CDL) with the Passenger (P) and School (S) endorsements.

The Nevada CDL Training Manual is available as a free download or as a free printed book at the Commercial DMV (4110 Donovan Way, North Las Vegas, NV 89030).

Individuals interested in obtaining a CDL or the required endorsements can learn more at the Nevada Commercial DMV website.

Bus drivers must carry, their CDL showing endorsements while they are transporting students.

Additional requirements for school bus drivers are outlined in the Nevada School Bus Training manual. Any individuals interested in becoming eligible to drive a school bus should be prepared to submit:

  • A DMV driver history printout

  • A pre-employment drug test (and as requested by employer after hire)

The Nevada Department of Education also requires all bus drivers to pass an annual exam. The driver’s employee must administer the exam and maintain copies of exam scores. Schools submit a biannual certification in Epicenter that all of their drivers are have passed the annual exam and met all requirements to legally operate a school bus in Nevada.

BYL requires all its drivers of smaller shuttles and vehicles to pass the same annual exam.