Interpretation ID: nht92-1.15

DATE: December 22, 1992

FROM: Paul David Wellstone -- United States Senator, U.S. Senate

TO: Paul Jackson Rice -- Chief Counsel, NHTSA

TITLE: None

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 1/26/93 from John Womack to Paul David Wellstone (A40; VSA 103)

TEXT:

I have been contacted by several constituents of mine, Ms. Tutti Sherlock and Ms. Mary Bock, about the problem they are having with school bus regulations as applied to Head Start programs.

Both Ms. Bock and Ms. Sherlock believe that the regulations that applied to school buses should not apply to Head Start transportation. One reason they cite is the confusion that a yellow school-bus-colored Head Start van may confuse students and parents, especially those to whom English is a second language. For this reason, Head Start vans are painted a different color than normal school buses.

Ms. Bock and Ms. Sherlock also object to the requirement that Head Start vans be equipped with stop arms and special stop lights, because the vans drop children at the curb. Head Start students, therefore, do not need to cross the street in front of the van.

A letter to Mr. Charles Pekow sent in 1985 by Mr. Jeffrey Miller of your office states that Head Start standards are up to the state's discretion. I have enclosed this letter for your review.

In this light, these constituents are asking that you inform Mr. Chuck Anderson of the Minnesota Department of Transportation that federal regulations do not, at this time, require school bus manufacturers to equip Head Start buses as school buses, unless the grantee so requests.

I would appreciate it if you would review this matter and advise me of your findings. Please direct your response to Connie Lewis, a member of my staff, at the following address:

2550 University Avenue W., #10ON St. Paul, MN 55114 612/645-0323

Thank you for your assistance.