Video Transcript
This is Ken. He is a public school transportation director and in this video I’m going to show you how he used evidence to influence local policy and improve student safety.
HI friends, I’m Matthew Courtney and here we talk all about education research and data. If you’re into that, make sure you like and subscribe and come be a part of our community.
Now, as I said, Ken is the transportation director at a small public school district. He was facing a significant issue that was putting students' safety at risk. Every morning, on one particular route, drivers were illegally passing the school bus while it was stopped to pick up or drop off students. This wasn't just a rare occurrence; it was happening frequently enough to cause real concern among parents, staff, and the bus drivers themselves.
The problem was growing more serious, and Ken knew he had to act. With the safety of the students at stake, it was clear that this was a challenge that couldn't be ignored.
He turned to the education research literature, focusing on studies that examined the impact of various school bus safety measures. Ken found compelling evidence that demonstrated the effectiveness of combining technology, like bus-mounted cameras, with public awareness campaigns to reduce illegal passes.
The research highlighted case studies where similar strategies had led to significant reductions in violations and improved student safety. This evidence gave Ken the confidence and direction he needed. He didn’t just rely on his intuition; he allowed the research to inform his plan, ensuring that every step he took was grounded in proven strategies.
Ken’s plan was both strategic and evidence-driven. First, he identified the most dangerous routes in the district—those where illegal passes were most frequent—and equipped the buses on those routes with cameras. These cameras would capture clear video evidence of any violations, making it harder for offenders to escape accountability.
But Ken didn’t stop there. He also launched a media campaign aimed at raising public awareness. Local residents were informed that the school buses were now equipped with cameras and that anyone caught illegally passing a bus would be held accountable, with the video evidence backing up the claims.
Over time, the number of illegal passes on the district’s most dangerous routes dropped substantially, and with the hard evidence in hand, Ken was able to convince the county attorney to take stronger action against offenders. Thanks to Ken's diligence and his commitment to using research to inform his decisions, his students are now safer during their morning commute.
Ken’s story is a powerful reminder of how research can drive meaningful change, even in areas you might not expect. But remember, the key isn’t to simply copy what Ken did—it’s to adopt the process he used. By diving into the research, evaluating the evidence, and making informed decisions based on your unique context, you can create solutions that are tailored to your specific challenges. So, be inspired by Ken's success, but make sure to forge your own path using evidence-based decision-making to achieve the best results for your school or district.
If you found value in this video today, make sure you like and subscribe and be sure to check out some of the other videos on my channel. See you next time.
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