Education and Treatment of Children

Abstract:

Inappropriate behavior on school buses is a safety issue that concerns students, parents, and educators. There is potential for traffic-related injury, and the limited adult supervision on school buses often facilitates bullying and other infractions. This review identified peer-reviewed articles and dissertations evaluating behavioral interventions designed to improve student behaviors on school buses. Identified studies (n = 18) provided limited information regarding the characteristics of participants and generally assessed the effect of driver- or researcher-implemented reinforcement, punishment, and other management activities on the behavior of all passengers. Studies yielded modest results and did not satisfy the most recent quality indicators of the Council of Exceptional Children. Nonetheless, findings have implications for the implementation of driver-oriented management strategies as well as research concerning new approaches to behavior management aboard school buses.