Bus Transportation Services

The Regional Office of Education is responsible for conducting and keeping records of the initial training that is required for all new school bus drivers prior to getting a bus permit, and for the annual refresher workshop that is required in the 12 month period prior to renewing their school bus permit. Experienced drivers must take a two hour refresher course annually, and all new drivers must take an eight hour course in school bus driver safety and first aid, as prescribed by the Illinois State Board of Education and administered by the ROE. 

School Bus Driver Refresher Course Information

  • The first refresher training following initial training must be completed within one year (364 days) from the date of initial training. The date of the first refresher training will be known as the refresher date.
  • In the event that an individual completes subsequent refresher training between the actual refresher date and 60 days prior to that refresher date, the next annual refresher date will not change. In the event refresher training is completed more than 60 days prior to the refresher date, the date the driver completes the refresher training will become the new annual refresher date.

Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT)

Beginning February 7, 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established new minimum training standards outlined in 49 CFR 380 for individuals applying for or adding a school bus endorsement.  Drivers must have completed the required Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) from a training provider registered with FMCSA before being scheduled for a skills test.

You do not need to complete ELDT if:

  • You currently hold a valid Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) issued before Feb. 7, 2022, if you obtain your CDL before your CLP expires. The CDL must be issued with the same or lesser class or endorsements
  • You are seeking a Hazardous Material (H) endorsement and passed the written test before Feb. 7, 2022.
  • You are an out-of-state CDL holder applying for equal or lesser class CDL and endorsements. If you previously held a CDL or endorsement that is not listed on your current license, then you must prove that you had the CDL or endorsement
  • You have a military skills waiver or even exchange on file.
  • You are a CDL holder removing the air brake or transmission restrictions.
  • You are applying for J50 (Farm Vehicle Driver) or J51 (Covered Farm Vehicle Driver) Non-CDL Class A.

Notes about ELDT:

  • ELDT Results will not be reflected on your driving record until all portions (Theory, Range and Road are submitted by your Training Provider).
  • You cannot schedule pre-trip, skills and road exams until the required ELDT completion has been electronically reported by the training provider and recorded to your driving record.
  • An Illinois resident may complete ELDT in another state.
  • If you want to upgrade from a Non-CDL Class A J50 or J51, you must complete ELDT for a CDL Class A. You will be issued a Class A CLP that you must hold for 14 days before a skills test may be administered.
  • If a CLP was issued prior to Feb. 7, 2022 and was valid for one year expires, then you must renew the CLP and complete ELDT before a CDL can be issued.
  • If a CLP was issued before Feb. 7, 2022, and you upgrade the CLP after Feb. 7, 2022, to a class or endorsement that requires ELDT, then you must complete ELDT for the class or endorsement added after Feb. 7, 2022.
  • Out-of-state CLP holders must complete ELDT regardless of when the out-of-state CLP was issued.

If you have questions about bus driver training, please contact one of our offices.

Quincy Office

Becky Garner
217.277.2087
[email protected]

Jacksonville Office

Stephanie Brockhouse
217.243.1804
[email protected]

ROE #1 Bus Driver Classes 2025-2026 Schedule

Please pre-register for the bus training classes by contacting Stephanie or Becky. Thank you!

2nd Division Bus Driver Initial Classes

Tues, April 29 & Wed, April 30, 2025 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Quincy Bus Barn - 1600 N 43rd St, Quincy, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - ELDT 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Quincy Bus Barn - 1600 N 43rd St, Quincy, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Sat, July 19, 2025 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Western High School - 401 McDonough St, Barry, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Mon, July 21, 2025 - ELDT 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Western High School - 401 McDonough St, Barry, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Tues, Aug 12 & Wed, Aug 13, 2025 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Quincy Bus Barn - 1600 N 43rd St, Quincy, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Thurs, Aug 14, 2025 - ELDT 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Quincy Bus Barn - 1600 N 43rd St, Quincy, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Tues, Sept 23 & Wed, Sept 24, 2025 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Western High School - 401 McDonough St, Barry, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Thurs, Sept 25, 2025 - ELDT 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Western High School - 401 McDonough St, Barry, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Tues, Nov 11 & Wed, Nov 12, 2025 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Quincy Bus Barn - 1600 N 43rd St, Quincy, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Thurs, Nov 13, 2025 - ELDT 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Quincy Bus Barn - 1600 N 43rd St, Quincy, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Tues, Dec 9 & Wed, Dec 10, 2025 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Quincy Bus Barn - 1600 N 43rd St, Quincy, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Thurs, December 11, 2025 - ELDT 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Quincy Bus Barn - 1600 N 43rd St, Quincy, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Tues, Jan 6 & Wed Jan 7, 2026 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Western High School - 401 McDonough St, Barry, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Thurs, Jan 8, 2026 - ELDT 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Western High School - 401 McDonough St, Barry, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Sat, Jan 10, 2026 8:00 am – 4:00 pm ROE Office – 409 Hardin Ave – Jacksonville Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804
Mon, Jan 12, 2026 - ELDT 4:15 pm – 8:15 pm ROE Office – 409 Hardin Ave – Jacksonville Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804
Sat, Feb 7, 2026 8:00 am – 4:00 pm ROE Office – 409 Hardin Ave – Jacksonville Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804
Mon, Feb 9, 2026 - ELDT 4:15 pm – 8:15 pm ROE Office – 409 Hardin Ave – Jacksonville Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804
Tues, Feb 17 & Wed Feb 18, 2026 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Quincy Bus Barn - 1600 N 43rd St, Quincy, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Thurs, Feb 19, 2026 - ELDT 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Quincy Bus Barn - 1600 N 43rd St, Quincy, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Tues, March 17 & Wed, March 18, 2026 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Quincy Bus Barn - 1600 N 43rd St, Quincy, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Thurs, March 19, 2026 - ELDT 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Quincy Bus Barn - 1600 N 43rd St, Quincy, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087

Second Division Bus Driver Refresher Classes

Mon, May 12, 2025 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Brown County High School - Mt. Sterling.=, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Wed, May 14, 2025 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm A-C Central High School - Ashland, IL Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804
Thurs, May 22, 2025 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Illinois School for the Deaf - Media Center Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804
Thurs, May 29, 2025 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Franklin School District - Franklin, IL Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804
Tues, June 17, 2025 8:00 am - 10:00 am Jacksonville High School - Jacksonville, IL Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804
Tues, June 24, 2025 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Jacksonville High School - Jacksonville, IL Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804
Wed, June 25, 2025 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Illinois School for the Deaf - Media Center Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804
Mon, Aug 4, 2025 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Unity High School - Mendon, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Mon, Aug 4, 2025 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Liberty High School - Liberty, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Tues, Aug 5, 2025 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Payson Elementary School - Payson, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Tues, Aug 5, 2025 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Central High School - Camp Point, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Tues, Aug 6, 2025 8:00 - 10:00 am Triopia School District - Concord, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Thurs, Aug 7, 2025 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Quincy High School - Quincy, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Mon, Aug 11, 2025 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Pikeland Community School Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Thurs, Sept 18, 2025 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Western High School - Barry, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Wed, May 13, 2026 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Brown County High School - Mt. Sterling.=, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Wed, May 13, 2026 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm A-C Central High School - Ashland, IL Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804
Thurs, May 21, 2026 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Illinois School for the Deaf - Media Center Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804
Thurs, May 28, 2026 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Franklin School District - Franklin, IL Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804
Tues, June 16, 2026 8:00 am - 10:00 am Jacksonville High School - Jacksonville, IL Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804
Tues, June 23, 2026 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Jacksonville High School - Jacksonville, IL Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804
Wed, June 24, 2026 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Illinois School for the Deaf - Media Center Stephanie Brockhouse - 217.243.1804

First Division

This course is for drivers of first division vehicles (defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code as motor vehicles designed to carry no more than 10 persons total). This new training will not include the multi-function school activity bus (MFSAB/white activity bus). If a driver takes this course, it will restrict the driver to a first division vehicle only. For example, if a driver wants to upgrade their driver’s license in the future to a CDL, he/she will be required to take an initial course and upgrade their driver’s license to be eligible to transport students in a school bus. This training would be ideal for anyone you have transporting students in a minivan for curriculum purposes. 

 

ROE #1 Bus Driver Classes 2025-2026 Schedule

Please pre-register for the bus training classes by contacting Stephanie or Becky. Thank you!

First Division Bus Driver Initial Classes

Tues, Feb 24 & Wed, Feb 25, 2026 4:00 pm -8:00 pm Western High School - Barry, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087
Tues, April 8 & Wed, April 9, 2026 4:00 pm -8:00 pm Western High School - Barry, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087

First Division Bus Driver Refresher Classes

Thurs, Dec 18, 2025 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Western High School - Barry, IL Becky Garner - 217.277.2087