Steps to Creating a Safe Routes to School Program. Home > Starting a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program is an opportunity to make.
On a broader. level, SRTS programs can enhance children’s health and well- being. The steps outlined in this section are meant. SRTS program based on what has worked in other communities. Bring together the right people.
Hurst Elementary School, Hollyhill, Florida. Identify people who want to make walking and bicycling to school safe and. Sharing concerns, interests and knowledge among a. Consider whether the group wants to plan for SRTS in a single school, district- wide. Each has potential benefits; for example, a school district- wide. Look for existing groups where an SRTS program is a natural fit, such as. PTA, school site council, groups that represent the disabled, wellness.
If there are no appropriate. SRTS coalition. When asking for participation. SRTS is needed and tell people specifically how they can help. For more information on. SRTS coalition, see the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Safe Routes To School Toolkit. Involve children in the SRTS program to learn what is important to them.
Ask. them questions like: Do they like being driven everywhere by their parents? What do they. think about their route to school? What would they change about their.
- Family Involvement in Children's Education - October 1997 Hueco Elementary School: Promoting Cultural Understanding and Communication in a Rural School Socorro Independent School District.
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A special effort should be made to query students with disabilities about what is important to them about their journey to school as well. Communities with flourishing SRTS programs have attributed their success.
However. a champion can not do it alone, he or she will need support. Building. the next generation of leaders along the way will assure that the program. This is particularly important when the champion is a parent who. Hold a kick- off meeting. The kick- off meeting has two main goals: to create a vision and to generate.
One approach is to ask each participant to share. Responses are. often statements, such as: . Another way to create a positive vision is to ask people. Provide a presentation on SRTS programs including issues and strategies related to engineering. The group. can then discuss the appropriate next steps and best way to work.
This may include forming committees to separate. Gather information and identify issues.
Kristen Field is an amazing volunteer who works tirelessly in multiple capacities at Alanton Elementary School. As program coordinator, she motivates students to participate in the annual PTA Reflections.
Collecting information can help to: Identify needed program elements. Provide a means to measure the impact of the program later.
First, look at walking and bicycling conditions for students. This can. be done by observing or mapping the routes that lead to school.
Developing Your Volunteer Program Once organizational readiness and risk management have been assessed, organizations are ready to move on to the work of developing the volunteer program framework. What started as a volunteer program with local chefs teaching cooking classes in one school has evolved into a funded program that.
Collecting. traffic counts and speed and injury data can help identify driver- related. Walking around the school as a group to observe arrival or. Finding out about existing policies. For example, a school may not allow children to bicycle to school. Second, determine how many children currently walk or bicycle to school. The. school may already know this. Parent surveys can also be used.
SRTS. coalition members can lend expertise in locating data sources and can help. Identify solutions. Solutions to issues identified by the group will include a combination.
If it is not safe for children. Some problems will require engineering. Here the expertise of the different. It is likely that the coalition will generate a long list of potential. The next step will be easier if the list is prioritized. Are there “quick.
Make a plan. The SRTS plan does not need to be lengthy, but should include encouragement. Strategies that can be implemented.
Be sure to include fun activities; that is what. Fund the plan. Parts of a SRTS program will cost very little money. For example, most. International Walk to School Day coordinators say they spend less than $1. There are many low- cost engineering solutions that can be.
On the other hand, some changes, such as new sidewalk. There are several places. SRTS program activities including: Federal programs: SAFETEA- LU (including funds allocated to SRTS), Congestion. Mitigation and Air Quality, Surface Transportation. Program, Recreational Trail Program and others. Environmental and air quality funds.
Health and physical activity funds. County and city funding. Philanthropic organizations. For more information about these funding resources, see the Funding Portal section of the National Center website. Act on the plan. Reidville Elementary, Spartanburg, South Carolina. There are things that can be done right away without major funding, so. SRTS plan can start right away while waiting on other parts.
For example, participate. International Walk to School Day or celebrate a Walking Wednesday. If. the school is located too far for children to walk from home, identify places. If improvements are needed. Enforcement, education, encouragement. Evaluate, make improvements and keep moving.
After the program begins, careful monitoring will identify which strategies. Proper adjustments can be made as this and other new. One simple evaluation measure is to. Step 3 (the baseline count).
See the Evaluation chapter of this Guide for more information on how to measure impact. The coalition also needs to consider how to sustain energy and interest. Letting people know about the successes: Get visibility for activities. Encouraging policy changes: These might be school, school district or.
For example, local planning departments may promote new school construction. School district. adoption of a safety curriculum means that the pedestrian and bicycle education. Creating a permanent committee: A permanent committee within the PTA. SRTS will continue to receive. A SRTS program has the potential to improve walking and bicycling conditions.