Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) has announced a new initiative in partnership with Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI) and other government partners to make the Kentucky Certified Drivers License (CDL) written exam available in Spanish. This change comes as the district faces an ongoing shortage of bus drivers, which has affected transportation for students in the region.
The CDL is required for those who wish to drive school buses, public transit vehicles, or semitrucks. The process to translate the test began over a year ago as part of efforts to address workforce shortages impacting JCPS and other organizations across Kentucky.
The written exam, which is administered by the Kentucky State Police, will now be offered in Spanish. However, applicants must still complete a driving test and training classes that are conducted only in English.
According to GLI, this policy adjustment is expected to help address the shortage of bus drivers by making these jobs more accessible to non-English speaking residents. “This simple policy change will have a big impact in solving JCPS’ bus driver shortage by opening up this career to non-English speaking citizens. GLI was proud to work with JCPS and Governor Beshear to secure funding for this investment to ensure these important jobs are being filled. Public education is critical to shaping a strong future workforce, and reliable transportation directly impacts student attendance and success,” said GLI.
For more information about becoming a bus driver or related career opportunities, interested individuals can visit the JCPS website.