2.1 COA Driver Training Series and Driver’s License

Chapter 5 Facilities > Section 2 Fleet

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Overview/Purpose
• 2.1.1 Certification Required by Position
• 2.1.2 Administering COA Drive Training
• 2.1.3 Process to Obtain Certification
• 2.1.4 Disclaimer
• 2.1.5 Driver Accountability, Violations, and Disciplinary Action
  • COA Driver’s License Requirement:
  • Notification Responsibility: 
  • Payment of Fines: 
  • Aggressive Driving – GPS Monitoring Program:
  • Traffic Violations -Threshold for Disciplinary Action: 
• 2.1.6 Annual Re-Certification and Retraining 

Overview/Purpose

Children of America requires that any employee responsible for driving a Children of America vehicle that transports children, in addition to state required licenses, hold a Certified COA Driver’s License.

A COA Driver’s License can be obtained by completing COA’s Drive Training Series. All employees currently transporting children must complete the COA Drive Training Series by the end of May every year. Failure to obtain a Certified COA Driver’s License by the deadline will result in all driving privileges being suspended until the certification is acquired.

2.1.1 Certification Required by Position

• Field or Regional Leadership
  1. Executive Directors
• School Leadership 
  1. School Director
  2. School Assistant Director
  3. Program Coordinator 
• School Personnel 
  1. Bus Drivers
  2. *B&A Teachers
  3. *Camp Counselors 
  4. *Other Teaching staff as required

*Certification is not required if transportation of children does not apply to the role. It is encouraged that schools have backup employees on staff with the required certification.

2.1.2 Administering COA Drive Training

To administer training; you must hold a COA Driver’s License and be among one of the following eligible positions:

• Executive Directors
• School Managers - Director, Assistant Director & Program Coordinator
• Facilities Personnel

Bus Drivers or Teaching staff are prohibited from training and certifying COA Drive candidates

2.1.3 Process to Obtain Certification

Instructions are available on the PEEEPs Intranet:
https://coapeeeps.com/training-materials/
 (Located in the “Training Manuals” folder.)

• All training components must be completed before certification is granted.
• Employees have two attempts to pass the training series. 
  • If unsuccessful, there is a 30-day waiting period before reattempt.
  • During this time, the employee cannot operate a COA vehicle.

All drivers are subject to a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check which will be run and monitored monthly.
 Annual recertification is required each May. Failure to recertify results in suspended driving privileges.

Steps to Apply for COA Driver’s License:

1. Apply for COA Driver Certification.
2. Submit a Freshdesk ticket to the Education Department requesting an MVR check.
3. Upon review and approval of a clear MVR, the employee will:
   • Complete the Online Training Test
   • Schedule and complete the Oral Test
   • Complete the Road Test.
4. Once all tests are complete, the employee must reply to the original Freshdesk ticket with proof of completion.
5. After review, the Education Department will issue the COA Driver’s License.

2.1.4 Disclaimer

A COA Certified Driver’s License does not replace any legally required state or federal licenses (e.g., DMV, CDL).

Drivers must maintain all required licenses. All forms of moving traffic violation or adverse actions against ones driving privileges must be reported to a supervisor immediately, examples include:

• License suspension or revocation
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Reckless driving, excessive speeding, at fault accidents
• DUI/DWAI incidents

Reporting is required regardless of whether the event occurred during work hours, with a company vehicle or a personal vehicle. Children of America entrusts our drivers with enormous responsibility, especially those transporting children.  

At COA, we prioritize the safety of our children, staff, and communities. All employees operating COA vehicles must adhere to our strict safety and accountability policies.

COA Driver’s License Requirement:

Operating a COA vehicle without a valid COA Driver’s License or authorizing someone else to do so may result in immediate termination.

• Employees with unacceptable Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) will have COA driving privileges suspended.
• Any employee who operates a COA vehicle while their driving privileges are suspended or revoked will be terminated following final review.

Knowingly driving with a suspended license will result in immediate termination without exception.

Notification Responsibility: 

Employees must report any violations, citations, or incidents that may impact their eligibility to drive to their supervisor immediately. 

In such cases, the employees’ eligibility to operate COA vehicles will be suspended pending further discretionary review.

Payment of Fines: 

Drivers are solely responsible for paying any traffic fines or citations incurred while operating either personal or COA vehicles.

COA will not reimburse or cover these costs under any circumstances.

Aggressive Driving – GPS Monitoring Program:

All COA company vehicles are equipped with GPS monitoring.   Our GPS devices are capable of monitoring, Acceleration, Deceleration, Cornering and Speeding.  

Egregious examples of aggressive driving may result in immediate suspension of driving privileges. 

Traffic Violations -Threshold for Disciplinary Action: 

Two (2) traffic violations within a 12-month period regardless of where they occur on or off duty may result in:

• Termination of employment
• Revocation of COA driving privileges
• Temporary suspension from driving COA vehicles (pending discretionary review)

Violation Categories & Acceptability

COA Employees Transporting Children are subject to an annual review and re-certification privileges. 

e.g. if you were initially certified in April of the current year, you do not need to be recertified in May of that year.