Iowa Launches Inaugural School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest

March 10, 2026

The Iowa Department of Education launched its first Iowa School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest, inviting students across the state to showcase their artistic talents while promoting an important safety message.

According to a press release, the inaugural 2025–2026 post contest theme, “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes,” recognizes the vital role school bus drivers and transportation staff play in safely transporting Iowa students each day.

The poster contest is open to students in four divisions: Kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth grade, sixth through eighth grade, and computer-aided drawing (CAD). All entries must be received by April 17 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Students may submit their posters either by mail or electronically through the official contest entry form.

Poster Contest Rules

To be eligible, each poster must display the theme exactly as written, including punctuation, and include at least part of a yellow school bus. Posters that fail to reflect the theme verbatim will be disqualified.

Entries must measure either 11 inches by 17 inches or 12 inches by 18 inches and may be oriented vertically or horizontally. While there is no limit on colors or artistic media, certain materials, including lamination, collage elements, glued-on pieces, stenciled or preprinted lettering, and copyrighted images such as logos, clip art, or stock graphics, are prohibited. All artwork must be original and promote positive school bus safety behaviors.

Mail-in submissions must be delivered flat to the Department of Education’s Bureau of School Business Operations in Des Moines and include a completed entry label securely fastened to the back of the poster with the required student and school information. Digital submissions must be provided as a PDF or high-resolution png or jpg file at a minimum of 300 dpi for proper printing.

Winning artists will receive recognition fn May, and printed copies of the top posters will be distributed statewide ahead of National School Bus Safety Week Oct. 19–23. First-place winners in each division will also advance to national competition. Posters will be judged by professionals in pupil transportation based on safety impact, originality, artistic quality, and overall visual impact.