The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA) prohibits the sale of a new van to programs that provide transportation to and from school. On June 8, 1999 NHTSA issued the following statement:  To the Governors of the 50 States and the Mayor of the District of columbia: Require that all vehicles carrying more than 10 passengers (buses) and transporting children to and from school and school related activities, including, but not limited to, Head Start programs and day care centers, meet the school bus structureal standards or the equivalent as set forth in 49 code of Federal Regulations Part 571.  Following is a link to the U.S. Department of Education's web page referencing the NHTSA statement.  http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oii/nonpublic/transportation.html  For additional information related to the safe transportation of students you may wish to visit School Transportation News:  http://www.stnonline.com/stn/nonconformingvans/interpret/index.htm