NASBLA Education Standards Discussion

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NASBLA Education Standards Discussion

• BLA Workshop
• March 29, 2007

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History of the NASBLA Education Standards

• Guidelines developed in mid-90s as list of
  minimum content items
• Guide for state, non-profit and commercial
  providers

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NASBLA Boating Education Resolutions

• 1964   
• Establishment of Boat Safety Education Committee
• Greater Emphasis On Boating Safety Education And
  Enforcement Favored Over Licensing

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NASBLA Boating Education Resolutions

• 1975   
• Education Committee Established
• Recommended Uniform Criteria for Developing State
  Boating Education Courses

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NASBLA Boating Education Resolutions

• 1977
• Urge Greater Uniformity and Reciprocity
• 1984
• Boating Safety Education Tailored for High-Risk
  Accident Groups

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NASBLA Boating Education Resolutions

• 1987   
• Establish Model National Guidelines for Mandatory
  Boat Safety Education        
• Safety Education       
• Boating Education Advisory Panel (BEAP)   
• Education Standards should be reviewed every 3
  years

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NASBLA Boating Education Resolutions

• 1989   
• NASBLA Guidelines Established for Mandatory
  Education  
• Members Agree to Recognize Any NASBLA Certified
  Boating Safety Course
•    

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NASBLA and Mandatory Education

• 1997 NASBLA opposed any movement towards a
  federal mandate requiring states to initiate
  mandatory education programs
• 1998- States are the appropriate place to
  implement mandatory boating education tailored to
  their specific needs.

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Validation of Standards

• 1998 - Penn State evaluated and developed
  standards based on boating violation and accident
  statistics
• That was 9 years ago. We need to re-evaluate
  the standards.

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The Standards

• Minimum body of knowledge necessary to effect
  safe, legal and enjoyable boating.
• Predicated on reducing risk in recreational
  boating based on empirical accident and boating
  violation statistics.

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The Standards

• 6-8 hour course
• Dictate content, but not organization or sequence
  of material
• Standards amendments go through Education
  Committee

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The StandardsA Cliffs Notes Version

• The following information gives a brief
  overview of the content covered in the standards.

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Standard 1The Boat

• Boat Capacity
• Registration and Titling

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Standard 2Boating Equipment

• PFD
• Fire Extinguishers
• Back-fire Flame Control Device
• Ventilation
• Navigation Lights
• Sound Signaling
• Visual Distress Signals

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Standard 3Trip Planning and Preparation

• Weather and Water Conditions
• Local Hazards
• Float Plans
• Preventative Maintenance
• Transporting and Trailering
• Fueling
• Pre-Departure Checklist and Passenger
  Communication

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Standard 4Marine Environment

• Environmental Laws and Regulations
• Human Waste Disposal
• Disposal of Toxic Substances

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Standard 5Safe Boat Operation

• Operator Responsibilities
• Drug and Alcohol Use
• Navigation Rules
• Aids to Navigation
• Docking and Mooring
• Anchoring
• Carbon Monoxide

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Standard 6Emergency Preparedness

• Rendering Assistance
• Capsizing and Falls Overboard
• Cold Water Immersion/Hypothermia
• Fire Emergency Preparedness
• Running Aground
• Accident Reports

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Standard 7Other Water Activities

• Personal Watercraft
• Water Skiing
• Diving and Snorkeling
• Hunting and Fishing
• Paddlesports

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Standard 8State-Specific Requirements

• Continuing Education
• State-Specific Requirements
• (14 parts- I will come back to this)

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Standard 9Course Format Testing Requirements

• Course Format (Classroom, Internet, Distance
  Learning, Home Study)
• Exam Format
• Multiple-choice exam questions
• Questions referenced with resources/standard
• Exam integrity plan
• Weight questions based on standards

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Recommended Standards(Not required in courses)

• R1- Boat Types and Uses
• R2- Boating Terms
• R3- Boat Theft Prevention
• R4- Communication Procedures

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Objectives of NASBLA National Boating Education
Standards

• Encourage uniform safe boating practices from
  state to state.
• Promote safe boating practices and procedures
  through approved boating education courses.
• Increased awareness of boating safety practices
  that will lead to a decrease in boating accidents
  and fatalities.

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NASBLA Approval Process

• Step 1- Course reviewed by NASBLA for standards
  1-7 and 9 content.
• Step 2- Course reviewed by state for standard 8
  content.
• Step 3- Course approved by NASBLA for use in
  state.

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Approval vs. Acceptance

• Approval Only given by NASBLA. Covers Standards
  1-9 content only. Occurs only after a state says
  a course meets standard 8 content.
• Acceptance Course meets states requirements
  and may be taught in the state - students receive
  state card

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The following statements have been heard recently
regarding NASBLA. Well help you debunk the myths
and set the story straight.
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NASBLA will approve any course as long as the
provider pays the application fee.

• True
• False

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Controversial issues dont get voted on by BLAs.
The Executive Board makes those decisions.

• True
• False

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There is a disconnect between what the states
want and what the Executive Board thinks should
be done.

• True
• False

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Standard 8

• Before we take a more in-depth look at Standard
  8, lets see how much you already know about the
  topic.

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Most of the course providers are ready, willing,
and able to comply with Standard 8 requirements.

• True
• False

32
Standard 8 gives a state the authority to change
any other standard.

• True
• False

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Standard 8 does not need to be taken out of the
approval process just to help a few frustrated
course providers.

• True
• False

34
Changing the national standards would affect the
state-specific standards.

• True
• False

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Which of the following topics is not covered in
Standard 8?

• Boating Equipment
• PFD Wearing Requirements
• Transporting and Trailering
• Waste Discharge Zones
• Boat Accident Reporting Requirements
• BUI Laws
• Registration and Titling Requirements

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Correct Answer

• Transporting and Trailering is NOT a part of
  Standard 8
• All of the other topics are a part of Standard 8
  AND all of those listed are already covered in
  the national standards

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Standard 8.2 Topics Already Covered in Other
Standards

• 8.2.1- Registration and Titling Requirements
  (1.2)
• 8.2.2 PFD Laws (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4)
• 8.2.3 Equipment Requirements (2.5, 2.6, 2.8,
  2.9, 2.10, 5.1, 5.6)
• 8.2.4 Mufflers and Noise Levels (5.1, 7.1)

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Standard 8.2 Topics Already Covered in Other
Standards

• 8.2.5 Waste Discharge Requirements (4.1, 4.2,
  4.3)
• 8.2.8 Careless, Reckless, Unsafe, Negligent
  Operations Laws (5.1)
• 8.2.9 Boat Speed Limits and Operation in
  Zoned/Restricted Areas (5.3, 5.4)
• 8.2.10 BUI Laws (5.2)

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Standard 8.2 Topics Already Covered in Other
Standards

• 8.2.12 Boat Accident Reporting Requirements
  (6.7)
• 8.2.13 State Boating Accident Report Form (6.8)

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Standard 8.2 Topics Not Covered in Other Standards

• 8.2.6 Education, Licensing and Testing
  Requirements
• 8.2.7 Age/Horsepower Restrictions
• 8.2.11 Law Enforcement Authority
• 8.2.14 Other Laws/Regulations for State
• Examples
• Florida Manatee protection
• Washington Tsunami preparedness

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What are the issues?

• Some states refuse to review courses
• Are some standards more important than others?
• Confusion over the approval process and the
  states role in it
• The standards have gotten away from their
  original intent
• NASBLA is being used as a scapegoat

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Some states refuse to review courses

• Staff shortage
• Quota of courses
• State law prohibits Internet courses
• Other reasons

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Why is this a problem?

• States receive federal grant funds
• Review based on content only
• NASBLA already does 90 of review, states only do
  10
• Give boaters the choice

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Are some standards more important than others?

• All standards must be included in a course
• However, some standards get more teaching time
  and more test questions
• Based on accident/violation statistics
• Future grant project Risk-based analysis of
  standards

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Why is this important?

• Many states feel as though their state-specific
  information has more content than other states
• Lets look at the following example of
  registration and titling requirements (8.2.1)

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Registration and Titling Requirements by state

• Delaware Valid 1-3 years (option), decal to
  left side of numbers
• Florida Valid 1 year, decal to left side of
  numbers and only on left side of boat
• Ohio- Valid 3 years, decal to left of numbers,
  registers paddlecraft
• Virginia Valid 3 years, decal to right of
  numbers

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Approval Process Confusion

• States dont issue NASBLA approval - they accept,
  endorse, recognize courses
• Only NASBLA approves courses
• States can review entire course, but only needs
  to review standard 8
• Content acceptance is not delivery acceptance

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Purpose of Standards

• Reciprocity
• Uniformity
• Safety
• Enjoyment
• Basic knowledge
• Current standards go beyond this list

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Where do you go from here?

• States Options
• Dont change and accept consequences
• Send state-specific information to NASBLA and let
  NASBLA do review
• Take over testing and card issuing
• Eliminate Standard 8
• Any other ideas?

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Where do we go from here?

• NASBLAs Future Projects on Issue
• Task Force
• Course Provider Workshop
• FAQ page on NASBLA website
• Terms and Conditions document completed
• Online library of state-specific information

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Where do we go from here?

• NASBLAs Future Grant Projects on Issue
• Risk-based anaylsis of standards
• Efficacy of course delivery methods
• Are there any other ideas?

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Any Questions?