Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen D. Dackin has announced the launch of a N10 million Ohio School Bus Safety Grant Program, a new initiative aimed at enhancing the safety of school transportation across the state.

With a total funding amount of $10 million, this program will provide competitive grants to eligible applicants for the repair, replacement, or addition of authorized school bus safety features to school buses in active service or for safety enhancements to the purchase of a new school bus.

“Whether they are in the classroom or on the school bus, our commitment to parents and families is to do whatever we can to keep students safe,” said Governor DeWine.

“These School Bus Safety Grant funds further this goal to ensure Ohio students are safe on their way to and from school, and when traveling to athletics and other school activities.”

Governor DeWine convened the Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group to inspect all facets of the student transportation process and provide data-driven recommendations on areas where improvements can be made.

In its report issued in January 2024, the working group concluded that while school buses remain the safest mode of transportation for students traveling to and from school, opportunities existed to make school bus travel even safer.

To accomplish this goal, the Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group recommended the state offer funding to districts to offset the costs associated with upgrading school bus fleets with safety equipment that meets specific needs.

“The Governor’s School Bus Safety Working Group made important recommendations, and I encourage school leaders to look at their local school bus needs when applying for these funds,” said Director Dackin.

“These funds are an important reflection of Ohio’s priorities of student safety and well-being.”

The Ohio School Bus Safety Grant Program is designed to be flexible, allowing districts to tailor purchases to their specific safety needs while considering district finances. Eligible applicants include city, local, exempted village, and joint vocational school districts, as well as community schools, chartered nonpublic schools, STEM schools, educational service centers, and county boards of developmental disabilities.

Applications for the grant program will be accepted until Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. through the Department’s e-grant system, ED STEPS.

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