The stories of how school districts can cut transportation costs continue to grow. With examples such as New Jersey potentially reducing transportation costs by $200 million to Boston Public Schools cutting costs to save $5 million, it seems there is an excess from school district transportation departments that can be cut. But, being in the transportation department, you may have a different view.
This is where grants can come in and help. We know the number of ed tech grants are vast (Kajeet even put together a list of 123 grants!) it's not as easy for transportation departments to find money.
We found 10 new grants for your school district to look into and apply for from field trips, to creating a STEM bus, to clean energy bus grants.
Read on and find a grant for your school district!
FIELD TRIP GRANTS
The Big Yellow School Bus Grants provide state-specific grants to support taking students on a field trip. While they’re traveling, connect your students to filtered Wi-Fi so they can learn while riding to and from the trip!
Big Yellow School Bus Grants
Mission: Multiple states provide transportation grants to support cultural field trips.
Ohio
- Funding Priority: Private and public schools (pre-kindergarten through secondary) and associations for home-schooled students
- Amount: Up to $500
- More information: https://mycreativecompass.org/Money/Grants/Ohio-Arts-Council-s-Big-Yellow-School-Bus-program
Massachusetts:
- Funding Priority: Any Massachusetts school serving grades K-12. The field trip destination must be in Massachusetts. The places and programs must be in the arts, sciences, or humanities and run by a non-profit cultural institution. Examples: art and science museums; historic sites; and, music, theater and dance performances.
- Amount: $250
- More information: https://massculturalcouncil.org/education/big-yellow-school-bus/application-process/
Rhode Island
- Funding Priority: Rhode Island K-12 tax-exempt public or private schools with 501c(3) educational status, or a tax-exempt parent-teacher organizations (PTO) associated with a school. Only one grant will be awarded to an applicant within the same fiscal year.
- Amount: Up to $400
- More information: https://risca.online/grants/big-yellow-school-bus-grant/
Silos & Smoke Stacks Bus Grants
Mission: The Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) Bus Grant program is a grant initiative designed to help schools in the 37 county heritage area fund the transportation costs associated with field study trips to designated SSNHA Partner Sites and farm sites giving students the opportunity to learn about America’s agricultural heritage firsthand.
Funding Priority: An accredited Pre K-12 public, private, or charter school in Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area with the desire to learn more about Iowa’s agricultural heritage. One grant per school building will be awarded.
Amount: The grant funds 75% of the total amount of transportation to and from the school and the selected SSNHA Partner Site or farm site for the field study trip, not to exceed $350.
More Information: https://www.silosandsmokestacks.org/educate/bus-grants/
Target Field Trip Grants
Mission: It’s become increasingly difficult for schools to fund learning opportunities outside the classroom. To help them out, we launched Target field trip grants in 2007. Since then, we’ve made it possible for millions of students to go on a field trip.
Funding Priority: As part of the program, Target stores award field trip grants to K-12 schools nationwide. Educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals or classified staff of these institutions must be willing to plan and execute a field trip that will provide a demonstrable learning experience for students.
Amount: $700
More Information: https://corporate.target.com/corporate-responsibility/community/philanthropy/field-trip-grants
STEM GRANTS
We advise for these STEM grants to work with your Chief Technology Officer or Chief Academic Officer to create a mobile makerspace! If you’re looking for inspiration, check out this story from Newington Public Schools in Connecticut.
Grants are all about showing your creativity and innovative ideas to solve a problem.
General Motors – STEM Education
Mission: We want to build the next leaders and innovators in science, technology, engineering, and math. This means making sure all kids and young adults have access to mentorship in this field. Especially kids from underrepresented and diverse groups.
Funding Priority: Applicant is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in good standing with the IRS.
Amount: Varies.
More Information: https://www.gm.com/our-company/social-investment.html#stem
Change Happens Foundation
Mission: We want to build the next leaders and innovators in science, technology, engineering, and math. This means making sure all kids and young adults have access to mentorship in this field. Especially kids from underrepresented and diverse groups.
Funding Priority: Grantees must have a current 501(c)(3) Public Charity status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), be a government entity, or be an IRS-recognized tribe.
Amount: Varies.
More Information: https://www.changehappens.us/HowToApply
Vernier Engineering Contest
Mission: Vernier Software & Technology is committed to helping educators develop the next generation of engineers and scientists. To show our support, we are announcing the Vernier Engineering Award. This $5,500 award will be presented to one educator (a middle school, high school, or college instructor) who is innovatively using Vernier sensors to introduce engineering concepts or engineering practices to their students.
Funding Priority: Current instructors of engineering, science, or STEM subjects in middle school, high school, or college are eligible to apply. Applicants must be using Vernier sensors in their classroom instruction. Applicants may not have won previously at their school.
Amount: $1,000 in cash, $3,000 in Vernier technology, and $1,500 toward expenses to attend either the NSTA STEM conference or ASEE conference.
More Information: https://www.vernier.com/grants/engineering/
CLEAN BUS GRANTS
Clean Diesel National Grants
Mission: EPA anticipates awarding approximately $40 million in competitive grant funding for the Diesel Emissions Reductions Act (DERA) Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. The Program solicits proposals nationwide for projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions in terms of tons of pollution produced and exposure, particularly from fleets operating in areas designated by the Administrator as poor air quality areas.
Funding Priority:School districts, municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), cities and counties are all eligible entities to the extent that they fall the definition below:
- Regional, state, local or tribal agencies/consortia or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality
- Nonprofit organizations or institutions that represent or provide pollution reduction or educational services to persons or organizations that own or operate diesel fleets or have the promotion of transportation or air quality as their principal purpose.
Amount: Varies.
More Information: https://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/clean-diesel-national-grants
Texas Clean School Bus Program
Mission: The Texas Clean School Bus (TCSB) program is a comprehensive program designed to reduce emissions of diesel exhaust from school buses.
Funding Priority: All public school districts and charter schools in Texas are eligible to apply for this grant. Private schools are not eligible for funding. Public school districts that lease buses are eligible for retrofit projects only.
Amount: A grant recipient may be eligible for reimbursement of up to 75% of the eligible incremental costs associated with the purchase of the replacement school bus.
More Information: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/terp/school-buses.html
There are plenty of grants available for education, you just have to get creative! Make sure to check out our grant writing tips before you get started on submitting your grants.