FAIRFAX, Va. — Toyota Motor Corp. will provide $20 million in grants to school districts for purchasing emissions-reducing filters and ultra-low sulfur diesel for their buses.

As part of a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over violations of the Clean Air Act, Toyota launched the Clean Buses for Kids program, which will award a maximum of $750,000 and a minimum of $30,000 per operation.

Only public school districts and government entities that own and operate school bus fleets are eligible for the funding. The program will give preference to operations in non-attainment areas — those that already have levels of particulate matter and/or ozone in the air that exceed federal standards.

Applicants must submit an “expression of interest” form by Nov. 12. Selected candidates will then be invited to submit applications.

The expression of interest forms and additional information are available at www.cleanbusesforkids.com.

The government’s lawsuit against Toyota, which was settled last year, alleged that the company sold 2.2 million vehicles manufactured between 1996 and ‘98 that didn’t properly alert drivers of leaks in the emission control system. Clean Buses for Kids is not related to the EPA’s Clean School Bus USA program.