A new grant program in Pennsylvania is aimed at increasing safety for students and school buses. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that $1.2 million is now available.

Funding for the program was generated from a portion of the fines from enforcement of the state’s School Bus Stopping Law, which collects either $250 or $300 from stop-arm violators caught on camera (the amount depending on whether the buses’ red lights were flashing or not). Of that fine, $25 goes to PennDOT for the School Bus Safety Grant Program.

Grants from the program can be used to promote and increase school bus safety, education, and training, or pay for education, training, and other associated costs related to CDL issuance or endorsement for school bus drivers.

Independent contractors, school entities, and municipalities are all eligible for the grant.

Applicants are open at grants.pa.gov from June 2 to July 3, 2025.

Visit this PennDOT page for social media graphics for transportation-related awareness campaigns.

“This grant program furthers Governor Shapiro’s commitment to providing a safe transportation system for all Pennsylvanians,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “The funding will allow schools and their partners to invest in programs designed to increase the safety of children riding school buses across the state.”