§ 115C-250.5.  Homeless and foster student transportation grant.

(a) There is established the Transportation Reserve Fund for Homeless and Foster Students to provide for a grant program to cover extraordinary school transportation costs for homeless and foster students. For the purposes of this section, "homeless" is defined in accordance with the definition in the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

(b) The Department of Public Instruction shall provide an application process for local school administrative units and charter schools to apply for funds to cover extraordinary transportation costs for qualifying students. The Department shall establish eligibility guidelines and shall award funds consistent with the following requirements:

(1) In determining extraordinary transportation costs, the Department shall consider total prior-year transportation expenditures for homeless and foster children, including expenditures from local funds and all other funding sources, as a proportion of total expenditures.

(2) Priority shall be given to applicants in proportion to the extent that their applications and prior-year expenditures demonstrate use of available federal funds to cover the cost of transporting homeless and foster children.

(3) Awards shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of extraordinary transportation costs as determined pursuant to this subsection.

(4) Awards shall not be issued on a pro rata basis to each eligible applicant. (2023-134, s. 7.30(a).)