Texas Clean School Bus Program

• 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.

The replacement of eligible equipment with newer equipment.

• The school bus being replaced must be a pre-2007 model year. A school bus proposed for purchase must be of the current or previous model year at the time the application is submitted.
• The applicant must own the school bus at the time of application, and must have continuously owned the school bus and have been listed as the owner on the title for a minimum of two years immediately preceding the application signature date.
• Unless the vocational type of the school bus is exempt from inspection and registration requirements, the school bus must currently be registered for operation in Texas and must have been continuously inspected and registered in Texas for the two years immediately preceding the application date.
• Applicants must submit documentation with the application to show compliance with the ownership and registration requirements, including a copy of the school bus title for the two years immediately preceding the application signature date.
• The school bus must be currently, and for the two years immediately preceding the application signature date, operating on a regular daily route to and from a school during the regular school year.
• A replacement school bus must be the same type as the school bus being replaced. For the purpose of this grant round, school bus types are defined by the chassis configuration, and the gross vehicle weight rating. Refer to the FY 2022 RFGA, Appendix B: School Bus Types).

Maximum Grant Amount for Replacement Projects

A grant recipient may be eligible for reimbursement of up to 80% of the eligible incremental costs associated with the purchase of the replacement school bus, not to exceed the maximum grant amount established by TCEQ for that activity. Refer to Maximum Grant Amount Table No. 1 in the RFGA to determine the eligible grant amount.

To meet TCEQ qualifications for retrofit projects under the TCSB program, a school bus must:

• be used on a regular, daily route, to and from school and;
• have at least five years of useful life remaining, unless the applicant agrees to remove the retrofit device at the end of the life of the bus and reinstall it on another bus.

Maximum Grant Amount for Retrofit Projects

Costs per device can range depending on the type of technology chosen. A grant recipient may be eligible for reimbursement of up to 100% of the cost to purchase and install the retrofit device and associated equipment. Review the RFGA for eligible equipment and installation costs associated with retrofit projects.

Eligible Retrofit Technologies

The following eligible technologies offer options for cleaner-running school buses. School-bus emissions decrease by as much as 90 percent when these engine or exhaust retrofits are made. All technologies must be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of verified technologies or the California Air Resources Board's list of verified technologies , or be a technology that TCEQ commission finds will bring about significant emissions reductions.

For buses built from 1994 to 1998:

• Diesel Particulate Filters: A diesel particulate matter filter (DPF) is a ceramic device that collects the particulate matter in the exhaust stream. The high temperature of the exhaust heats the ceramic structure and allows the particles inside to break down (or oxidize) into less harmful components. DPFs reduce emissions of particulate matter by 60 to 90 percent. DPFs also reduce emissions of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide by 60 to 90 percent.

For buses built before 1994:

• Diesel Oxidation Catalyst A diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) is a device that uses a chemical process to break down pollutants in the exhaust stream into less harmful components. More specifically, it is a physical device with a porous ceramic honeycomb-like structure that is coated with a material that catalyzes a chemical reaction to reduce pollution. DOCs reduce emissions of particulate matter by at least 20 percent. DOCs also reduce emissions of hydrocarbons by 50 percent and carbon monoxide by 40 percent.

For all buses:

• Closed Crankcase Filtration System: A closed crankcase filtration system is a device that uses an air filter to trap particulate matter. When used in conjunction with some type of filtration system in the exhaust stream, these systems may be more effective at reducing children’s in-cabin exposures to pollutants.

How do I Find a Vendor for Retrofit Projects?

TCEQ and the Texas Comptroller have secured state pricing for the purchase and installation of retrofit technology. This information, including contact information for these vendors, may be found on the Texas Comptroller's website A school district is not required to employ a vendor from this list, nor are they limited by this list of vendors.