The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has opened applications for the Texas Clean School Bus (TCSB) Program, which aims to reduce diesel exhaust emissions from school buses across the state. The initiative is part of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP), and funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The program’s goal is to limit children’s exposure to diesel exhaust in and around school buses that use diesel fuel. Eligible applicants include public school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, or countywide school district transportation systems operating at least one diesel-fueled bus. Private schools are not eligible.
Grants cover up to 80% of eligible costs for purchasing replacement buses or retrofitting existing ones. For replacement projects, only 2006 model year or older diesel-fueled buses can be replaced with current or previous model year vehicles. Buses proposed for replacement must have been owned, registered, and operated by the applicant in Texas for at least two years before applying and must currently be used on regular daily routes.
Retrofit grants are available for installing closed crankcase filtration systems, diesel particulate filters, or diesel oxidation catalysts. To qualify for retrofit funding, a bus must operate daily during the school year and have at least five years of useful life remaining.
Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. CST on May 22, 2026, or until all funds are distributed. More information about eligibility and how to apply can be found on the TCSB webpage. Details about other emission reduction programs managed by TCEQ are available at www.terpgrants.org.
“TCEQ administers this program to reduce children’s exposure to diesel exhaust in and around diesel-fueled school buses.”
For updates about TERP programs, interested parties can join TCEQ’s email list.
