N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-250.3: Extraordinary Transportation Costs Grant.

(a) There is established the Extraordinary Transportation Costs Grant Program (Program). The Program shall use funds from the Special State Reserve Fund (SSRF) to cover extraordinary costs associated with the transportation of high-needs students with disabilities.

(b) The Department of Public Instruction shall provide an application for local school administrative units and charter schools to apply for extraordinary transportation funds and may provide additional eligibility guidelines not inconsistent with this section. SSRF transportation funds shall be awarded to qualifying local school administrative units or charter schools consistent with the following:

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

(2) Applicants with highest extraordinary transportation costs shall receive highest priority in the award of grant funds.

(3) Funds may be awarded during the initial year of a high-needs student's enrollment in the local school administrative unit or charter school or in subsequent years of the student's enrollment. (2023-134, s. 7.30(a).)