STATEHOUSE NEWS

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(Columbus, OH)—The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) and the Capitol Square Foundation (CSF) are pleased to announce that 81 schools will be awarded Transportation Grants for the 2025-2026 academic year. The online application will open on Monday, Sept. 15, at 9 a.m. and remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22.

The grants will help schools defray bus transportation costs for field trips to the Ohio Statehouse and its museum. Each grant’s amount will be based on one-way mileage from the visiting school to the Ohio Statehouse.

Since the creation of CSF’s program in 2009, tens of thousands of students from all 88 counties in Ohio have visited the Ohio Statehouse through the assistance of these grants. “Thanks to Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc.'s generous support, students can visit the Ohio Statehouse, providing them with a firsthand experience of how state government works.” said Charles Moses, CSF Chair, “It’s an opportunity in furthering their civic education in a way a textbook cannot.”

27 grants will be awarded in each of three mileage categories:
1 to 50 miles ($200)
51 to 100 miles ($300)
101+ miles ($400)

This year, teachers and administrators will have eight days to submit applications. CSRAB will use a random number generator to choose 27 schools from each mileage category.

“We are excited to welcome students from around the state to experience history and government at The Ohio Statehouse,” said Megan Wycuff, CSRAB Executive Director. “We are so grateful for the Capitol Square Foundation’s continued support in making this educational opportunity available to Ohio schools.”

The Transportation Grants will be available to any school in Ohio that receives state funding. Grants are limited to students in the 4th through 12th grades during the 2025-2026 academic year. Only one Transportation Grant will be awarded to each school, regardless of the number of buses or students visiting the Ohio Statehouse. Additionally, schools must have a minimum of 20 students on their field trip in order to be eligible for a grant, and recipients must schedule and attend a guided tour of the Statehouse in order to receive their funds. Please contact Dayna Jalkanen at tours@ohiostatehouse.org with questions or for additional information.

Only online applications will be accepted and must be submitted by an authorized teacher or school administrator. Applications will be accepted for eight days, from Sept. 15-22. Grant recipients will be notified of their status by Sept. 24, 2025.

Detailed information about the program is available, and the online application will be posted on the website: https://www.ohiostatehouse.org/visit/school-and-group-tours/school-bus-transportation-grant-program.


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