Schools may apply for funding to help pay for costs to travel to the Ohio Supreme Court.

Schools may apply for funding to help pay for costs to travel to the Ohio Supreme Court.

The application period has opened for school officials to apply for grants to help defray the transportation costs for student field trips to the Ohio Supreme Court and its Visitor Education Center.

All schools that receive state funds are eligible to apply. Grants will be awarded based on the schools’ percentage of students enrolled in the free-and-reduced-lunch program as reported by the Ohio Department of Education. Preference will be given to schools that didn’t receive transportation grant funds during the 2016-2017 or 2017-2018 school years.

The Court’s Visitor Education Center gives students – fourth grade and above – an inside look at Ohio courts. School tours include student participation in a mock trial, and a courtroom visit that features artwork portraying the state’s history, culture, and commerce.

Grant applications must be completed online by authorized teachers or school administrators. The deadline to apply is Sept. 28, 2018, and the grants can be used for student trips through the end of June 2019.

The grant amount is based on the one-way distance from the school to the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center at 65 S. Front St. in downtown Columbus. The three funding awards, based on distance, are:

Less than 50 Miles - $220
51 to 100 Miles - $330
101 or More Miles - $440

A reimbursement check will be sent to the school principal or administrator within 30 days after the field trip. No funds are distributed before the scheduled trip to the Ohio Supreme Court building.

This is the eighth time grants have been offered to visit the Moyer Judicial Center. For questions or additional information, contact the Supreme Court’s civic education staff at courttours@sc.ohio.gov or 614.387.9223.