Protect Our Students Act

Key Points

• Adds school-zone crash prevention to the list of projects states can fund through their highway safety programs.
• Says the Transportation Department should make clear that states can use funds for things like crossing guards, better crosswalks, signs, and flashing beacons near schools.
• Allows funding for traffic-slowing changes near schools, like pedestrian islands and other calming measures.
• Includes support for school zone safety reviews and programs like Safe Routes to School that aren’t construction projects.
• Changes the funding split so 50% (up from 40%) goes to states based on a set allocation formula, which could shift how money is divided among states.