SchoolPool is a pilot grant program from Movability designed to incentivize schools to create robust carpool networks to help transport students safely to and from school each day or to after-school activities.

Any school can participate in the program, including during its pilot period for the 2024-25 school year.

Reducing the number of vehicles driving and idling around schools improves air quality, reduces traffic congestion, makes roads safer for students and neighborhoods around school campuses, and reduces the time that families spend in Austin traffic as well as the amount of money they spend on gas and vehicle maintenance.

SchoolPool is a grant-based program that leverages online and mobile tools to match parents and caregivers to potential carpool network opportunities. All schools selected to participate in SchoolPool will receive $500 as an incentive to develop a carpool, bikepool, and walkpool program at their school and to cover any initial launch expenses.

Every other month, Movability will evaluate SchoolPool participation and offer an additional $100 to each school that has maintained or increased the number of SchoolPools operating on their campus since the last evaluation period, up to $500.

The PTA or booster club would serve as the point of contact between Movability and the school community; for instance, your group might help put together an event on the campus to kick off the program and help families sign up. PTAs can also help spread the word about the program to grow engagement.

Completing background checks on adult driver participants will be a core component of the SchoolPool program, and Movability is currently evaluating the mechanisms to perform this task in cooperation with schools and platform providers.

Movability is currently evaluating online and mobile app platforms to help deliver carpool matching capabilities. It’s expected that parents/caregivers will have the ability to:

• Match with other parents/caregivers either as drivers or participants in a carpool

• Identify and arrange both morning and afternoon (or after school) pick-ups and home drop-offs.

• Provide vehicle information and number of available car seats for participating children.

In addition, Movability expects that the SchoolPool program will be able to provide data such as total number of vehicle trips, miles and gas savings and reduction in CO2 emissions.

Booster clubs and similar school support organizations are encouraged to take the lead and apply for a SchoolPool grant on behalf of their school, with support from school administrators.