What does ASTP mean in TRAVEL & TOURISM

The Assisted School Travel Program (ASTP) provides subsidies to eligible families to help pay for the costs of getting their children to and from school. The program is offered in Ontario under the direction of the Ministry of Education.

The ASTP is available for eligible families who meet all of the criteria, including a distance requirement and family income thresholds. It applies to students attending publicly funded schools who are going into Grades 1 and up, living outside a reasonable walking distance from school. Students must also be either Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents or Protected Persons as defined under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

The ASTP covers some of the costs associated with getting children to and from school, such as transportation by bus, taxi, public transit, or other approved means. Other approved expenses may include parking fees, childcare costs for older siblings travelling with younger siblings for safety reasons, etc.

To apply for ASTP benefits, you must complete an application package which includes providing an original proof of residence document and income information such as your most recently filed tax return or a letter confirming your annual gross family income from your employer. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

To submit an application you will need proof of your child’s age such as a birth certificate; proof that your child is enrolled in a publicly funded elementary or secondary school such as a report card; proof that you live within the designated area associated with that school; and proof of family income such as Notice of Assessment from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Applications can take up to sixteen weeks to process due to the large volume received each year. If you do not receive notification within sixteen weeks, please contact your local board directly for more information about why your application has not been processed yet.

Approved applicants will receive funding equivalent to their current transportation costs based on their eligibility under the program guidelines. Funding amounts vary since each family’s circumstances are unique but typically range between $300-$500 per school year depending on how far away from school they live and applicable travel costs.

Upon receiving notice that your application has been approved benefits start immediately upon receipt unless otherwise specified by priority date requirements set by individual boards/authorities if applicable.

Your application will remain open until you have submitted updated paperwork reflecting any changes in circumstances since submitting your initial application package (such as household size increase/decrease or change in address). Applicants should re-apply no later than six weeks before their current approval date expires to ensure continuous coverage while their new terms are being processed.