NC S558

Establishes the School Road Improvement Grant Program within the Department of Public Instruction to award grants up to $500,000 to local school boards and charter schools for improvements to state-maintained roads caused by new school construction or facility expansion.

Appropriates $25,000,000 in nonrecurring funds from the Highway Fund for the 2017-2018 fiscal year to support the grant program through a newly created School Road Construction Account.

Requires grant recipients to provide matching non-state funds ranging from 25% to 75% of the grant amount depending on the economic development tier of the school's location, with tier one (most disadvantaged) requiring 25% match.

Grants may be spent over a five-year period from initial award; unspent funds must be returned to the Highway Fund after five years and remain available for future appropriation by the General Assembly.

Requires the Department of Public Instruction and Department of Transportation to select recipients by February 1, 2018, prioritizing projects related to new school construction, then expansion projects, and to report on program implementation to specified legislative committees.