The big yellow school bus may not look quite as yellow anymore. Attribute it to the graphics. As school districts begin to allow advertising on school buses in an effort to assist their budget deficits and the increasing cost of diesel fuels, wrap installers could see a new market.

The Jackson school district in New Jersey is one of the most recent to pass a law allowing advertising.

“Every dollar we can generate from another source is a dollar that doesn’t have to come from the taxpayers of Jackson,’’ says Jackson school board business administrator Michelle Richardson in a statement. “Every little bit helps.’’

According to a statement, the Jackson Board of Education unanimously approved the use of ads from a local college. The ads will generate a pure profit of slightly more than $17,000 for the district.

TJ Pannell, a representative of JMR Graphics, a nationwide truck wraps manufacturer, says the use of ads on buses is a win for both the schools and wrap installers.

“This is a trend we are seeing many cash-strapped school districts take part in,” he says. “It generates needed revenue for the school districts and provides advertisers with great opportunities for increased visibility in front of relevant audiences.”

According to an article published in GPB News, one Georgia school board may also be investigating using bus ad-space as solution to boost funds. The school has not yet approved them, however, citing safety concerns. You can read the full story here.

The National Conference of State Legislatures says, “Allowing advertising on school buses is a new trend that has attracted significant interest at state legislatures the past few years. New Mexico, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Tennessee allow advertising on both the exterior and the interior of school buses. Laws in Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, Texas and Utah allow advertising on the exterior of school buses. Six states have no state policy on exterior advertisements.

“In Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin advertising is allowed on the interior of school buses, and more than 20 states have no policy governing interior advertisements,” continues the statement. “While some states have been considering and enacting legislation on the issue, other state departments of transportation have made policy decisions on the issue.”