Homeschool benefits and savings in the Nine-county Bay Area
Clipper START takes 50% off single-ride fares on BART, Muni, AC Transit, Caltrain, ferries, and the other Bay Area systems that accept Clipper, 21 systems in all. Adults ages 19-64 who live in the nine Bay Area counties qualify if household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level ($66,000 for a family of four in 2026); children 18 and under use a Youth Clipper card instead. Other options include college classes and scholarships and library educator cards and resources.
Benefits in the Nine-county Bay Area
- MTC Clipper START reduced fare
- Cabrillo Community College homeschool dual enrollment
- Contra Costa County Library homeschool institution card
MTC Clipper START reduced fare
Who qualifies
Is 19 to 64 years old
Clipper START is for adults, so it covers you as the parent or an older homeschool student who has turned 19. Riders 18 and under get a Youth Clipper card, which Clipper START says offers similar or better discounts.
Lives in the Bay Area
You must live in one of the nine Bay Area counties, and the card is mailed to an address there.
Meets the income limit
Gross household income must be at or below 200% of the 2026 federal poverty level. Your household is you, a spouse you file jointly with, and anyone listed as a dependent on your tax return.
Shows proof of income
Upload a CalFresh or EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card, Medi-Cal card, Muni Lifeline card, county benefit eligibility letter, or your most recent tax return. CalFresh participants qualify automatically.
Who meets the income limit
Clipper START's 2026 income limits are set at 200% of the federal poverty level, before taxes.
- 1 person
- $31,920
- 2 people
- $43,280
- 3 people
- $54,640
- 4 people
- $66,000
- 5 people
- $77,360
- 6 people
- $88,720
The discount comes off single fares paid with cash value on the card, and you must tap off at the end of BART, Caltrain, Golden Gate Transit, San Francisco Bay Ferry, SMART, and Sonoma County Transit rides or you pay the full fare.
How to get the discount
- Before you apply
Gather your documents
Have a proof of identity and a proof of income ready to scan or photograph. Each adult in your household who qualifies files a separate application.
- When you apply
Apply online or on paper
Create a Clipper START account and apply at clipperstartcard.com, or use the paper application in the Clipper START brochure. You can save the online form and finish later.
- Within 30 days
Get your card
A personalized Clipper START card with your name arrives by mail. Load it with cash value and the 50% discount applies each time you tap.
- Every two years
Renew your eligibility
You get an email or text reminder, then upload updated documents. If you miss the date, your account is deleted after 60 days and you must reapply.
What it includes
Included
- Single rides on BART, Muni, Caltrain, and AC Transit
- VTA, SamTrans, SMART, and other Bay Area buses
- Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay ferries
- Replacement of a lost card
Not included
- Riders 18 and under or 65 and older
- Golden Gate "Early Bird" East Bay fares
- Special event ferries to Oracle Park and Chase Center
- Sharing the card with another person
Clipper START is a discount on each single fare, not a pass: you still load cash value, and the 50% comes off after any transfer discount between agencies.
Who to contact about Clipper START
Clipper START Customer Service answers questions about eligibility, documents, and applications, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
help@clipperstartcard.com 855-614-9149 Clipper START FAQs
Cabrillo Community College homeschool dual enrollment
Who qualifies
Is homeschooled in California
Cabrillo states that homeschooled students in California can take part in dual enrollment as part-time special admit students.
Files the R-4 affidavit
Submit a copy of your R-4 Private School Affidavit (PSA) with the K-12 consent form through the Dual Enrollment eForm.
Applies to Cabrillo
Students 14 and older apply through CCCApply. Students 13 and under get a paper application from Admissions and Records.
Takes 11 units or fewer
Registering for more than 11 units ends the tuition coverage for every unit that term unless the Dual Enrollment Department approves more.
What the coverage saves
Cabrillo College charges California residents $46 a unit in tuition.
- One 3-unit class
- $138
- Two classes (6 units)
- $276
- Full dual enrollment load (11 units)
- $506
- Fall and spring at 11 units each
- $1,012
Only tuition is covered: on a part-time fall or spring load your student still owes the $28 health fee, $10 activity card, $39 transportation fee, $5 student center fee, and $2 representation fee, $84 in all.
From applying to keeping it
- Before the term
Apply to Cabrillo
On CCCApply, choose the status "Enrolling in high school (or lower grade) and college at the same time."
- After you apply
Submit the consent form
Upload the K-12 consent form and the affidavit through the Dual Enrollment eForm in Etrieve Central. Cabrillo does not accept forms by email, in person, or by fax.
- On your registration date
Register in MyCabrillo
Check My Registration Date, then register on or after that date.
- Up to 7 days after
Watch the balance clear
The tuition sponsorship is added after every step is complete and can take 7 days to clear from your student's account.
- Until graduation
Keep the consent form
Once approved, the consent form stays valid until your student finishes high school.
What it pays for
Covered
- Tuition up to 11 units a semester
Not covered
- Textbooks
- Parking permits
- Course material fees
- Health, activity, transportation, and other student fees
- Tuition for courses dropped after the deadline
Who to contact
The Dual Enrollment office answers questions about homeschool affidavits, consent forms, and requests to exceed 11 units.
dualenrollment@cabrillo.edu 831-786-4732 Dual enrollment page
Contra Costa County Library homeschool institution card
Who qualifies
Teaches as a homeschooling educator
Homeschooling educators are eligible, along with school staff and community service organization volunteers. Show a homeschooling affidavit or documentation of homeschool affiliation with an educational institution.
Lives in California
The Institution Card requires California residency.
Brings ID and address proof
Bring a photo ID, proof of your home and work addresses, and the printed Institution Card form with your signature.
Uses it for teaching
The account is for materials you use with your students, separate from your family's personal borrowing.
What the card gives you
The terms come from Contra Costa County Library's Teachers and Educators page and its account policies.
- Standard loan period
- 9 weeks
- Lucky Day items and some kits
- Shorter loans
- Renewals
- None
- Libby and OverDrive e-materials
- Included
- Account length
- 1 year
- Lost book, CD, or DVD
- Price or $25, plus $10
Because Institution items cannot be renewed, the library starts them on a long loan so holds from other patrons do not cut your use short.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Gather your documents
Print and sign the Institution Card form, and bring a photo ID, proof of address, and your homeschooling affidavit or affiliation document.
- At any branch
Open the account
Any Contra Costa County Library location can set up the Institution account next to your personal card.
- Each checkout
Return on time
Borrowing stops when an account owes $10 or more or has an item 30 or more days overdue.
- After one year
Re-verify in person
The Institution Card does not renew automatically. Bring current proof of homeschooling to keep it.
What it includes
Included
- Books and media for teaching
- Libby and OverDrive e-materials
- Databases, where vendors allow
Not included
- Renewals
- Computers and printing
- Various kits
- LINK+ and Discover & Go
- Kanopy and Hoopla
Good to know
You keep your regular card
Each eligible person can hold one personal account and one Institution account, and your personal card is still the one to use for LINK+, Kanopy, Hoopla, and Discover & Go.
Who to contact about the card
Library staff answer account questions by phone and through the online contact form.
Homeschool rules and statewide help in California
For the home-based private-school pathway, file the Private School Affidavit during the October 1–15 annual filing period. New schools may use the online filing system during its separate August 1–June 30 opening window. Other legal pathways have their own rules.
California sets these rules:
- Subjects: The private-school pathway must provide instruction in English in the branches of study required for public schools; the parent chooses the materials and course sequence.
- Testing: California does not impose a statewide standardized-testing requirement on private-school students.
- Records: Private schools must keep the records required by California law, including attendance and faculty information.
- Teachers: Private-school instructors must be capable of teaching; California does not issue a separate homeschool-parent credential.
Read the California homeschooling guide See statewide programs in California
Questions parents ask
- Can my homeschooled child use Clipper START?
- Only once your student turns 19. Clipper START is for adults ages 19-64, and school enrollment plays no part in it. Children 18 and under can get a Youth Clipper card with a birth date check instead.
- Can one Clipper START application cover our whole family?
- No. Each qualifying adult fills out their own application and gets a card printed with their name, and transit staff may compare it to your ID.
- Do we resubmit the Cabrillo consent form every term?
- No. After approval, the consent form remains valid until your student graduates from high school.
- Where can we find Cabrillo textbooks without buying them?
- The Cabrillo Library lends textbooks, and the online Bookstore sells course materials.
- Does Contra Costa County Library charge overdue fines?
- No daily fines. At 30 days overdue an item is set to lost, you are billed, and the account is blocked until it is settled.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
A student fare helps with trips to classes and activities. We handle the learning at home, with lessons built around your child's interests and feedback on their work.
$149/month per child after the trial.
Find benefits for your ZIP code