Homeschool benefits and savings in Cheshire

Cheshire's Parks and Recreation Fee Scholarship Program lowers the fees for recreational and cultural programs for income-eligible families with children. The town screens household income, and the reduction does not depend on where your child goes to school, so a homeschooled child qualifies the same way.

By Andrew Garber, founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed August 25, 2026.

Who qualifies

1. Family with children

   The fee scholarship is for families with children who want to join Cheshire Parks and Recreation programs.

2. Income-eligible household

   The town screens your household income to decide eligibility. The page does not publish the income limit, so ask Human Services for the current figure and the papers to bring.

3. Holds an income certification

   Parks and Recreation grants the fee reduction based on your income certification, so get certified before you register.

What programs cost

These are full resident fees from Cheshire's Fall 2026 program guide; the town does not publish how much the fee scholarship takes off.

Family pasta-making class, ages 6-12

$60

Mary's Culinary kids cooking class, ages 6-14

$60

Scratch coding, ages 7-9, one session

$145

Babysitting course, ages 11-14

$150

Ask Human Services what percentage your income certification gives you, so you know your share of each fee before you sign up.

How to get the reduction

1. Before you register

   Call Human Services

   Call Cheshire Human Services at 203-271-6690 and ask for the Parks and Recreation fee scholarship income screening.

2. At the screening

   Certify your income

   Your household income is checked to decide whether your family qualifies and what reduction applies.

3. At registration

   Register at the reduced fee

   Parks and Recreation applies the reduction based on your income certification. Programs are listed on the town's MyRec registration site.

4. Each season

   Pick new programs

   The reduction is for recreational and cultural programs offered throughout the year, so you can use it as new seasons open.

What it pays for

Covered

• Recreation program fees
• Cultural program fees

Good to know

• Homeschooled children can get the reduction

  The program is for income-eligible families with children and has no school-enrollment rule. Your household income, not your child's school, decides eligibility.

• The town does not publish the reduction

  The reduction depends on your income certification; the town does not publish a set percentage or dollar amount. Ask Human Services what your reduction will be.

Who to contact

Cheshire Human Services runs the town's financial assistance programs and answers questions about income screening for residents in need.

203-271-6690 Financial assistance page

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Connecticut

State law does not require a homeschool notice. The State Department of Education asks parents to tell their local school district that they intend to homeschool, but that request is guidance, not a legal requirement.

Connecticut sets these rules:

• Subjects: Instruction in Connecticut must include reading, writing, spelling, English grammar, geography, arithmetic, US history, and citizenship.
• Testing: Connecticut does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
• Records: Connecticut does not require homeschool records, but keeping them is recommended.
• Teachers: Connecticut does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.

Read the Connecticut homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Connecticut

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