Homeschool benefits and savings in West Hartford
The West Hartford Leisure Services Scholarship Fund takes 75% off four weeks of summer camp or swim lessons and one program each fall, winter, and spring, up to $600 per child a year. West Hartford residents under 18 qualify when household income is under the 2026-27 limit, such as $77,520 for a family of four, with no school-enrollment rule.
Who qualifies
Lives in West Hartford
Bring a recent utility bill or official mail with your West Hartford address for every adult in the household.
Child younger than 18
The child benefit is for residents under 18. Seniors 65 and older and adults with disabilities have a separate $200 benefit.
Household income under the limit
Social Services uses Connecticut state median income guidelines: under $62,040 for two people, $69,780 for three, $77,520 for four, and $83,760 for five.
Brings the right documents
You need a photo ID, birth certificates for the children, and recent income proof, such as your last four weekly or two biweekly pay stubs.
What the scholarship gives you
The 2026-27 Leisure Services Scholarship Fund guide sets a 75% discount capped at $600 per child for the June 1 to May 31 year.
- Summer camp or swim lessons
- 75% off 4 weeks
- Fall program (Sept.-Dec.)
- 75% off 1
- Winter program (Jan.-March)
- 75% off 1
- Spring program (March-June 15)
- 75% off 1
- Yearly cap per child
- $600
- Two eligible children
- Up to $1,200
Fall, winter, and spring discounts are given only if funds allow, so register early in each season.
How to get the discount
- Before you register
Confirm eligibility
Call Community Partnerships at 860-561-7569 or 860-561-7580, fill out the 2026-27 Discount Authorization Form, and email it to CommunityPartnerships@westhartfordct.gov.
- Next
Set up RecDesk
Create a family account on the Leisure Services RecDesk portal. Call 860-561-7510 if you are not sure you already have one.
- By appointment
Register in person
Scholarship registrations are done in person. Call 860-561-7510, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and allow 30 to 40 minutes for the appointment.
- June 1 each year
Renew eligibility
The scholarship year runs June 1 to May 31, and the authorization stays on file for one year unless your income changes.
What it pays for
Covered
- Summer camps
- Swim lessons
- Special interest camps
- Instructional program registration fees
Not covered
- Memberships
- Golf season passes and greens fees
- Senior Center memberships
- Department trips and special events
- Swim passes
Donations to the Leisure Services Scholarship Fund pay for the discounts, and seasonal programs are covered only while funds last.
Good to know
Homeschooled children can apply
The town bases eligibility on West Hartford residency, age, and household income. Nothing in the guide asks where your child goes to school.
One application lasts 12 months
Once your eligibility is verified, the form stays on file for 12 months, and you only book registration appointments for each program.
Who to contact
Community Partnerships, part of West Hartford Social Services, checks scholarship eligibility and answers questions about the application.
CommunityPartnerships@westhartfordct.gov 860-561-7569 Scholarship fund 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
Questions parents ask
- Can I register online with the scholarship?
- No. Scholarship registrations must be done in person at an appointment with Leisure Services. Bring your authorization form, the registration form, and any doctor's note your child needs.
- Does the scholarship cover the whole fee?
- No. It takes 75% off, and you pay the remaining 25% at the registration appointment by credit or debit card, cash, or check.
- My child carries an EpiPen. Do we need anything extra?
- Yes. Bring a doctor's note confirming the prescription to your registration appointment.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Camps and local activities give your child new interests to explore. Their discoveries can shape the examples and questions they study at home.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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