Homeschool benefits and savings in Jacksonville
Through My Ride 2 School, Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) lets Duval County middle and high school students ride JTA buses and the First Coast Flyer free, seven days a week, instead of paying the $1.75 regular fare. Students outside Duval County Public Schools (DCPS), including homeschoolers, ride with a Purple STAR Card; JTA's page does not explain how to get one, so call JTA Customer Service at 904-630-3100 before your first trip.
Who qualifies
Is in middle or high school
My Ride 2 School serves middle and high school students in Duval County.
Is not a DCPS student
DCPS students scan their school ID. Students outside DCPS, including homeschool and charter school students, use the Purple STAR Card instead.
Carries the Purple STAR Card
Your student shows or taps the card when boarding. Ask JTA what proof of homeschool enrollment and age it needs to issue the card.
What the fare saves
JTA's fares page lists what a rider pays without a free student pass.
- Rides with the Purple STAR Card
- Free
- Regular one-way fare
- $1.75
- 1-Day Pass
- $4.50
- 7-Day Pass
- $20
- 31-Day Pass
- $65
JTA lists fixed-route fare changes taking effect January 1, 2027, so the regular prices above may rise.
How to get free rides
- Before you apply
Call JTA
Call JTA Customer Service at 904-630-3100 and ask how a homeschool student gets a Purple STAR Card and which documents to bring.
- At the Ticket Center
Pick up the card
JTA issues STAR Cards at the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center at LaVilla, 100 LaVilla Center Drive, ground floor, Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.; confirm by phone that the Purple card is issued there.
- Every day
Ride free
Use any of the 34 JTA routes, including First Coast Flyer routes, any day of the week and through the summer.
- If it is lost
Replace the card
A STAR Card replacement costs $2 the first time and $10 for each one after that.
What it includes
Included
- JTA fixed-route buses
- First Coast Flyer routes
- Weekend and summer rides
Not included
- Elementary school students
- Replacement cards
- Students who live outside Duval County
Who to contact about the Purple STAR Card
JTA Customer Service answers questions about My Ride 2 School and the Purple STAR Card, Monday to Friday 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Florida
You must file the initial written notice with the county superintendent within 30 days of starting. You must file a termination notice and the annual evaluation within 30 days of ending the program.
Florida sets these rules:
- Subjects: Parent-directed instruction; Florida law does not prescribe a specific curriculum for a home education program.
- Testing: Provide an annual educational evaluation using one statutory method; a portfolio review is one option, and an alternate method requires agreement with the district superintendent.
- Records: Keep a portfolio with an activities log made as instruction occurs, reading-material titles, and work samples. Preserve it for two years and make it available for inspection on 15 days’ written notice.
- Teachers: Florida does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.
Florida also has two education savings accounts that home-educated students can use.
- The Personalized Education Program funds a Florida K-12 student's approved education costs through a scholarship organization, with income and priority rules. It is separate from registering a home education program with your district.
- The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities funds approved education and disability costs for a student with a qualifying disability, including one in a registered home education program. The award depends on the disability and its services.
Read the Florida homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Florida
Questions parents ask
- Can a homeschooled student ride JTA for free?
- Yes, if your student is in middle or high school in Duval County. JTA names homeschool students among the non-DCPS students who can use the Purple STAR Card.
- How do we get a Purple STAR Card?
- Call JTA before you go. Its fares page names the card but does not list the steps or documents, so call Customer Service at 904-630-3100, or the STAR Card hotline at 904-632-3800 or STARinfo@jtafla.com.
- Our homeschooled child is in elementary school. Is there a free fare?
- Not through this program, which covers middle and high school students. JTA offers Youth Passes for riders 18 and under, and a photo ID may be required for proof of age.
- Which routes can my student take?
- Students can ride 34 JTA bus routes, including First Coast Flyer routes, that stop at or near schools. Check the MyJTA app or JTA's schedules for the routes near you.
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.
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