Homeschool benefits and savings in Pensacola
The S.T.E.P. (Student Transit Empowerment Pass) ID lets your child ride Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) fixed routes and commuter routes for free, transfers included, instead of paying a $1.25 student fare or the $1.75 base fare. Every youth 18 or younger qualifies, and ECAT names homeschooled students as eligible: bring a signed application and proof of identification to 1515 West Fairfield Drive in Pensacola.
Who qualifies
Is 18 or younger
The pass is open to all youth ages 18 and under, and ECAT lists homeschooled and vocational students as eligible. Only one pass is issued per person each year.
Shows proof of identification
ECAT accepts a state-issued photo ID, a passport, or a Social Security card. Applications without one are turned away.
Has a parent's signature
Both your child and a parent or guardian sign the application. A parent can sign it ahead of time if they cannot come to the office.
Picks up the pass in person
The application goes back in person and the pass is collected at the office. ECAT does not mail passes.
What the fare saves
ECAT's fare page lists what a rider pays without the S.T.E.P. ID.
- Rides with the S.T.E.P. ID
- Free
- Student single fare with a student ID
- $1.25
- Base single fare
- $1.75
- Base commuter route fare
- $2.35
- Base 30 Day Pass
- $47.00
High school students without an ECAT Student ID Card or a school ID pay the $1.75 base fare, so a homeschooled teen without the S.T.E.P. ID usually pays full price.
How to get the pass
- Before you go
Fill out the application
Download the S.T.E.P. application in English or Spanish, or pick one up from ECAT Customer Service. Your child and a parent or guardian both sign it.
- At the office
Bring ID and the form
Take the signed application and proof of identification to the ECAT Administration Office, 1515 West Fairfield Drive, Pensacola, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Same visit
Get the pass
ECAT takes your child's photo and issues the pass, which stays ECAT property and cannot be shared with anyone else.
- If it breaks
Replace a damaged pass
Bring the damaged pass to the ECAT Administrative Offices. The first replacement is free and each later one costs $2.75.
- Each October 1
Apply for the new year
Passes run from October 1 to September 30, so apply again each fall while your child is 18 or younger.
What it includes
Included
- ECAT fixed-route buses
- Commuter routes 59A, 59, 60, 61, 64, and 65
- Transfers
Not included
- Replacement passes after the first
- Passes by mail
- Sharing the pass with another rider
Who to contact about the S.T.E.P. ID
The ECAT Administration Office takes S.T.E.P. applications, issues passes, and replaces damaged ones.
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 child get the S.T.E.P. ID?
- Yes. ECAT says homeschooled students are eligible, and the pass is open to every youth age 18 and under. Your child needs proof of identification, not a school ID.
- Does the ECAT S.T.E.P. ID cost anything?
- No. ECAT issues the pass at no cost. You pay only if the pass is damaged more than once, at $2.75 per replacement after the first.
- What counts as proof of identification?
- A child who has none of these cannot complete the application.
- Can a younger child ride alone with the pass?
- Yes, but ECAT recommends that children under 11 ride with a parent or guardian. Riders must follow ECAT's conduct rules, such as no food or drink on the bus, or the pass can be taken away.
- Can my child use the pass in summer and on weekends?
- Yes. The pass covers ECAT fixed routes and commuter routes for the whole October through September year, and ECAT suggests trips to beaches, museums, community centers, and camps.
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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