Homeschool benefits and savings in Athens-Clarke County

Athens-Clarke County Transit is fare free for every rider, so you and your children can ride any of its bus routes at no charge, with no pass or ID to apply for. Buses run 6:00 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. on weekdays and 7:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. on weekends. Other options include recreation and camp discounts.

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

Athens-Clarke County fare-free transit

Who qualifies

1. Any rider

   ACC Transit says it is currently fare free to all riders, so there is no age, income, school, or residency test.

2. Rides an ACC Transit route

   The free fare applies to the county's bus routes, which reach shopping areas, neighborhoods, the University of Georgia, downtown, Lexington Road, and the Georgia Square Mall area.

3. Qualifies separately for The Lift

   The Lift is curb-to-curb paratransit for people whose mobility impairment prevents them from using the regular bus, and it requires its own application.

What the free fare gives you

These terms come from ACC Transit's fares, service hours, and route pages.

Fare per ride

Free

Weekday hours

6:00 a.m.-9:45 p.m.

Weekend hours

7:00 a.m.-6:45 p.m.

Routes in daytime service

18

Routes on evenings and weekends

9

How to ride free

1. Before you ride

   Plan the trip

   Check the system map or the myStop app for your route and times, or call 706-613-3430.

2. At the stop

   Board without paying

   Get on any ACC Transit bus; the county lists no fare, pass, or card for fixed-route riders.

3. On holidays

   Check the schedule

   Buses do not run on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

4. Each year

   Confirm it is still free

   The county describes fare-free service as its current policy and gives no end date, so check the fares page before you plan a year of trips around it.

What it includes

Included

• Rides on ACC Transit bus routes
• Evening and weekend routes
• Trips for children and adults alike

Not included

• Suspended Routes 23 and 28
• Service on listed holidays

Who to contact about riding

ACC Transit's bus information line answers questions about routes, schedules, and service changes.

706-613-3430 Fares and passes

Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services scholarship

Who qualifies

1. Lives in Athens-Clarke County

   Bring a utility bill from the last 90 days to show residency.

2. Is under 18

   All county residents under 18 can be considered, with no school enrollment requirement.

3. Meets financial need guidelines

   The discount level is based on dependency, income, and residency, following the Federal Poverty Guidelines updated each year. Bring your IRS Form 1040 listing your children and a photo ID.

4. A parent applies in person

   A parent or legal guardian must apply at a Leisure Services facility office during regular hours. Staff do not approve applications on the spot.

What it is worth

Leisure Services offers three discount levels, capped at a combined $400 per child each year.

25% scholarship

75% of the fee

50% scholarship

50% of the fee

75% scholarship

25% of the fee

Extra credit for 75% recipients

$20 per child

Yearly maximum per child

$400

The award amount cannot be appealed, and fees you paid before approval are not refunded, so get approved before you register.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before you apply

   Gather documents

   Bring a utility bill from the last 90 days, your IRS Form 1040 with your children listed, and a photo ID. Without them, call 706-613-3800 for a hardship appointment, which can take up to three weeks.

2. At least 5 business days before registering

   Apply at a facility office

   Take your documents to an office such as Bishop Park, Lay Park, Memorial Park, Howard Park, Heard Park, the Lyndon House Arts Center, or Sandy Creek Nature Center.

3. Within 5 business days

   Watch your email

   Leisure Services emails whether the scholarship is approved and the discount amount.

4. When you register

   Use the discount

   The discount applies to eligible youth programs and camps, and a 75% recipient's $20 supplement comes off the first transaction automatically.

5. Each January

   Renew

   Every scholarship expires December 31 and must be renewed for the new year. For summer camps, the 2026 deadline to apply was February 27.

What it pays for

Covered

• Leisure Services youth programs
• Summer camps

Not covered

• Admission and entrance fees
• Field trips
• Rental fees
• Fees paid before approval

The discount comes off the program fee at registration rather than being paid back afterward.

Who to contact

The Leisure Services Administrative Office answers scholarship questions and schedules hardship appointments for families without the standard documents.

706-613-3800 Scholarship page and form

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Georgia

You must submit the Declaration of Intent within 30 days after establishing the home study program, then by September 1 each subsequent year.

Georgia sets these rules:

• Subjects: Teach reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science, for the equivalent of 180 school days each year with at least 4.5 hours per day.
• Testing: Use an appropriate nationally standardized test at least every three years beginning at the end of grade 3, administered in consultation with a person trained in norm-referenced testing. Retain the scores and assessment records.
• Records: The instructor writes an annual progress assessment for each student in each required subject. Keep these reports for at least three years and retain standardized-test scores and assessment records.
• Teachers: The teaching parent needs a high school diploma or GED in Georgia.

Georgia also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.

• The Georgia Promise Scholarship pays up to $6,500 for 2026-27, but your child usually must have attended an eligible Georgia public school for two semesters, or be entering kindergarten, and withdraw before it is funded. It does not pay for a homeschool you already run.

Read the Georgia homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Georgia

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