Homeschool benefits: Metra six-county
Metra sells K-12 students reduced fares at all times, about half the full price: a one-way ride from Zone 1 to Zone 4 costs $3.25 instead of $6.75, and a Zone 1-4 Monthly Pass costs $67.50 instead of $135. A homeschooled student qualifies by carrying a signed, notarized letter from the parent who teaches them. Other options include college classes and scholarships and local programs.
Benefits in the Metra six-county service area
- Metra homeschool student fare
- Elgin Community College homeschool trustee scholarships
- Forest Preserve District of Will County Four Rivers homeschool day
Metra homeschool student fare
Who qualifies
Full-time K-12 student
Full-time grade school and high school students can buy tickets and passes at reduced fare rates. College students are not included.
Carries a notarized letter
Metra applies its student fare rules to homeschooled students. The letter shows the name and address of the parent teaching as teacher or principal at the top, and it must be signed and notarized.
Shows it when riding
You do not prove eligibility when you buy a reduced fare ticket, but your student must show the letter when using it or pay full fare.
What the fare saves
Prices come from Metra's fare table, which sets fares by how many of the four fare zones a trip passes through.
- One-way, Zones 1-2
- $1.75 ($3.75)
- One-way, Zones 1-4
- $3.25 ($6.75)
- Day Pass, Zones 1-4
- $6.50 ($13.50)
- Day Pass 5-Pack, Zones 1-4
- $32.00 ($64.25)
- Monthly Pass, Zones 1-2
- $37.50 ($75.00)
- Monthly Pass, Zones 1-4
- $67.50 ($135.00)
Weekend passes cost the same for everyone ($7 for one day, $10 for Saturday and Sunday), and children 11 and under ride free with a paying adult on weekends.
How to ride at the student fare
- Before the first ride
Prepare the letter
Download Metra's homeschool form or write a letter with the teaching parent's name and address at the top, then sign it in front of a notary.
- Buying a ticket
Choose the reduced fare
Buy a reduced fare one-way ticket, Day Pass, Day Pass 5-Pack, or Monthly Pass for the zones you travel. The 5-Pack is sold only in the Ventra app.
- On the train
Show the letter
Your student shows the notarized letter with the reduced fare ticket. Without it, the conductor charges full fare.
- Each January
Renew the letter
Metra treats student letters and IDs as valid through the end of the calendar year, so prepare a new notarized letter for each new year.
What it includes
Included
- One-way tickets
- Day Passes and Day Pass 5-Packs
- Monthly Passes
- Weekday and weekend travel
Not included
- College students
- Riders without the notarized letter
- Transfers of student tickets to another rider
Who to contact about student fares
Metra Passenger Services answers questions about student and homeschool fare eligibility.
Elgin Community College homeschool trustee scholarships
Who qualifies
Submits an ACT score
Homeschooled students are judged on ACT scores instead of class rank: a composite of at least 26 for Top 10 Percent and at least 24 for Top 20 Percent.
Lives in District 509
Your student must live in the ECC district for at least 30 days before the first term the award pays for, and stay in the district for the whole scholarship period.
Starts right after graduating
Your student enrolls at ECC as a freshman in the fall or spring semester immediately after high school graduation.
Enrolls full time in a degree
At least 12 credit hours a term, accepted into an associate degree program unless a vocational certificate is the only option. Non-credit courses do not count.
What it is worth
ECC charges in-district students $148 per credit hour from summer 2026, and its trustee scholarship procedure sets the award amounts.
- Full-time term tuition (12 hours)
- $1,776
- Full-time year tuition (24 hours)
- $3,552
- Top 10 Percent award, one year
- $2,000
- Top 20 Percent award, one year
- $1,000
- Top 10 Percent award, two years
- $4,000
- Top 20 Percent award, two years
- $2,000
Tuition alone for a full-time year is more than either award, and course and lab fees vary by class, so ask Financial Aid how the award is split across tuition, fees, and books each term.
From applying to keeping it
- Senior year
Take the ACT
Get an ACT composite of 26 or higher for Top 10 Percent, or 24 or higher for Top 20 Percent, and send the scores to ECC.
- Before you enroll
Submit the paper application
ECC requires a paper application, a one-page personal statement on educational plans, career goals, and community involvement, and transcripts. Incomplete applications are not processed.
- Before the award
Send the final transcript
A final transcript showing the graduation date must be on file before the award is made, and your student attends new student orientation.
- Each term
Complete scholar activities
Top 10 Percent scholars complete ten leadership and service activities a semester and Top 20 Percent scholars complete five, through the Academic Scholars Program.
- Year two
Keep a 3.0 GPA
Stay at 12 or more credit hours each fall and spring with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Second-year students confirm eligibility instead of reapplying.
What it pays for
Covered
- Tuition
- Fees
- Books
- Up to 12 hours of remedial classes
Not covered
- Summer terms
- Part-time enrollment
- Non-credit courses
- Costs above the yearly award
The trustee procedure says the award goes toward tuition, fees, and books, up to the yearly amount.
Good to know
ACT scores replace class rank
ECC's procedure says homeschooled students submit ACT scores instead of a class rank. A composite of 26 puts your student in the running for Top 10 Percent, and 24 for Top 20 Percent.
The FAFSA is not required
The Top 10 and Top 20 Percent awards do not require the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Who to contact
Financial Aid and Scholarships in Building B, Room B156, handles trustee scholarship applications and questions about homeschool ACT scores.
financialaid@elgin.edu 847-214-7360 Contact form
Forest Preserve District of Will County Four Rivers homeschool day
Who qualifies
Is homeschooled and the right age
The Day and Night session is for elementary-aged homeschoolers ages 5-10. The Diurnal and Nocturnal session is for middle and high schoolers ages 11-18.
Registers in advance
Register each child online or by phone at 815-722-9470 by Tuesday, November 10.
Comes with an adult
These are not drop-off programs. Adults and chaperones do not register but must stay for the whole program.
What the program offers
The terms come from the District's two November 12, 2026 Homeschool Day event pages.
- Program fee
- Free
- Length
- 90 minutes
- Day and Night session
- Ages 5-10
- Diurnal and Nocturnal session
- Ages 11-18
- Adult registration
- Not needed
Both event pages also mention McKinley Woods, Kerry Sheridan Grove, in the description, so confirm the meeting spot when you register.
How to sign up
- By November 10, 2026
Register
Use the Register Online link on the event page or call 815-722-9470. Pick the session that matches your child's age.
- November 12, 10:00 a.m.
Arrive at Four Rivers
Come to Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, 25055 W. Walnut Lane in Channahon, with an adult who stays for the program.
- Through the year
Watch for the next date
Filter the District's event calendar by Homeschooling to see upcoming homeschool programs at Four Rivers and other sites.
What it includes
Included
- Naturalist-led field trip
- Separate sessions for elementary and teen homeschoolers
- Adult chaperones at no cost
Not included
- Drop-off attendance
- Walk-ins without registration
Good to know
Homeschool Day meets at Four Rivers
You meet at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, 25055 W. Walnut Lane in Channahon; confirm the spot when you register.
Only children register
Adults and chaperones do not register, but one must be present for the whole program.
Lessons compare day and night
The younger group explores what it takes to succeed as an early bird or a night owl, and the older group looks at what helps animals and plants succeed during the day and at night.
Who to contact about Homeschool Day
District staff take phone registrations and answer questions about Homeschool Days. Four Rivers is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
815-722-9470 Event page and registration
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Illinois
You do not have to file a homeschool notice.
Illinois sets these rules:
- Subjects: Teach language arts, math, biological, physical, and social sciences, fine arts, and physical development and health, in English, at least at public-school level.
- Testing: Illinois does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
- Records: Illinois does not require homeschool records.
- Teachers: The instructor must be competent; no state teaching certificate is required.
Read the Illinois homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Illinois
Questions parents ask
- Does Metra still sell a 10-ride ticket?
- No. The current fare table lists one-way tickets, Day Passes, Day Pass 5-Packs in the Ventra app, and Monthly Passes, each with a reduced fare price.
- Does my younger child need a letter for the Metra student fare?
- Usually not. Children ages 7 to 11 already pay reduced fares, and children under 7 ride free with a fare-paying adult, up to three per adult.
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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