Homeschool benefits and savings in Lexington-Fayette Urban County
Lexington Parks and Recreation's Count Me In program takes 50% off any paid program, camp, or event for households that get SNAP, KTAP, a medical card, or other government assistance, or that earn at or below the 2026 income limit ($59,478 for a family of four). It is based on household need, not school enrollment, so homeschooled children qualify like any other child.
Who qualifies
Receives public assistance
Households with EBT or SNAP, KTAP (Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program), a medical card, or other government assistance qualify by attaching a copy of that document for each child.
Meets the income guideline
Other households qualify if gross annual income is at or below the 2026 guideline for their size, shown with a copy of the current or prior year federal tax return with the Social Security number blacked out.
Is a foster or military family
Proof of foster child status or a military service verification card also qualifies.
Applies for the activity
The form asks which activity you are applying for, such as aquatics, ArtWorks, athletics, summer camp, equine programs, or golf.
Who meets the income limit
These are the 2026 income guidelines on the Count Me In financial assistance form; households at or below them get 50% off.
- 2 people
- $39,128
- 3 people
- $49,303
- 4 people
- $59,478
- 5 people
- $69,653
- 6 people
- $79,828
- Each additional person
- Add $10,175
Submitting the form does not guarantee a spot or assistance, and staff review cases where cost is still a barrier after the 50% discount.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you sign up
Fill out the 2026 form
Download the Count Me In form in English or one of eight other languages, list each child, and attach your proof of eligibility.
- To apply
Email or drop it off
Send the form and documents to countmein@lexingtonky.gov, or bring them to Lexington Parks and Recreation, 469 Parkway Dr., Lexington, KY 40504.
- If you are denied
Appeal in writing
Write to the Deputy Director of Recreation at the Parkway Drive address to appeal a denial or ask for more help.
- Each calendar year
Reapply
Approval lasts for the calendar year. Families who already filed this year do not need to send the form again.
What it discounts
Discounted
- Paid recreation programs
- Camps
- Paid events
Not included
- Guaranteed enrollment in a full program
- The other 50% of the fee, unless staff approve more help
Good to know
You pay half the posted price
The discount is half the posted price of any paid program, camp, or event. If the remaining half is still too much, staff review extenuating circumstances.
Who to contact about Count Me In
Parks and Recreation staff process Count Me In applications and answer questions about eligibility and discounts.
countmein@lexingtonky.gov 859-288-2900 Financial assistance page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Kentucky
You must notify the local district superintendent annually. Current KDE guidance says within the first two weeks of the school year, or within two weeks of public-school withdrawal, for a child of compulsory attendance age.
Kentucky sets these rules:
- Subjects: Parents choose the curriculum for a noncertified homeschool. Certified private schools must teach in English, offer public-school subjects, and provide at least 1,062 hours over 170 days annually; KDE recommends those hours and days for other homeschools.
- Testing: Kentucky does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
- Records: Keep attendance records and scholarship reports showing completed courses and grades, available for inspection by pupil-personnel and KDE officials. Work-sample portfolios are recommended, not mandatory.
- Teachers: No state teacher certification requirement for parents teaching their own children in a noncertified homeschool.
Read the Kentucky homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Kentucky
Questions parents ask
- We do not get SNAP. Can we still qualify for Count Me In?
- Yes, if your household income is at or below the guideline for your household size. You list everyone in the household with their income and attach your federal tax return.
- What slows an application down?
- Applications sent without proof of eligibility are not processed right away, so attach the document for each child when you submit.
- Do we fill out the form for every activity?
- No. Families who have already completed the form in the current calendar year do not need to resubmit it.
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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