Homeschool benefits: Lextran
On Lextran buses in Lexington, riders ages 7-18 pay $0.80 a ride instead of $1.00, or $20 for a 30-day pass instead of $30, and children 6 and under ride free. The youth fare goes by age, not school enrollment, so your homeschooled child qualifies by showing ID or other proof of age. Other options include recreation and camp discounts.
Lextran youth fares
Who qualifies
Is 7 to 18 years old
Youth fares apply to riders ages 7 through 18. Children 6 and under ride free and do not need a youth fare.
Shows ID or other verification
Lextran requires ID or other verification for the youth fare. The fare page does not list which documents count, so ask Lextran whether a birth certificate, passport, or state ID works for your child.
What your child pays
Lextran's fare table lists adult and youth prices side by side.
- Single ride (adults pay $1.00)
- $0.80
- 30-day pass (adults pay $30.00)
- $20.00
- Day pass
- $3.00
- 20-ride pass
- $15.00
- Transfer within 90 minutes
- Free
- Children 6 and under
- Free
The day pass and 20-ride pass cost the same for youth and adults, so the youth discount shows up on single rides and the 30-day pass.
How to ride at the youth fare
- Before you ride
Bring proof of age
Carry ID or other verification of your child's age, since the operator can ask for it with any youth fare.
- Buying a pass
Choose where to buy
Buy passes at store.lextran.com, the Loudon Administrative Office at 200 W. Loudon Ave., or the Transit Center at 150 E. Vine St.
- On the bus
Pay or tap
Pay with change, $1 or $5 bills, or a pass. Credit and debit cards are not accepted on board.
- Each month
Reload the 30-day pass
A tap card 30-day pass starts on the purchase date and can be reloaded monthly at the Loudon office or the Transit Center.
What it includes
Included
- Lextran fixed-route buses
- Free transfers for 90 minutes
- Free rides for children 6 and under
Not included
- Card payments on the bus
- Refunds or replacements for transfers
Who to contact about youth fares
The Lextran administrative office handles fare ID appointments and questions about which proof the youth fare requires.
Lexington Parks and Recreation financial assistance
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
- Can a homeschooled child ride Lextran at the youth fare?
- Yes. Lextran's youth fare is set by age, 7 through 18, not by school enrollment. Your child needs ID or other verification of age.
- Can my homeschooled teen get a Lextran student class pass?
- The page does not say. Lextran's $50 semester and $75 school-year student class passes require a student ID from the school or proof of enrollment at the Downtown Transit Center, so call Lextran before you rely on one.
- 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.
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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