Homeschool benefits and savings in New Orleans and Orleans Parish
New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) youth fares are $0.50 a ride instead of $1.25, and $18 for a 31-day Jazzy Pass instead of $45, for riders under 19 or in kindergarten through grade 12. Children under 5 ride free with a paying rider, so a homeschooled child qualifies by age.
Who qualifies
Is under 19
RTA defines youth as anyone under 19 or any kindergarten through grade 12 student, so age alone qualifies a homeschooled child.
Is 5 or older
Children 5 and younger ride free with a fare-paying passenger and do not need a youth fare.
Can show age if asked
The fares page does not list the proof youth riders need, so ask RTA rider services which ID they accept before buying a youth pass.
What your child pays
RTA's fares page lists adult and youth prices side by side.
- Single ride (adults pay $1.25)
- $0.50
- 1-Day Jazzy Pass (adults pay $3.00)
- $1.00
- 31-Day Jazzy Pass (adults pay $45.00)
- $18.00
- Single-ride ferry (adults pay $2.00)
- $1.00
- Children under 5 with a paying rider
- Free
Orleans Parish residents ages 16 to 24 can ride free through the Opportunity Pass pilot, which you sign up for at any New Orleans Public Library location.
How to ride at the youth fare
- Before you ride
Pick how to pay
Buy youth fares in the Le Pass app, at the online store, the RTA office on Canal Street, select retail stores, or cash-only ticket machines.
- On board
Pay the youth fare
Pay exact cash or show the pass. A Jazzy Pass lets your child switch between buses, streetcars, and ferries.
- Each month
Buy a 31-day pass
If your child rides more than 36 times a month, the $18 youth pass costs less than single rides.
- At age 16
Check the Opportunity Pass
Orleans Parish residents 16 to 24 can sign up at a New Orleans Public Library branch to ride free in the Le Pass app.
What it includes
Included
- RTA buses and streetcars
- Ferry rides at the youth price
- Transfers with a Jazzy Pass
Not included
- Regional rides, listed only at the $6.00 adult fare
- 3-day and 7-day passes, listed only at adult prices
Who to contact about youth fares
RTA's rider line answers fare and pass questions daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Louisiana
BESE-approved home study: apply through LDOE within 15 days of starting; renew by October 1 or within 12 months of approval, whichever is later, or when advancing a grade. Nonpublic school not seeking approval: report enrollment annually as of the 30th school day; notify the previous public school within 10 days of enrollment when transferring.
Louisiana sets these rules:
- Subjects: Both routes require a 180-day school session. BESE-approved home study must provide sustained instruction at least equal in quality to public schools at the same grade; the nonpublic route does not require state curriculum approval.
- Testing: No mandatory state standardized test. BESE home-study renewal accepts a curriculum packet, qualifying standardized scores, or a grade-qualified certified teacher’s statement. The nonpublic route does not submit renewal test scores.
- Records: BESE home-study renewal requires evidence through the curriculum-packet, test-score, or teacher-statement option. For the nonpublic route, maintain attendance records and applicable immunization or exemption documentation.
- Teachers: BESE home-study parents or tutors need no teaching certification. An unfunded nonpublic school sets its own instructional-staff requirements.
Read the Louisiana homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Louisiana
Questions parents ask
- Can a homeschooled child ride at the youth fare?
- Yes. RTA counts anyone under 19 as youth, not only enrolled K-12 students, so your homeschooled child qualifies by age.
- What does my child need to show the RTA driver?
- The fares page does not say. Call RTA rider services to ask which proof of age it accepts for youth riders.
- Is there a youth day pass?
- Yes. A 1-Day Jazzy Pass costs $1.00 for youth compared with $3.00 for adults.
- Can my teenager ride for free?
- Yes, if your teen is 16 or older and lives in Orleans Parish. The Opportunity Pass is a zero-fare pilot; sign up at any New Orleans Public Library location and keep the pass in the Le Pass app.
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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