Homeschool benefits: Kent County Rides
On Delmarva Community Transit (DCT) buses listed by Kent County Rides, riders 17 and under pay a $2.00 youth fare instead of the $3.00 general fare, and children 3 and under ride free. The youth fare is based on age, so a homeschooled child qualifies; it does not apply on Routes 1 and 2. Other options include library educator cards and resources.
Benefits in the Kent County Rides service area
- Kent County Rides youth fare
- Kent County Library teacher card
- Kent County Public Library homeschool educator card
- Queen Anne's County Library homeschool educator card
- Queen Anne's County Ride fare-free service
- Talbot County Library homeschool teacher card
Kent County Rides youth fare
Who qualifies
Is 17 or younger
The youth fare covers riders age 17 and under, and children 3 and under ride free.
Rides a DCT route
The youth fare is listed for DCT service only, with Routes 1 and 2 excepted.
Pays the exact fare
Exact fare or a pass is required because drivers cannot make change.
What the fare costs
The Kent County Rides fare page lists one-way fares and monthly passes.
- Youth, 17 and under (DCT routes)
- $2.00
- Children 3 and under
- Free
- General public, one way
- $3.00
- Student monthly pass (not Routes 1 and 2)
- $40.00
- General monthly pass
- $80.00
- Transfer to finish a one-way trip
- Free
The fare page does not say what proof of age drivers accept, so ask Kent County Dispatch before your child rides.
How to ride
- Before you ride
Check the route
Find your route on the Kent County Rides routes page; Route 4 serves Rock Hall, Chestertown, Centreville, and Easton.
- At the stop
Have exact fare
Bring $2.00 in exact fare for each rider 17 and under, or use a pass.
- On board
Ride with an adult if under 12
Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult, and child car seats are allowed if they can be secured.
- For regular riders
Consider a pass
A $40 student monthly pass covers DCT routes other than Routes 1 and 2.
What it includes
Included
- Reduced youth fare on DCT routes
- Free rides for children 3 and under
- Free transfers within a one-way trip
Not included
- Routes 1 and 2
- Change from the driver
Who to contact about fares
Kent County Dispatch answers questions about bus stop locations, service, and fares.
Kent County Library teacher card
Who qualifies
Is a homeschooling parent
The library extends its teacher card to parents or guardians who show proof that they homeschool.
Has a library account
Accounts are free for Maryland residents and cost $10 a year for everyone else.
Is 18 or older
Adults apply in person with identification and proof of residence. Children under 18 need a parent or guardian to sign up.
What the card gives you
Kent County Public Library's teachers and educators page and its card FAQ describe the teacher card and regular borrowing rules.
- Loan period on the teacher card
- 8 weeks
- Loan period on a regular card
- 21 days
- DVDs, kits, and games on a regular card
- 7 days
- Late fees
- None
- Processing fee on a lost or damaged item
- $5 plus the item cost
Borrowing continues as long as you owe less than $50 in replacement fees.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Bring homeschool proof
Have proof of homeschooling plus a photo ID with your current address ready.
- At the branch
Get the teacher card
Chestertown, North County in Galena, and Rock Hall can all set up the card.
- As you borrow
Plan around 8 weeks
Check out materials for a full unit; they are due back 8 weeks later.
What it includes
Included
- Longer 8-week loans
- Interlibrary loan through Marina
- Field trip visits for groups
Not included
- Replacement copies you buy yourself
- Laptops and Chromebooks outside the building
Who to contact about the card
Staff at the Chestertown branch answer questions about teacher cards, holds, and account problems.
410-778-3636 Library card FAQs
Kent County Public Library homeschool educator card
Who qualifies
Homeschools a child
Parents or guardians who homeschool can receive a teacher card by providing proof of their status as homeschoolers.
Lives in Maryland
Library accounts are free for Maryland residents. Families outside Maryland pay a $10 annual account fee.
Brings ID and address proof
Bring a photo ID with your current address, or a utility bill, lease, or other official mail showing it.
What the card gives you
Kent County Public Library's teachers and educators page sets the teacher card loan period, and its card FAQ sets the regular account limits.
- Teacher card loan period
- 8 weeks
- Regular card loan period for most items
- 21 days
- Items out on an adult account
- 50
- Overdue fines
- None
- Brainfuse online tutoring
- Daily, 1:00 to 11:00 p.m.
The library does not list a separate item limit for teacher cards, so ask at the desk how many items the card allows.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Gather proof
Bring proof that you homeschool and a photo ID with your current address.
- At the branch
Ask for a teacher card
Staff set up the teacher card once they see your homeschool proof.
- Each checkout
Return within 8 weeks
Items on the teacher card are due in 8 weeks. Items not returned within 42 days of the due date are treated as lost.
What it includes
Included
- 8-week loans
- Homeschooling and curriculum materials
- Brainfuse online tutoring
- Peterson's test and career prep
Not included
- Laptops and Chromebooks outside the building
- Mobile hotspots on youth accounts
Who to contact about the card
Library staff set up teacher cards and help families find homeschooling and curriculum materials.
410-778-3636 Teachers and educators page
Queen Anne's County Library homeschool educator card
Who qualifies
Homeschools a child
Teachers and parents who homeschool may apply for a teacher or homeschool card. The library does not list the homeschool proof it wants, so call your branch before you go.
Lives or works in Maryland
Cards are free for Maryland residents and for people who work in Queen Anne's County. Other nonresidents pay $30 a year.
Brings ID and an address
Show a valid Maryland driver's license, learner's permit, or ID card and proof of your current address. Printed checks or recently postmarked mail may be accepted on request.
What the card gives you
The limits come from Queen Anne's County Library's card page and its renewal page.
- Items out on a homeschool card
- Up to 99
- Renewals per item
- 3
- Card cost for Maryland residents
- Free
- Card cost for nonresidents
- $30 a year
- Standard card length
- 5 years
Some items cannot go on the 99-item card, and the library does not list which ones or the loan periods, so ask at the desk when you sign up.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Call your branch
Ask Centreville (410-758-0980) or Kent Island (410-643-8161) what homeschool proof the card needs, then gather your ID and proof of address.
- At the branch
Apply for the homeschool card
Staff set up the card at either branch, Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. or Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Each checkout
Let items auto-renew
The system renews items up to three times unless someone else has a hold, and emails you the new due date or a reminder.
- When things change
Keep the account current
Tell the library about a new name or address, and report a lost or stolen card right away.
What it includes
Included
- Up to 99 items checked out at once
- Automatic renewals
- Holds and online databases on your account
Not included
- Certain restricted items, which the library does not list
- Renewing an item another patron has on hold
- SOAR database cards, which go to Queen Anne's County public school students
The homeschool card raises how much you can borrow at once; your child can still have a separate juvenile card of their own.
Who to contact about the card
Staff at the Centreville and Kent Island branches issue cards and answer questions about borrowing limits and renewals.
410-758-0980 Branch phone numbers
Queen Anne's County Ride fare-free service
Who can ride
Rides a public route
County Ride serves the general public on its fixed routes. No pass, application, or proof of school enrollment is listed for riding.
Buckles up
Riders must wear seat belts, and a young child needs a car seat that you bring and install: County Ride does not provide or place car seats.
Door-to-door has its own rules
Door-to-door service is for seniors and people with disabilities who cannot use the fixed or deviated routes, and it needs at least two business days' notice.
What the free fare gives you
The terms come from County Ride's fare page, its rider rules, and the route schedule updated May 2026.
- Fare on fixed routes
- Free
- Weekday routes
- 4
- North route to Chestertown and Sudlersville
- Thursdays only
- Notice for a route deviation
- 2 hours
- Notice for door-to-door service
- 2 business days
- Office hours
- Mon-Fri, 6 a.m.-5 p.m.
The County Ride FAQ still says you pay for every trip with exact change, while the fare page says there is no fee, so call the office if a driver asks for a fare.
How to ride
- Before you ride
Pick a route and time
Check the County Ride route schedule PDF. Stops marked DO are drop-off only, so you cannot board there at that time.
- 2 hours ahead
Call for a deviation
If you need the bus to leave its route to pick you up, call 410-758-2357 at least two hours in advance.
- On the bus
Ride free
Board at a scheduled stop, buckle seat belts and car seats, and follow the rider rules: no eating or drinking, and headphones for music.
- Each new year
Confirm the fare policy
The free fare began as a 2023 pilot and has been renewed each year, so check the fare page before your first ride in 2027.
What it includes
Included
- Fixed-route rides on all four routes
- Route deviations called in two hours ahead
- Door-to-door rides for eligible seniors and riders with disabilities
Not included
- Weekend and holiday service
- Car seats
- Pets other than service animals
Who to contact about County Ride
The County Ride office in Centreville schedules deviations and door-to-door trips and answers questions about routes and fares.
spalmer@qac.org 410-758-2357 County Ride page
Talbot County Library homeschool teacher card
Who qualifies
Homeschools in Talbot County
The card is for Talbot County educators, including homeschool parents or guardians who live in the county.
Shows homeschool verification
Bring verification of your homeschooling status from Talbot County Public Schools.
Has a personal library card
You need a personal Talbot County Free Library card first, and you can apply for both on the same day. Personal cards are free for Maryland residents.
Brings ID with your address
Show ID with your current home address. A current driver's license or Maryland MVA ID covers both photo ID and address.
What the card gives you
The limits come from the library's Teacher's Library Card page and its borrowing rules for standard cards.
- Books out on the Teacher's card
- 50
- Loan period
- 8 weeks
- Renewals
- None
- Added card fee
- None
- Items out on your personal card
- 50
- Card length
- Until Aug. 31
The library asks teachers to consider taking about 5 books on one subject when a larger pull would leave too few for other patrons.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Get your verification
Have your homeschooling verification from Talbot County Public Schools and an ID with your home address ready.
- At the branch
Apply in Easton or St. Michaels
Ask at the circulation desk for a personal card if you need one and the Teacher's card on the same visit.
- Each checkout
Return within 8 weeks
Teacher's card items cannot be renewed, and overdue items block new checkouts until they come back.
- Each fall
Renew for the school year
The card expires every August 31. Clear any balance on both your Teacher's and personal cards, then renew at the start of the school year.
What it includes
Included
- Up to 50 books at a time
- Digital collections and research databases
- Temporary classroom collections for your homeschool
Not included
- DVDs and Playaway Launchpads
- Interlibrary loan materials
- New books and other 14-day items
- Renewals
Anything the Teacher's card cannot borrow, such as DVDs and new books, goes on your personal card, which has its own 50-item limit.
Who to contact about the card
Staff at the Easton branch, 100 W. Dover St., answer questions about the Teacher's card and which IDs the library accepts.
410-822-1626 Contact the library
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Maryland
You must submit the prescribed consent form to the local superintendent at least 15 days before starting. District-supervised families verify continuation before each school year and report status changes. A qualifying nonpublic supervisor reports continuing enrollment and status changes to the district.
Maryland sets these rules:
- Subjects: Provide regular, thorough instruction of sufficient duration in English, math, science, social studies, art, music, health, and PE. A qualifying nonpublic-supervised program must provide regular, thorough instruction in the usual public-school studies.
- Testing: State standardized testing is voluntary. District-supervised programs have portfolio reviews at semester ends, with no more than three reviews per school year.
- Records: For district supervision, keep instructional materials and work samples demonstrating required instruction; college report cards or transcripts may substitute for those courses. Qualifying nonpublic supervision follows COMAR’s separate requirements.
- Teachers: No state teaching credential required for the parent providing home instruction.
Read the Maryland homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Maryland
Questions parents ask
- Does my homeschooled child need a school ID for the youth fare?
- No. The fare page sets the youth fare by age, 17 and under, and lists no school ID requirement. Ask Kent County Dispatch what proof of age the driver may want.
- Can a homeschool parent get Kent County Public Library's teacher card?
- Yes. Kent County Public Library offers teacher cards to parents or guardians who homeschool once they provide proof of homeschooling.
- Can a homeschool parent get Queen Anne's County Library's homeschool card?
- Yes. The library lists parents who homeschool, along with teachers, as able to apply for a teacher or homeschool card.
- Can County Ride take us to Chesapeake College?
- Yes. The Easton route stops at Chesapeake College several times a day, between 7:45 a.m. and 3:50 p.m.
- Can a homeschool parent get the Teacher's Library Card?
- Yes. Talbot County homeschool parents and guardians are named as eligible, alongside public and private school teachers and licensed child care providers.
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.
Find benefits for your ZIP code