Homeschool benefits and savings in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation scholarships take 50% or 100% off most city recreation programs, three programs per person in each Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter period, for households inside city limits with very low or extremely low incomes under HUD guidelines. Every household member you list can be approved, so a homeschooled child qualifies like any other resident.
Who qualifies
Lives inside Ann Arbor
You must reside within the city limits. An Ann Arbor mailing address or living in the school district does not qualify you on its own.
Meets HUD income limits
Household income must fall within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) very low or extremely low income guidelines.
Documents all household income
Send last year's tax returns or W-2s, two current pay stubs, two months of bank statements, and statements for SNAP, Social Security, child support, and any other income. An Ann Arbor Housing Commission award letter replaces the other income papers.
Proves residency
Show a driver's license, a State of Michigan ID, or a current residential lease with photo ID.
What the discount saves
Approved household members get 50% or 100% off, up to three programs in each Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter period; the $100 fee is an example.
- $100 program at the 50% level
- $50
- $100 program at the 100% level
- $0
- Discounted programs per person each period
- 3
- Program periods each year
- 2
- Discounted programs per person each year
- Up to 6
The city says most programs qualify but they vary each year, so ask Parks Customer Service whether a specific program accepts the discount before you register.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you apply
Gather income papers
Collect proof of residency and every income document for your household, or an Ann Arbor Housing Commission award letter.
- To apply
Email or drop off
Send the 2026 application to a2parks@a2gov.org or bring or mail it to the Parks Customer Service Office at Cobblestone Farm, 2781 Packard Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48108.
- About 2 weeks later
Get your discount level
Staff review the application and approve 50% or 100%. Applications are not approved in person, and missing papers cause delays or a denial.
- Each year
Renew
Scholarships must be renewed yearly. Call or email to check when yours expires.
What it pays for
Covered
- Most Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation programs
- Three discounts per person each program period
- Every approved member of your household
Not covered
- Households outside Ann Arbor city limits
- More than three discounted programs per person in a period
Tax-deductible donations pay for the scholarships, and 100% of each donation goes to them.
Good to know
Homeschooled children can get a scholarship
Eligibility depends on living in Ann Arbor and household income. The application lists each household member with no school requirement.
Who to contact
Parks Customer Service at Cobblestone Farm takes scholarship applications and can tell you whether your scholarship is active.
a2parks@a2gov.org 734-794-6230 Scholarships page and 2026 application
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Michigan
No state report under the parent-led homeschool exemption, MCL 380.1561(3)(f). The nonpublic-school route has separate reporting; an annual membership report is required for eligibility for auxiliary services.
Michigan sets these rules:
- Subjects: Under exemption (f), provide an organized program in reading, spelling, math, science, history, civics, literature, writing, and English grammar. The nonpublic-school route requires subjects comparable to local public schools.
- Testing: Michigan does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
- Records: No prescribed homeschool portfolio or attendance-record format under exemption (f). Keep progress records for transfers; the nonpublic-school route has separate reporting requirements.
- Teachers: Under exemption (f), the instructor must be the child’s parent or legal guardian; no degree or teaching credential is required. MDE requires a reporting nonpublic homeschool parent to have at least a bachelor’s degree unless a sincerely held religious objection applies.
Read the Michigan homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Michigan
Questions parents ask
- We have an Ann Arbor address but live in the township. Do we qualify?
- No. You must live inside the city limits; a mailing address or school district alone is not enough.
- Do I apply separately for each child?
- No. One application lists all household members and their birth dates, and each approved member gets their own three discounts per period.
- Can we qualify because of a hardship rather than income?
- It may count. The application has a section to describe a specific hardship, such as unusually high medical expenses or a disaster, with its estimated monthly cost.
- How do I know if my scholarship has expired?
- Call 734-794-6230 and press 0, or email a2parks@a2gov.org.
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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