Homeschool benefits and savings in Albuquerque
ABQ RIDE, Albuquerque's city bus system, has adopted a zero fares program and no longer charges anyone to ride. Your family can use the buses for field trips, classes, and errands with no school ID or enrollment needed. Other options include recreation and camp discounts.
ABQ RIDE zero fares
Who qualifies
Rides an ABQ RIDE bus
The zero fares program applies to riding ABQ RIDE. The city lists no age, residency, or school condition, so your homeschooled child rides free like any other passenger.
Follows the Rules to Ride
Children must stay seated, strollers must be folded, and riders must get off at the end of the route. Breaking the rules can lead to suspension from the system.
Qualifies separately for Sun Van
Sun Van, the city's paratransit service for residents who cannot ride the fixed-route buses, requires riders to qualify first.
What the free fare gives you
The fare comes from ABQ RIDE's zero fares page, and the other rows come from its Rules to Ride.
- Fare per ride
- $0
- Riding one route continuously
- 1 full round trip
- Strollers
- Folded on board
- Bikes on the front rack
- Up to 55 pounds
- Food and drink
- Sealed drinks only
- Sun Van paratransit
- Eligibility required
The zero fares page does not mention ART, the Albuquerque Rapid Transit line, so call customer service if you plan to ride it.
How to ride
- Before you ride
Plan the trip
Use the Bus Trip Planner, the route schedules, or the Text 2-RIDE service to find your stop and times.
- At the stop
Board without paying
Fold any stroller before you board and seat your children for the ride.
- End of the route
Get off
Riders must leave the bus at the end of the route, and riding more than one full round trip counts as excessive riding.
What it includes
Included
- ABQ RIDE bus fares
- Rides for children and adults alike
- Bikes that fit the front rack
Not included
- Sun Van paratransit without eligibility
- Eating on the bus
- Open drink containers such as coffee cups
Who to contact about riding
ABQ RIDE Customer Service answers questions about routes, schedules, and riding rules.
505-243-7433 Transit contact page
Albuquerque Shanta Strong Swim Fund
Who qualifies
On Medicaid, SNAP, or EBT
Your child qualifies by being on Medicaid or by using SNAP or New Mexico EBT. Include a photo of the Medicaid card or SNAP card with the application.
Or in foster care
Children in foster care qualify with proof of foster care.
Not through a school
Attending a Title I school is the other route, which a homeschooled child cannot use, so apply through one of the benefit routes instead.
What it is worth
City of Albuquerque swim lessons cost $40 per student, per session, and one scholarship code covers one session.
- 8-day session, 30-minute classes of 5
- $40
- 4-day session, 45-minute classes of 3
- $40
- Two sessions with two codes
- $80
- Preschool levels, ages 3-5
- $40
- Pods 1-4, ages 6-14
- $40
The swim lessons page says all scholarships have been awarded at this time, so ask the Aquatics Division when applications reopen before you register.
From applying to keeping it
- While applications are open
Apply for a scholarship
The fund has taken applications in two windows, one closing April 30 and a second reopening May 18 and closing June 11. Use the English or Spanish application link on the fund page and include proof of Medicaid, SNAP or EBT, or foster care.
- If approved
Get your code by email
The city emails a scholarship code to families who qualify.
- At registration
Enter the code at checkout
Register for a lesson session online through WebTrac or at an indoor pool, and apply the code when you check out.
- For more sessions
Apply again
Each code covers one session at a time, so each additional session needs another approved application and code.
What it pays for
Covered
- One City of Albuquerque swim lesson session per code
- Parent-tot, preschool, and youth lesson levels
Not covered
- More than one session per code
- Children without Medicaid, SNAP or EBT, foster care, or a Title I school
Donations to the One Albuquerque Fund pay for the scholarships, and the city reports that all scholarships have been awarded at this time.
Who to contact
The Aquatics Division Manager answers questions about the scholarship and swim lesson registration.
505-768-5368 Aquatics contact page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in New Mexico
You must notify the New Mexico Public Education Department within 30 days after establishing the home school, then renew on or before August 1 each subsequent year.
New Mexico sets these rules:
- Subjects: Instruction in New Mexico must include reading, language arts, math, social studies, and science.
- Testing: New Mexico does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
- Records: New Mexico requires you to keep disease-immunization records or a waiver. NMPED recommends keeping notices, instructional-hour records, materials, and work portfolios, but does not require those academic records.
- Teachers: The person providing instruction must have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Read the New Mexico homeschooling guide See statewide programs in New Mexico
Questions parents ask
- Is ABQ RIDE's free fare temporary?
- Not as far as the city says. ABQ RIDE has officially adopted a zero fares program, and the page gives no end date.
- Can we bring a stroller on ABQ RIDE?
- Yes, but it must be folded before you board and stay folded until you get off.
- Can a homeschooled child get a Shanta Strong Swim Fund scholarship?
- Yes, if your child is on Medicaid, uses SNAP or New Mexico EBT, or is in foster care. The Title I school route does not apply to homeschoolers.
- What proof do we send to the Shanta Strong Swim Fund?
- A picture of your child's Medicaid card, SNAP card, or proof of foster care works.
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