Homeschool benefits and savings in Burlington and Alamance County
Burlington Recreation and Parks' Play It Forward Scholarship puts a credit on your family's registration account toward youth athletics registration fees for families who receive government assistance, once per child each calendar year. Apply before or during the sport's registration period, no later than one week before registration closes; the separate summer 2026 swim-lesson scholarship closed April 30.
Who qualifies
Lives in Burlington
Play It Forward requires proof of Burlington city residency. The summer swim-lesson scholarship accepts proof of Alamance County residency.
Receives government assistance
Send a copy of proof such as Medicaid, free or reduced lunch, SNAP, Section 8 housing assistance, Social Security benefits, or TANF.
Applies before registration closes
Submit the application during or before the sport's registration period, at least one week before it ends. Incomplete applications are not considered.
Lists the child and activity
The form asks for each household member, birthdate, and the program, not a school, so a homeschooled child applies the same way as any other.
What it is worth
The terms come from the Play It Forward guidelines, updated February 18, 2025, and the city's current scholarships page.
- Youth athletics registration fees
- Credit on your Civic Rec account
- Scholarships per child
- One per calendar year
- Children per family
- Each child can receive one
- Decision
- Within 3 business days
- Summer swim lessons, ages 4-12
- Separate scholarship, closed April 30, 2026
Neither page gives a dollar amount, so ask the main office how much credit your child's sport will receive.
From applying to keeping it
- Before registration opens
Gather copies
Make copies of your government assistance proof and Burlington residency proof. The city does not accept originals.
- During registration
Apply
Apply online through Civic Rec or in person at the Burlington Recreation and Parks Main Office, at least one week before the sport's registration period ends.
- Within 3 business days
Get the credit
The Youth Athletic Supervisor reviews your application, and if approved, a scholarship credit is added to your Civic Rec account.
- After approval
Register your child
Sign up for the sport online through Civic Rec or at the Main Office, where the credit applies to the fee.
- Each calendar year
Apply again
Each child can use the scholarship once a year, and you can request it again the next year.
What it pays for
Covered
- Youth athletics registration fees
- Summer swim lessons at North Park Pool, through the separate aquatics scholarship
Not covered
- A second scholarship for the same child in one year
- Incomplete applications
Donations and grants, including a WIN Today grant from the Richardson Family Foundation, pay for Play It Forward, so scholarships are given first come, first served only while money remains.
Who to contact
The Main Office answers questions about Play It Forward applications, proof documents, and registration.
recreation@burlingtonnc.gov 336-222-5030 Recreation scholarships
Homeschool rules and statewide help in North Carolina
You must file the Notice of Intent with DNPE at least five business days before home instruction begins; wait for DNPE acknowledgment before withdrawing or starting. No annual renewal is required while operating; notify DNPE when the school closes.
North Carolina sets these rules:
- Subjects: Parents choose the curriculum. Operate on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months each year, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations.
- Testing: Administer a nationally standardized achievement test each year covering English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics.
- Records: Keep attendance and immunization records. Retain annual test results for at least one year and make them available to DNPE on request.
- Teachers: The teaching parent needs a high school diploma or equivalent in North Carolina.
North Carolina also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.
- Education Student Accounts (ESA+) pay $9,000 a year, or $17,000 for certain disabilities, to students with a documented disability, including homeschooled students. Funding can run out before the school year starts.
Read the North Carolina homeschooling guide See statewide programs in North Carolina
Questions parents ask
- Can a homeschooled child get a Play It Forward Scholarship?
- Yes. The scholarship depends on Burlington residency and government assistance, and the application does not ask where your child goes to school.
- Can more than one of my children get a Play It Forward Scholarship?
- Yes. Several children in one family can use scholarship funds in the same year, each one time.
- How do I send proof of assistance?
- Email, mail, or bring copies to the Recreation Main Office. Sensitive details such as Social Security numbers are kept confidential.
- Is there help with swim lessons?
- There was for summer 2026. A Hayden-Harman Foundation grant paid for lessons for ages 4-12 at North Park Pool, with applications due April 30, 2026. Ask btownaquatics@burlingtonnc.gov whether it returns.
- Is approval guaranteed?
- No. The city approves requests based on need, open program spots, and available money.
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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