Homeschool benefits and savings in Albany
An Albany Parks and Recreation scholarship pays 50% of most recreation program fees and facility passes, up to $100 per eligible family member each calendar year, and drops a COOL Pool family monthly pass to $25. Households that qualify for SNAP, TANF, or the Oregon Health Plan generally qualify, and there is no school enrollment requirement.
Who qualifies
Meets the income guideline
Eligibility depends on household income and the number of dependents, in line with the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Households on SNAP, TANF, or the Oregon Health Plan, with the adults listed, generally qualify.
Shows one income document
Send a current SNAP, TANF, or Oregon Health Plan award letter, your most recent federal 1040 tax return, or other proof of income such as three months of pay stubs. Black out sensitive numbers first.
Applies as a household
An adult or legal guardian applies for the household. A dependent is a son, daughter, grandchild, or foster child who lives with you more than half the year.
Lives in Albany or pays the difference
People outside Albany city limits can get a scholarship but must pay the out-of-city portion of each program fee.
What it is worth
Albany Parks and Recreation pays 50% of a program fee up to $100 per eligible family member each calendar year, and sets fixed scholarship prices for COOL Pool passes.
- Share of a program fee you pay
- 50%
- Most per eligible family member a year
- $100
- Most for four eligible family members a year
- $400
- COOL Pool one-month youth pass ($33 in city)
- $15
- COOL Pool one-month family pass ($64 in city)
- $25
COOL Pool is seasonal and closed for 2026 on September 7, so ask whether the pool scholarship applies at Albany Community Pool before you count on it.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you apply
Gather one proof of income
Use an award letter, your last federal 1040, or other income documents, with sensitive details marked out.
- A week before registering
Submit the application
Apply online, mail it to Albany Parks & Recreation, c/o Scholarships, 333 Broadalbin St SW, Albany, OR 97321, or drop it off in a sealed envelope marked "Scholarship Application."
- Within 5 business days
Get a decision
Albany Parks and Recreation tells you whether the scholarship was approved once it has the full application and documents.
- During the year
Register and use it
Register for programs and passes during the year the scholarship is valid, until you reach $100 per family member for the calendar year.
- Each year
Reapply
An approved scholarship lasts one year, and renewal is not guaranteed.
What it pays for
Covered
- Most recreation programs
- Facility passes
- COOL Pool monthly passes
Not covered
- Private and specialized classes
- Facility rentals
- Merchandise
- The out-of-city portion of fees
Albany offers a limited number of scholarships each year, supported by donations to its Fun4All scholarship program, so applying does not guarantee approval.
Who to contact
The Parks and Recreation office at City Hall answers questions about scholarship eligibility and applications, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
541-917-7777 Online application
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Oregon
You must notify your local Education Service District (ESD) within 10 days of withdrawing from school, or of the school year's start if not withdrawing. You must notify the ESD if you leave your school district or stop homeschooling. After a move to a new ESD, notify the new ESD within 10 days.
Oregon sets these rules:
- Subjects: Oregon does not require specific subjects or a particular curriculum.
- Testing: Use an approved standardized test by August 15 after grades 3, 5, 8, and 10, subject to the initial 18-month testing grace period and disability-plan alternatives. Interscholastic participants meet annual testing or district-adopted alternative academic-evidence requirements, which may include an approved portfolio or work sample.
- Records: Keep test results and submit them to the Education Service District when requested. Retaining the ESD notification acknowledgment is also recommended.
- Teachers: Oregon does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.
Read the Oregon homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Oregon
Questions parents ask
- Can we use an Albany scholarship for swim lessons?
- Usually. Scholarships work for most recreation programs and facility passes, but private and specialized classes are excluded, so ask the office about a specific class before you register.
- Where can I get a paper Albany scholarship application?
- Pick one up at the registration counter in City Hall, the Riverfront Community Center at 489 NW Water Ave, or Albany Community Pool at 2150 36th Ave SE.
- Will anyone else see our income documents?
- No. Only the department staff who review scholarships see the materials, and they are not shared with other people, organizations, or agencies without your approval.
- Can we get an Albany scholarship if we live outside the city?
- Yes, but you pay the out-of-city portion of each program fee.
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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