Homeschool benefits: Green Mountain Transit
Green Mountain Transit (GMT) charges riders ages 6 to 17 a $1 discounted fare instead of the $2 regular fare, and caps youth spending at $2 a day and $25 a month on the Ride Ready by GMT app or smart card. The discount is based on age, so a homeschooled child qualifies without a school ID.
Who qualifies
Is 6 to 17 years old
GMT's discounted fare covers youth ages 6 to 17, with no school enrollment requirement.
Can show proof of age
GMT may ask for a driver's license or a non-driver identification card issued by the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to prove age.
Has a youth fare account
App and smart card accounts start as regular fare. Call customer service to add the youth fare, or ask for it when you get a smart card in person.
What the fare saves
GMT's fare chart lists these prices for discounted riders next to the regular fare.
- Single ride (regular fare $2)
- $1
- Daily cap with app or smart card (regular $4)
- $2
- 30-day cap with app or smart card (regular $50)
- $25
- Child under 6 with a paying rider, local buses
- Free
- Shopping Specials routes
- Free
Cash and contactless card or phone payments are never capped, so the $2 daily and $25 30-day caps apply only on the Ride Ready by GMT app or smart card.
How to get the youth fare
- Before the first ride
Set up Ride Ready
Create an account in the Ride Ready by GMT app or the e-Fares portal, or get a smart card at the Downtown Transit Center or the GMT office in Burlington.
- After you sign up
Switch to the youth fare
Call GMT customer service at 802-540-2468 to change the account from regular to youth fare.
- Each ride
Say before you pay
When paying cash or with a contactless card, tell the driver your child qualifies for the discount before you pay for them, and pay exact cash because drivers cannot make change.
- Over 30 days
Let the cap work
Once your child's app or card spends $2 in a day or $25 in a 30-day period, further rides in that period are free.
What it includes
Included
- Discounted rides on GMT local, commuter, and Link express routes
- Daily and 30-day fare caps on the app or smart card
- Free rides for children under 6 on local buses with a paying rider
Not included
- Fare caps on cash or contactless payments
- Free rides for children under 6 on LINK Express
- Riders 18 and older
Who to contact about youth fares
GMT customer service adds the youth fare to Ride Ready accounts and answers fare questions.
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Vermont
You must submit the initial Home Study Notice of Intent, then an Annual Notice of Continued Enrollment each year, at least 10 business days before starting. Wait for Agency of Education confirmation. You must notify the Secretary in writing within 10 business days after a student leaves the home-study program.
Vermont sets these rules:
- Subjects: For children under 13, teach reading, writing, numbers, citizenship/history/government, PE and health, literature, natural sciences, and fine arts. At 13 or older, PE/health and fine arts are not mandated. Provide the equivalent of at least 175 days of instruction annually.
- Testing: Complete an annual assessment and retain it; routine submission to the Agency of Education is not required. Options include a qualifying test, teacher assessment, parent report with work samples, online-academy grades, or a GED certificate.
- Records: Keep the annual assessment evidence. A parent report used for assessment must include at least four work samples. Retaining the enrollment confirmation is also recommended.
- Teachers: Vermont does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.
Read the Vermont homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Vermont
Questions parents ask
- How do I pay GMT fares for my children when we ride together?
- Pay your own fare first, then tell the driver you are paying a discount fare for each child. If you use the app, call customer service to add a youth fare option to your account.
- Can my child get a GMT smart card?
- Yes. Get one at the Downtown Transit Center or the GMT administrative office in Burlington, and tell the representative your child is eligible for the discounted fare.
- Do the daily and monthly caps apply to cash fares?
- No.
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.
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