Homeschool benefits and savings in Puget Sound participating transit agencies
Riders 18 and younger ride free on the Puget Sound's ORCA transit agencies, including King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, Everett Transit, and Washington State Ferries. A Youth ORCA card, ordered online with proof of age such as a birth certificate, keeps the free fare working until your child turns 19. Other options include recreation and camp discounts and college classes and scholarships.
Benefits in Puget Sound participating transit agencies
- Youth ORCA Ride Free
- Pierce County Parks scholarship
- King County ORCA LIFT reduced transit fare
- Cascadia College Running Start
- Shoreline Community College Running Start
- Tacoma Community College Running Start
Youth ORCA Ride Free
Who qualifies
Is 18 or younger
Every rider 18 and younger rides free, whether they tap a Youth ORCA card, show a student ID, or simply board. Children under 6 ride free without a card.
Proves age for the card
To order a Youth ORCA card, upload a K-12 student ID, state ID, driver's license, birth certificate, or passport. A homeschooled child without a school ID can use a birth certificate or passport.
Rides a participating agency
The free fare covers Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Metro, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, Seattle Streetcar, Sound Transit, Washington State Ferries, and Seattle Center Monorail.
What the fare saves
ORCA's adult fares page lists what riders 19 and older pay, and the Youth Ride Free page sets the youth rules.
- Youth fare on participating agencies
- Free
- Adult ORCA card
- $3
- Adult monthly PugetPass for $2.75 fares
- $99
- Adult monthly PugetPass for $3.00 fares
- $108
- Seattle Center Monorail, ages 6-18
- Free with Youth ORCA card only
- Free fare on a registered youth card
- Until age 19
Some exclusions apply when you drive a vehicle onto Washington State Ferries, so the free youth fare does not cover the vehicle.
How to get free rides
- Before you order
Find proof of age
Scan a birth certificate, passport, state ID, driver's license, or K-12 student ID. You do not need to add money or a pass.
- Online or in person
Get the card
Order at myORCA.com/buy-online and wait for the card by mail, or bring the same documents to a transit agency customer service location for a card that works right away.
- While you wait
Ride anyway
Your child can board for free before the card arrives, except on the Monorail, which requires the card.
- After it arrives
Link or register it
Teens 13 and older can link the card to a myORCA account so it is easy to replace. Cards from schools or organizations must be registered with a birthdate to keep working until 19.
What it includes
Included
- Buses, trains, and water taxis
- Seattle Streetcar and Seattle Center Monorail
- Washington State Ferries passenger fares
- A personal care attendant for eligible youth with disabilities
Not included
- Vehicle fares on Washington State Ferries
- Monorail rides without a Youth ORCA card
Move Ahead Washington, the state transportation funding package, pays for free transit for riders 18 and younger.
Who to contact about Youth ORCA
The ORCA call center answers card orders, lost cards, and registration questions Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except holidays.
Pierce County Parks scholarship
Who qualifies
Lives in Pierce County
Residents of both incorporated and unincorporated Pierce County can apply, at any age and ability.
Meets the low-income limit
Household income must be at or below 80% of Tacoma-area median family income, such as $67,700 for one person or $96,650 for four, certified on a self-attestation form.
Applies before registering
You must apply and be approved before you register for a qualifying program.
What it is worth
Pierce County Parks awards up to $200 per person and $500 per household, covering up to 100% of program fees.
- One person
- $200
- Two people
- $400
- Three or more people
- $500
- Share of each program fee covered
- Up to 100%
- Unused funds after December 31
- Expire
Awards are not guaranteed until they are applied to a registration, so use the credit soon after you receive it.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you register
Apply online, by mail, or in person
Use the online form or print the application, then mail it to Sprinker Recreation Center, 521 Military Rd S, Tacoma, or drop it at Sprinker or Lakewood Community Center.
- Within 1-5 business days
Get a decision
Parks staff review your application and, if funds are available, award the scholarship first come, first served.
- After approval
Use the ActiveNet credit
The award appears as a credit on your ActiveNet account, which you apply when registering for programs.
- Each year
Apply again
Scholarships do not renew, so submit a new application every calendar year.
What it pays for
Covered
- Camps, sports, activities, and events in ActiveNet
- Programs at any Pierce County Parks facility
- Participants of any age
Not covered
- Fantasy Lights
- Vendor fees
- Activities run by partner organizations
- Private rentals
As of June 1, 2026, the county reports the 2026 scholarship fund is fully allocated and says it is reviewing whether more funds will be available.
Who to contact
Pierce County Parks answers scholarship questions through its online contact form.
King County ORCA LIFT reduced transit fare
Who qualifies
Meets the income limit
Gross household income must be no more than 200% of the federal poverty level, which is $2,660 a month for one person and $5,500 for a family of four.
Or gets a qualifying benefit
People enrolled in Apple Health Medicaid, WIC, or Basic Food are eligible. Their ProviderOne or EBT card or program letter serves as income proof.
Shows proof of identity
Bring a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport, or a combination of documents like a birth certificate and a photo employee ID.
What the fare saves
King County Metro's fare page lists the regular adult and ORCA LIFT prices effective September 1, 2025.
- Adult single ride on Metro
- $3.00
- ORCA LIFT single ride on Metro, Link, and Sounder
- $1.00
- Regional day pass, adult
- $6.00
- Regional day pass, ORCA LIFT
- $2.00
- Monthly PugetPass with ORCA LIFT
- $36.00
- Riders 18 and under
- Free
Agencies outside the ORCA LIFT list charge the regular adult fare even on an ORCA LIFT card, so check which systems your trips use.
How to get ORCA LIFT
- Before you apply
Check eligibility
Compare your monthly household income with the 200% limit for your family size, or call the Community Health Access Program (CHAP) at 800-756-5437 for help.
- To apply
Apply online, by phone, or in person
Bring proof of income and identity to an authorized enrollment office, apply online, or apply by phone through CHAP and get the card by mail.
- Before riding
Load the card
Add E-purse money or a monthly pass at myORCA.com, a store, an ORCA vending machine, or the Metro Pass Sales Office.
- Every two years
Renew the card
The card is good for two years from when you receive it; apply again through the Reduced Fare Portal before it expires.
What it includes
Included
- $1.00 rides on Metro, Link, Sounder, and ST Express
- Community Transit, Everett Transit, Kitsap Transit, and Pierce Transit buses
- King County Water Taxi and Seattle Streetcar
- The first ORCA LIFT card
Not included
- Transit agencies outside the ORCA LIFT list
- Replacement cards, which cost $3
- Fare money or passes loaded on the card
Who to contact about ORCA LIFT
CHAP helps you check eligibility for ORCA LIFT and takes applications by phone.
Cascadia College Running Start
Who qualifies
Affiliated with a public district
Your student must be enrolled in a Washington public high school or a public school district-affiliated homeschool program. Homeschooling on your own, without a district affiliation, does not meet this rule.
Is a junior or senior
Students must be classified as high school juniors or seniors. Current sophomores can start in the summer before junior year.
Places into English 95
Your student must place into English 95 or higher, and both English and math placements must be processed even if no course in either subject is planned.
Has a counselor-signed EVF
Each quarter needs an Enrollment Verification Form (EVF) signed by the high school representative, a parent, and the student. The counselor sets the credit limit.
What it is worth
Cascadia's 2026-27 tuition table for Washington residents in associate degree and certificate courses.
- 5 credits (one course)
- $680.70
- 10 credits
- $1,361.40
- 15 credits
- $1,697.30
- 19 credits (fall and winter maximum)
- $2,020.98
- Fall, winter, and spring at 15 credits
- $5,091.90
You still pay mandatory fees, including a technology fee of $4.00 per credit (up to $60 a quarter) and an Activities and Recreation Center fee of $9.51 per credit (up to $142.65), unless a free or reduced-price lunch waiver applies.
From applying to keeping it
- Before the term deadline
Apply to Cascadia
Submit the online admission application and choose Running Start and Academic as the application type. For fall 2026 the deadline was September 8.
- Before registering
Send placement and the contract
Email English and math placement documents to placement@cascadia.edu and upload the Running Start Contract, signed by you and your student, through the Running Start portal.
- After processing
Attend New Student Registration
Cascadia emails your student a link to New Student Registration (NSR) once the contract is processed.
- Each quarter
Submit the EVF and pay fees
Work with the district counselor around week 6 to complete the next quarter's EVF, upload it, and pay fees by the term deadline or risk being dropped from classes.
What it pays for
Covered
- Tuition for college-level courses numbered 100 and above
- Up to 19 credits in fall and winter, 20 in spring, and 10 in summer
Not covered
- Tuition for courses below college level, such as English 95
- Mandatory college fees
- Textbooks and supplies
- Transportation and parking
Public schools pay the tuition for Running Start students, which is why your student needs a public school or district-affiliated homeschool enrollment.
Who to contact
The Running Start office answers questions about eligibility, forms, and deadlines and holds virtual drop-in hours on Wednesdays from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
runningstart@cascadia.edu 425-352-8000 Running Start page
Shoreline Community College Running Start
Who qualifies
Enrolls with a public program
Running Start is state funded, so homeschool students must enroll with a homeschool resource center or the public school district where they live.
In 11th or 12th grade
Your student must be enrolled in 11th or 12th grade in a Washington public school by the first quarter of Running Start.
Places into English 101
Show a 2.5 cumulative high school GPA, a Smarter Balanced English score of 3 or 4, AP, IB, SAT, or ACT scores, or placement from another Washington college. Homeschoolers can take Shoreline's free Informed Self Placement test.
Meets the application dates
For fall 2026, students had to apply by September 6 and turn in the Enrollment Verification Form by September 17.
What it is worth
Shoreline College's 2026-27 Washington resident lower-division rates, which include the services and activities fee, apply from fall 2026 through summer 2027.
- 5 credits (one class)
- $678.95
- 10 credits
- $1,357.90
- 12 credits
- $1,491.86
- 15 credits
- $1,692.80
- Three quarters at 15 credits
- $5,078.40
Running Start pays tuition only for the credits on your student's Enrollment Verification Form. You pay course fees, books, supplies, and supplemental college fees ($114.80 a quarter at 15 credits) unless your student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you apply
Enroll with a public program
Sign up with a homeschool resource center or your resident district, whose counselor will complete the Enrollment Verification Form (EVF) with your student.
- By Sept. 6, 2026 for fall
Apply to Shoreline
Choose Running Start, list the Academic program and the AA-DTA degree, then activate the ctcLink account from the welcome email that arrives in 3-5 business days.
- After applying
Finish online orientation
Complete the intake survey and upload English placement proof. Running Start emails you once your student's eligibility is confirmed.
- By Sept. 17, 2026 for fall
Send the EVF
Email the signed EVF with requested classes and alternates to runningstart@shoreline.edu, then attend the mandatory class registration session.
- Each quarter
Keep a 2.0 GPA
Students must pass and keep at least a 2.0 quarterly GPA in all courses, and Running Start sends grades to the high school.
What it pays for
Covered
- Tuition for credits on the EVF
- Required textbooks for free or reduced-price lunch students
- The Informed Self Placement test
Not covered
- Tuition for math below college level
- Course and supplemental college fees
- Books and supplies for most students
- Federal financial aid
Students on the free or reduced-price lunch program get the fee waiver and loaned textbooks; everyone else gets tuition only.
Who to contact
The Running Start office in the FOSS Building, Room 5229, answers eligibility, placement, and enrollment questions and runs drop-in advising.
runningstart@shoreline.edu 206-546-6906 How to apply
Tacoma Community College Running Start
Who qualifies
Dual enrolls with a public district
Homeschooled students enroll through their local public school or district but do not have to meet that high school's graduation requirements. TCC asks you to file the Intent for Home-Based Instruction form the year before.
Has junior or senior standing
Meet with the district's high school counselor to confirm junior or senior standing and talk through readiness, costs, and transportation.
Shows college-level English
Upload a homeschool transcript showing a B- or higher in sophomore or junior English. TCC accepts homeschool transcripts in varied formats.
Finishes before a fifth year
Homeschooled students are not eligible for Running Start's fifth-year senior status.
What it is worth
TCC's 2026-27 lower-division tuition for Washington residents sets these amounts.
- 5 credits (one class)
- $680.70
- 10 credits
- $1,361.40
- 12 credits
- $1,495.76
- 15 credits
- $1,697.30
- Three quarters at 15 credits
- $5,091.90
You still pay technology, health and wellness, facility, and safety fees, $165 a quarter at 15 credits, plus textbooks and transportation, unless your student qualifies for Running Start financial assistance.
From applying to keeping it
- By Dec. 7, 2026
Apply to TCC
Choose Running Start under "I will be enrolling as a" on the college application. A welcome email with your ctcLink ID arrives within 3 business days.
- By Dec. 11, 2026
Upload English proof
Send the homeschool transcript through the link in the welcome email. TCC takes up to 3 business days to review it.
- By Dec. 18, 2026
Submit the Running Start application
Upload the Enrollment Verification Form (EVF) signed by the district counselor, you, and your student, and complete the rest of the application together.
- After processing
Attend orientation and register
TCC emails a Running Start orientation date, where your student meets an assigned advisor, and then registers for classes.
- Each quarter
Pay class and campus fees
Tuition is covered, but quarterly fees are due by the posted deadline, which is December 11, 2026 for winter.
What it pays for
Covered
- Tuition for college-level classes
- Credits up to the limit on the EVF
- Optional summer credits within remaining eligibility
- Fee waiver and book loans for eligible students
Not covered
- Class and campus fees
- Tuition for courses below 100 level
- Credits over the approved limit
- Textbooks and transportation
- Fines such as library or parking
Students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or qualify as McKinney-Vento or foster youth get their fees covered and can borrow books.
Who to contact
The Running Start team answers questions about application status, the EVF, and fee charges.
runstart@tacomacc.edu Running Start admissions steps
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Washington
You must file a declaration of intent by September 15 for the school year, or within two weeks after the start of a public-school quarter or term for a later start.
Washington sets these rules:
- Subjects: Teach occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and art and music appreciation. Provide hours equivalent to the annual program hours per grade for approved private schools under RCW 28A.195.010 and .040.
- Testing: Each year, obtain a state-board-approved standardized test administered by a qualified person or a written assessment by a Washington-certificated person currently working in education.
- Records: Keep annual test or assessment results permanently, along with immunization records. Forward required records if your child transfers to a public or approved private school.
- Teachers: The parent needs 45 college quarter credits or the semester equivalent, a home-instruction course at a postsecondary or vocational-technical institute, supervision by a certificated teacher, or the superintendent’s finding of sufficient qualifications. Teacher supervision includes planned objectives, an average of at least one contact hour per week with the child each month, and progress evaluation; the teacher may supervise no more than 30 children.
Read the Washington homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Washington
Questions parents ask
- Does my child need a Youth ORCA card at all?
- Only for the Seattle Center Monorail. On every other service the card is encouraged, because taps help agencies plan service, but not required.
- Can a homeschool family apply for a Pierce County Parks scholarship?
- Yes. Eligibility depends only on Pierce County residency and household income, so a homeschooled child qualifies like any other resident.
- Does the ORCA LIFT card cost anything?
- No, not the first card for qualified riders. You pay only for the fare money or passes you load.
- What will we still pay for Running Start at Cascadia?
- You still pay mandatory fees, such as the technology and Activities and Recreation Center fees, plus tuition for any course below college level, textbooks, supplies, and transportation or parking.
- How does a homeschooler show English placement for Shoreline without a school transcript?
- Your student can take Shoreline's Informed Self Placement test online at no cost. Shoreline also accepts SAT, ACT, AP, or IB scores and placement from other colleges.
- Does my student need a math placement for TCC Running Start?
- Not to be admitted. Your student needs one only for courses with a math prerequisite, using an SAT score of 550 or higher or the ALEKS placement assessment.
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