Homeschool benefits: Spokane Transit Authority
Every child 18 and under rides Spokane Transit Authority (STA) buses for free, and a free Rider's License Connect card gives your child ages 6-18 unlimited rides on all STA routes. Homeschooled children qualify by age alone, with no school ID needed.
Who qualifies
Is 18 or younger
All youth 18 and under ride STA free, and no rider in that age group is turned away for lack of a card.
Gets a Rider's License
Children ages 6-18 can get the free Rider's License Connect card, which carries unlimited rides on all STA routes.
Applies online or in person
Apply online, at the Customer Service counter at STA Plaza, or at any Spokane, Liberty Lake, or Spokane County library branch.
What the fare saves
STA's fares overview lists what a regular rider pays without Youth Ride Free.
- Youth 18 and under
- Free
- Regular one-way fare
- $2.00
- Regular daily fare cap
- $4.00
- Regular monthly fare cap
- $60.00
- Rider's License Connect card
- Free
Each physical Connect card and eConnect card is a separate account, so your child cannot switch between them to pay from the same balance.
How to get free rides
- Before you apply
Choose a card or phone
Pick a physical Rider's License or an eConnect card in the STA Connect app. For the app, register an online Connect account first and use the eConnect number on the application.
- Online or in person
Apply for the Rider's License
Fill out the online form, or apply at STA Plaza or a Spokane, Liberty Lake, or Spokane County library branch. There is no cost.
- While you wait
Ride anyway
If the card has not arrived, your child can board and tell the driver their age.
- Each ride
Tap the card
Your child lays the card flat on the reader when boarding and waits for the beep and green check mark.
What it includes
Included
- Unlimited rides on all STA routes
- Phone fare through the STA Connect app
Not included
- Sharing a balance between physical and eConnect cards
Washington's Climate Commitment Act funds STA bus and Paratransit service, including the free youth fare.
Who to contact about Youth Ride Free
STA Customer Service at The Plaza, 701 West Riverside Avenue, issues Rider's Licenses and takes calls Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sundays and holidays, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
509-328-7433 Rider's License application
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
- What if my child does not have an STA card yet?
- Your child can still ride. STA does not turn away riders 18 and under, so your child can tell the driver their age or show a valid student ID.
- Where can we pick up a Rider's License in person?
- At the STA Plaza Customer Service counter, open weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays noon to 5:00 p.m., or at a Spokane, Liberty Lake, or Spokane County library branch.
- Can my child use a phone instead of a card?
- Yes. If your child already has a Rider's License, Customer Service can add it to an eConnect card in the STA Connect app, and your child scans the app's QR code when boarding.
- Who pays for the free youth fare?
- Funding from Washington's Climate Commitment Act supports STA service, including free fares for youth.
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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