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Homeschool benefits: Washington State Ferries

Washington State Ferries charges a homeschool group on a school outing a flat $5 one way or $10 round trip per walk-on group or per vehicle group, instead of each adult's fare, plus the vehicle fare if you drive on. You need a signed authorization letter, a copy of your filed Declaration of Intent, and a travel notice at least 72 hours ahead. Other options include recreation and camp discounts and college classes and scholarships.

By , founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed .

Benefits in the Washington State Ferries service area

  1. Washington State Ferries homeschool group fare
  2. Pierce County Parks scholarship
  3. King County ORCA LIFT reduced transit fare
  4. Cascadia College Running Start
  5. Shoreline Community College Running Start
  6. Tacoma Community College Running Start

Washington State Ferries homeschool group fare

Who qualifies

  1. Has a filed Declaration of Intent

    Your home school qualifies if you have filed a Declaration of Intent to Provide Home-Based Instruction with your school district. Bring a copy to show at the terminal.

  2. Travels on a school outing

    The rate applies only to school-sponsored activities, including extracurricular trips. Preschools and education-focused nonprofit programs do not qualify.

  3. Carries a signed authorization letter

    Each walk-on group or vehicle needs its own WSF authorization letter with an original signature, not a copy.

  4. Notifies WSF 72 hours ahead

    Submit the advance travel notification and student safety form with the number of children and adults so the boat carries enough life preservers.

What the fare saves

WAC 468-300-010 sets the school group rate and the adult fares in effect since May 1, 2026, and WSF's school groups page gives the one-way and round-trip group rates.

School group, one way
$5 per group
School group, round trip or one-point toll route
$10 per group
Adult fare, Seattle-Bainbridge or Edmonds-Kingston
$11.35 each
Adult fare, Mukilteo-Clinton
$7.10 each
Riders 18 and under
Free
Vehicle and driver
Regular vehicle fare

Because riders 18 and under already ride free, the group rate mainly saves on adult fares: four adults walking on at Seattle-Bainbridge pay $10 instead of $45.40.

How to get the group fare

  1. Before the trip

    Complete the authorization letter

    Name your home school, the terminals, date, sailing, and activity, list the number of students and adults, and sign it by hand.

  2. 72 hours before departure

    Send the travel notice

    Fill out the online advance travel notification and student safety form. On routes without reservations, it also tells the terminal you are coming.

  3. If you drive on

    Reserve a vehicle spot

    Reservations are strongly recommended on Port Townsend/Coupeville and the Anacortes routes. Book online or call 1-888-808-7977.

  4. At the terminal

    Show your papers

    Give the ticket agent the signed letter and a copy of your Declaration of Intent, then pay the group rate plus any vehicle fare.

What it includes

Included

Not included

Each vehicle group pays its own vehicle fare plus the group rate, so a trip in two cars costs two group rates and two vehicle fares.

Who to contact about school group travel

WSF customer service answers school group travel questions and helps schedule group trips.

206-464-6400 School groups page

Pierce County Parks scholarship

Who qualifies

  1. Lives in Pierce County

    Residents of both incorporated and unincorporated Pierce County can apply, at any age and ability.

  2. 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.

  3. 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. After approval

    Use the ActiveNet credit

    The award appears as a credit on your ActiveNet account, which you apply when registering for programs.

  4. Each year

    Apply again

    Scholarships do not renew, so submit a new application every calendar year.

What it pays for

Covered

Not covered

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.

Scholarship contact form

King County ORCA LIFT reduced transit fare

Who qualifies

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

Not included

Who to contact about ORCA LIFT

CHAP helps you check eligibility for ORCA LIFT and takes applications by phone.

800-756-5437 ORCA LIFT page

Cascadia College Running Start

Who qualifies

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. After processing

    Attend New Student Registration

    Cascadia emails your student a link to New Student Registration (NSR) once the contract is processed.

  4. 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

Not covered

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

Not covered

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

Not covered

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:

Read the Washington homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Washington

Questions parents ask

Does my child need a ticket for a ferry group trip?
No. Under the current fare rule, children and youth 18 and under ride free on all WSF routes.
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.

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