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Educators'
Discounts
AHEM
Membership Cards
Any
Massachusetts homeschooler can use a letter from their local school
department as legal proof of homeschooling status. AHEM has available
"membership" cards. While they are not legal proof of
homeschooling status, homeschoolers have found that many retailers
do accept such cards as evidence of homeschooling, allowing homeschoolers
to be eligible for educator discounts at various retail stores,
most notably book stores, arts and crafts stores, and educational
supply stores. Anywhere that offers discounts to teachers is probably
receptive to offering the same to homeschoolers. It can't hurt
to ask!
If
you would like an AHEM membership card, please send a stamped,
self-addressed envelope to AHEM, PO Box 1307, Arlington, MA 02474.
Indicate "membership card" on the envelope, and allow
4-6 weeks for delivery. People requesting cards will be added
to the Friends of AHEM list
unless they specifically opt out, so include your email address
as well if you have one, as that is our preferred form of communication.
We
list the following
businesses and organizations as a service to Massachusetts homeschoolers,
but being listed here does not imply an endorsement by AHEM.
Retail
A.C. Moore
To apply for a Teacher Discount Card, please
mail a copy of one of the following requirements:
•
Teacher Union Card
• State Issued Teaching Certificate
• Home Schooler Affidavit or IHIP approval letter from School
District or
your State
• Home Schooling Certificate
•
AHEM membership card (front and back)
Along with your Card or Certificate you must send in the name
of the
school, address, phone number, and principal name. Also,
we need the individual teacher's home phone number and address
where the card should be mailed. Please mail your information
to:
A.
C. Moore
Attn: Teacher Discount Program
130 A.C. Moore Drive
Berlin, NJ. 08009
Apple
Apple is pleased to offer discounts
to homeschoolers through the Apple Store for Education. To place
an order visit http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/routingpage.html
and click Homeschool in the lower left corner. If
you have further questions regarding verification, email us at
homeschool@apple.com or call 1-800-MY-APPLE.
Borders/Waldenbooks
and Barnes & Noble stores
Both
Borders and Barnes & Noble stores recognize homeschoolers
as educators, and will issue an educators' discount card to them
with proper ID.
Borders accepts AHEM membership cards as valid proof of educator
status for the purpose of obtaining the discounts. If you would
like an AHEM membership card, see above.
Mary Ausman of Barnes & Noble clarifies that homeschoolers
may self-certify themselves as well: "You may apply for the
discount card in the store by bringing in something that does
indicate you are currently homeschooling. We realize that identification
for homeschooling varies by state, and lesson plans, membership
to a homeschooling/unschooling support groups, or other ID that
verifies you home school is acceptable to receive the discount
card. If no other form of ID is available, a signed letter by
the homeschooling parent that includes: family name and address,
name of homeschooling parent(s), and the grade level of each child
is acceptable. The discount offers Pre-K - 12th grade educators
a 20% discount off the publisher's list price on most hardcover
and paperback books used in the classroom. The discount is not
valid on the website."
Jo-Ann
Fabric & Crafts
Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts does extend discounts to homeschoolers.
Stores issue cards directly. Verification of teaching that may
be required by your state or a card from a recognized organization
such as AHEM, is sufficient to receive a card. Please provide
this information to a member of the management team at store level.
Staples
Homeschool teachers are eligible for the Teachers Rewards Program.
To enroll, go to https://www.staplesrewardscenter.com/SORC/UserManagement/Login/Login.aspx
and click on "Enroll in Staples Teacher Rewards now."
Fill in the necessary fields and lcik "Submit." A confirmation
screen will appear stating that you have successfully been enrolled
in the program.
Museums
Boston
Children's Museum http://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/index.html
Children's Museum will recognize a homeschooling parent as an
educator, who therefore has the following benefits:
Free Resources and Other Benefits for Teachers
•
Free admission to the Museum at all times
• 10% discount at the Recycle Shop
• 10% discount at the Museum shop with your educator I.D.
All
educators have access to:
• Circulating library
• Computers with Internet Access (10 pages free printing,
then 25 cents per page)
• Laminating machine
• GBC binder
• Ellison shape and letter cutting machine (bring your own
paper!)
• Art waxer
• Room Rentals (under 12 people FREE!)
• Exploration of Kits materials
Simply
identify yourself as a homeschooler at the admissions desk.
The
Butterfly Place http://www.butterflyplace-ma.com/
Special admission fees for homeschoolers. Call (978) 392-0955
for details.
Museum
of Science, Boston http://www.mos.org/
A student group of nine or more can
go on a field trip to the Museum at these rates if you follow
the guidelines below. For complete field trip guidelines, see
http://www.mos.org/educators/field_trip_resources/field_trip_planner/field_trip_reservations.
Making
Reservations
Reservations by PHONE only. Call Science Central. Reserve at least
24 hours in advance: Exhibit Halls and Omni films. Reserve at
least two weeks in advance: Field Trip Programs that require a
reservation. School field trips and programs are NOT offered during
Massachusetts holidays and school vacation periods.
Science
Central
Open daily, 9 am-5 pm.
617-723-2500 (voice)
Payment
Rates
Exhibit
Halls
Teachers Free [one parent per homeschooling family counts as a
teacher]
All field trips must include Exhibit Halls admission, unless otherwise
noted. Additional programs (Planetarium, Omnis, Special Exhibits
etc.) cost extra. See http://www.mos.org/educators/field_trip_resources/field_trip_planner/field_trip_reservations
for current rates.
Multiple
visits: If you return with the same students, you receive 50%
off Exhibit Halls admission. When making reservations, inform
Science Central that you will be visiting more than once with
your students.
Parking
Chaperones and teachers may park cars in the Museum garage for
flat fee of $3. Flat fee applies during field trip participation
only; it may not be applied when visiting the Museum for other
purposes.
Lunch
Options
Field trip participants may either purchase lunches in the Museum
food court (Galaxy Cafés) or bring bag lunches.
Effective
November 1, 2007: The Museum of Science will no longer accept
reservations for student groups of less than 9 in number over
the phone. Groups of less than 9 will be required to purchase
tickets at the box office at the standard admission rates. It
is our hope that home school groups will collaborate to form groups
of 9 or more and make group reservations over the phone together.
In this way they will be able to access our discounted student
admission rates as they have in the past.
Old
Sturbridge Village
Homeschoolers and their families are offered the Education Department
discount during the School year. Homeschool
students and accompanying adults are $7 per person,
including adults and youths (those under age 3 are admitted free).
You just need to identify yourself as a homeschooling family to
secure the rate. There are specific days during the week and throughout
the year that we offer this discounted opportunity to visit. These
days are typically M-F, September through June (closed on Mondays
in the winter). This discount is not offered during school vacation
weeks and some holidays. We offer one Saturday a month which is
typically the third Saturday. Click
here to see the 2007-2008 calendar and you can call 508-347-0290
before your visit
to confirm the day you are planning to go is one that the discount
is offered.
MBTA
From http://www.mbta.com/fares_and_passes/reduced_fare_programs/:
Junior high and high school students ride the T for 50%
off the price of standard T fares and are eligible for a $20/month
Student T-Pass good for unlimited travel on Bus, Subway, Express
Bus, and Commuter Rail Zones 1A, 1 and 2 until 8 p.m. on school
days. Discounted
rides or passes require a Student CharlieCard or CharlieTicket.
The
MBTA issues student fare media to homeschoolers for use on the
MBTA system. In August, they will be issuing magnetic plastic
CharlieCards for the 2007-2008 Academic School Year.
Please
complete the order
request form with your best estimates for the session. Simply
self-certify that you are a homeschooler - no further ID is required.
Up to
two children 11 and under ride for free when accompanied by a
paying adult. No ID required.
Homeschool
parents who wish to make additional requests or seek general information
about MBTA student services should contact Will Kingkade in the
Automated Fare Collection (AFC) Department at (617) 222-4545.
Do you
know of other educator discounts that homeschoolers are eligible
for? Let us know! Send
AHEM more listings of Massachusetts stores and museums that offer
discounts to homeschoolers.
Back to Archives.
The
information on this website does not constitute legal advice;
it is provided for informational purposes only.
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