Middle and High Schools: Help Your Students Save
More from Bulk Orders
View all of the MBTA's bulk purchase programs
- Perq for Work
- Student Passes
- Semester Passes
- Group Orders
The T is working with middle and high schools in the Boston area to offer students year-round discounted MBTA fares for the bus, subway, Commuter Rail, and ferry.
Through our Student Pass Program, schools can sign up to provide cards and have families pay for them, or schools can cover the cost.
Are you a school administator? Keep reading to learn how you can sign up for the program.
Are you a parent or student? Visit our Student CharlieCards page to find out how to get your card.
Pass Types
S-Cards
Students and families can add value to S-Cards for reduced fares, or purchase a $30.00 monthly pass for unlimited travel on the subway and Local or Express buses. S-Cards can also be used to buy half-price 1-way Commuter Rail and ferry tickets. S-Cards remain active from September 1 to August 31.
M7 Passes
Prepaid M7 Passes, which cost schools $30.00 a month per pass from September through June, are good for unlimited travel on the subway, Local or Express buses, and Commuter Rail Zones 1A, 1, and 2. During July and August, M7 Passes offer the same discounts as S-Cards but must have value added to them.
Registration
Only school administrators can sign up for the program. Students and parents, check with your school to see if it participates.
Administrators, you’ll use an online portal to sign up, place orders, and manage the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
For School Administrators
Schools may select 1 super-user and as many administrators as needed.
- The super-user can perform any function on the site, including changing financial information, changing billing or shipping address information, or creating accounts for other staff.
- Administrators, assigned by the super-user, can place or make modifications to an order and register new students.
No. Student cards are effective all year.
Select “CharlieCard Management” and search for the card assigned to the student. Set the card status to "Remove from Account."
Only the listed super-user may change the shipping address/payment form. Under “Account Management,” select “Billing/Shipping” to edit your school’s address.
Yes. Select “CharlieCard Management,” and you can view a roster of assigned cards and search for specific students.
About Your Order
On the School Pass Program website, select “CharlieCard Management” and then “Order New Cards.” Select how many M7 Passes and S-Cards you need, up to 100% of the school’s total enrollment number.
Payment may be made by Check, ACH, or Paymode. ACH payments will process on the 16th of the month. Schools using Paymode or a check must send their payments before the 15th of each month.
Checks should be made payable to MBTA Pass Program and mailed to:
Student Lock Box
PO BOX 847894
Boston, MA 02284-7894
Note: Although overnight shipments are not accepted by the lock box, USPS Priority will typically deliver the next day.
Orders for the next school year can be placed after July 5. Orders placed between July 5 and August 30 will arrive no later than September 1. Any orders placed after August 30 will be mailed in 1-2 business days. During the academic school year, orders placed before 3 PM will be delivered the next business day. The T will ship cards directly to your office.
Assign cards to students by selecting “CharlieCard Management” and then “Activate Cards.” Contact StudentPassProgram@mbta.com to report any cards listed on the packing slip but not received within 5 business days.
Note: You will be invoiced for M7 Passes that have been assigned. The school is responsible for unauthorized activity on any unassigned cards.
Yes. In the “Review Current Order” section, click on “Order Roster Uploader.” Follow the instructions for using the import/export tool, or view the sample template to create your own spreadsheet to enter the information.
Replacement options depend on the pass type and whether it has been tracked by the school administrator.
Eligible:
- M7 Passes loaded with a monthly pass and tracked
- S-Cards loaded with a monthly pass, tracked, and lost during the school year (September-June)
Not eligible:
- Untracked S-Cards
- S-Cards loaded with stored value
- S-Cards lost during the summer (July-August)
Passes loaded on S-Cards will only be replaced between the 1st and the 15th of the month, and only one replacement is allowed per month.
To replace a lost, stolen, or damaged pass:
On the Student Pass Program website, select “CharlieCard Management” and then “Report Lost/Damaged Card.” Enter the lost card’s serial number and select “Submit.” Select a new, unassigned card from the dropdown menu to assign it to the student. If no replacements cards are available, click on the link to order a new card.
Note: You cannot order additional student cards unless all cards have been assigned.
Learn More
Download the Student Pass Program User Guide
Contact
For questions or comments, send an email to StudentPassProgram@mbta.com or call 617-222-5710.