MBTA Student Pass Details

Commonwealth School participates in the MBTA Student Pass Program. We offer our students two types of Student CharlieCards to ride the T at the student discount rate of 50% off regular fares. You may choose from the following two options: The “M7” card is a monthly pass, and the “S” card is a stored value card. Please note that once you have made the choice, you may not change to the other type. We will assign a card number to all students who sign up for either card.

If you wish to participate, please fill out the enrollment form and return it to Katie Athey in the Business Office by August 4, 2017.

The “M7” card is a monthly pass card and costs $30 a month. It is automatically loaded from September through June (10 months), and can be used at any time. We are also offering the option of a nine-month pass, good from September through May. The “M7” card allows students unlimited travel on local and express buses, subways, and commuter trains within Zones 1A, 1, and 2. If your child travels outside commuter rail Zone 2, he or she can purchase an inter-zone ticket at Back Bay, North, or South Stations with the student discount when an “M7” card is shown. If you have any questions about commuter train fares, please ask at the ticket window.

After July 1, 2018, your child can continue using his or her “M7” card during the summer months of July and August. It will convert either to a monthly pass card or a Stored Value card. On July 1, your child has the option to load $30 for monthly pass value or load a different amount as a “Pay As You Go” on his or her existing “M7” card at any MBTA Fare Vending Machines. However, during the summer, the student monthly pass is only good for the MBTA subways, local buses, and express busses, not for Commuter Rail. However, commuter train tickets can be bought at 50% off regular fares when the card is shown at purchase.

If your child does not need a monthly pass for 10 months, the school can supply a Stored Value Student CharlieCard (S). “Students have the option to use the S-Card for “Pay As You Go” discounted fares, or add a monthly pass to the card at the MBTA Fare Vending Machines at a price of $30 a month.” However, the “S” card is good for only riding on the MBTA local buses, express buses, and subways. It is not good for travel by Commuter Rail, though a student can buy Commuter Rail tickets at 50% off regular fares when the card is shown at purchase. The S-Card is valid from September 2017 through August 2018.

All stored value on both the M7 and S cards added in July and August must be used by August 31, 2018, as all fund will be cleared out in September.

Replacement cards: If you lose a card, please email me so the card can be blocked; a lost pass can be replaced for a $5 administrative fee. Please note that the value on “M7” cards from September to June is replaceable, but the value on S-cards is not. During the summer months, the value on neither card is replaceable.

If you have any questions, please contact Sue Tibert stibert@commschool.org or 617-266-7525 x292.