Because of the kids ride free cards and because drivers don't want to kick some kid off the bus because he forgot his kids ride free cards the drivers don't police it. Also they just dont' want to bother.

The problem, in DC, is that there are certain routes that are vital to getting kids to school, but because the drivers don't bother, even kids who would ordinarily be happy to swipe, don't bother either and according to the stats, the buses are completely empty after school, even when they are so full they can barely move.

https://wmata.com/fares/Student-Programs.cfm

https://ddot.dc.gov/page/kids-ride-free-program

Only for district residents. So no for your kid.

In Montgomery county, teens get on and off the metro buses without scanning in (regardless of whether they have a kids ride free card—most don’t seem to have them). Is it similar for teens in dc? My kid goes to school in Montgomery county but has an after school activity in dc.