Homeschool benefits and savings in Coronado
Coronado's Recreation and Golf Services Scholarship pays up to $150 per participant per brochure session toward city classes, camps, and one-day programs. Coronado residents with family income at or below 80% of the San Diego County Area Median Income can apply year-round, with a separate application for each child and each session. Other options include library educator cards and resources and transit fare savings.
Benefits in Coronado
- Coronado Recreation and Golf Services Scholarship
- Coronado Public Library homeschool curriculum collection
- San Diego County PRONTO Youth Opportunity Pass
- MTS and NCTD Youth Opportunity Pass
Coronado Recreation and Golf Services Scholarship
Who qualifies
Lives in Coronado
Proof of residency is required to process the application and set up your account.
Earns 80% of AMI or less
Family income cannot exceed 80% of the County of San Diego Area Median Income limit, and the city may ask for proof of income.
Applies before paying
The scholarship cannot be used for a program you have already paid for or one that has already begun.
Picks an eligible program
Not every program qualifies, and staff tell you which do after they receive your application.
What it is worth
Coronado awards up to $150 per participant per brochure session, which can be split across several programs in that session.
- One child, one session
- Up to $150
- Two children, one session
- Up to $300
- Three children, one session
- Up to $450
- Unused balance after the session
- Returns to the fund
Awards depend on available funds, the number of requests, and your finances, so applying does not guarantee a scholarship.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you register
Submit an application
Fill out one application for each child for the brochure session you want, with proof of Coronado residency.
- After review
Hear which programs qualify
Staff tell you which programs the scholarship can cover and whether you were approved.
- After approval
Register and pay the rest
Follow the city's directions to register online and pay any balance. If online registration has closed, register by phone or in person.
- Each new brochure
Apply again
A new application is needed for each brochure session.
What it pays for
Covered
- Recreation classes
- Camps
- One-day programs
Not covered
- Programs already paid for
- Programs that have already started
- More than $150 per child per session
- Programs staff rule ineligible
Awards come from a limited scholarship fund that also takes donations, and the city warns the program may not always be available.
Who to contact
Recreation and Golf Services, at the Community Center at 1845 Strand Way, answers scholarship questions and takes registrations.
619-522-7342 Scholarship Program page
Coronado Public Library homeschool curriculum collection
Who qualifies
Has a Coronado library card
Adults show a California driver's license or state ID and one piece of mail with a current address. Cards are issued only in person during open hours.
Signs for a child's card
A parent or guardian with a library card must be present and sign for a child or teen.
Pays the nonresident fee outside California
Residents outside California pay $10 per year for an adult or child’s card; follow the card page’s ID and address-documentation rules.
What the card gives you
The limits come from Coronado Public Library's Cards, Loans and Fees page.
- Books
- 28 days
- New books
- 14 days
- DVD and Blu-ray
- 7 days
- Automatic renewals
- 2
- Interlibrary loan request
- $5
- Lost item
- Cost plus $12
Borrowing is suspended once an item is 60 days overdue, and at 90 days you are billed its replacement cost plus a $12 processing fee.
How to use the collection
- Before you go
Bring ID and mail
Bring a driver's license or state ID and a piece of mail with your current address to 640 Orange Avenue.
- At the library
Get cards for the family
Sign up for your card, then sign for each child's card while they are with you.
- In the Children's section
Browse the homeschool collection
Find the collection in the Children's section or search the catalog for "homeschool resources."
- Through the year
Check the events calendar
Upcoming homeschool programs are posted on the library's event calendar, and the recorded Homeschool 101 talk is on YouTube.
What it includes
Included
- Homeschool curriculum from several philosophies
- Homeschool programs and events
- The recorded Homeschool 101 talk
Not included
- Online card sign-up
- Interlibrary loan, which costs $5 a request
Who to contact about the collection
Library staff answer questions about the homeschool collection, cards, and homeschool events.
619-522-7390 Homeschool resources page
San Diego County PRONTO Youth Opportunity Pass
Who qualifies
Is 18 or younger
Anyone 18 and under qualifies, and your child keeps the same Youth pass until their 19th birthday. No school enrollment or income is required.
Has their own PRONTO account
Each child needs a separate PRONTO app account or PRONTO card. The age check site verifies only one card at a time.
Uploads proof of age
A birth certificate, photo ID with birthdate such as a passport, school ID, or a screenshot of the platform your child uses to turn in homework that shows their name and school all work.
Adds a profile photo
The online application asks for a profile picture or a live selfie that shows your child's face.
What the pass gives you
SANDAG's and MTS's Youth Opportunity Pass pages list these terms; adult one-way fares on MTS and NCTD rose to $3 on October 1, 2026.
- Rides for riders 18 and under
- Unlimited
- PRONTO app account
- Free
- Plastic PRONTO card
- $2
- Youth photo ID PRONTO card
- $7
- Approval at a customer service center
- Same day
- Pass good until
- 19th birthday
Since spring 2025 every youth pass needs an age check, so a pass from before then must be reactivated by uploading proof of age.
How to get the pass
- Before you apply
Set up PRONTO
Download the PRONTO San Diego app and create an account, or buy a $2 PRONTO card and register it online.
- When you apply
Request the Youth fare
Log in on a web browser, choose "Apply for Youth, Senior, Disabled Pass," select Youth, and enter your child's name and birthdate. Confirm with the code sent to your email, then upload proof of age and a photo.
- Within 2-10 days
Get approved
Some applications are approved automatically; others wait for MTS staff. The virtual card reads "Youth" at the top once it is verified, or bring proof of age to an MTS or NCTD customer service center for same-day approval.
- Every ride
Scan or tap
Scan the app or tap the card every time your child boards, including on a transfer to another bus, Trolley, or train.
What it includes
Included
- MTS buses and Trolley
- Transfers between lines
Not included
- NCTD LIFT paratransit
- Riders 19 and older
- Bulk passes handed out through schools or groups
SANDAG and the County of San Diego fund the pilot, and the SANDAG Board has approved funding only through June 2027.
Who to contact about the Youth Opportunity Pass
SANDAG answers questions about the program by email, and PRONTO Support at this phone number helps with Youth accounts and cards.
youthopportunitypass@sandag.org 619-595-5636 Youth Opportunity Pass page
MTS and NCTD Youth Opportunity Pass
Who qualifies
Is 18 or younger
Your child can use the pass until their 19th birthday. Children 5 and under ride MTS and NCTD free at all times without a card or proof of age.
Has a Youth PRONTO account
Free rides work only on a PRONTO app account or PRONTO card set to the Youth fare type. Each child needs their own card or app account.
Proves their birthdate
A birth certificate or a government-issued photo ID with birthdate, such as a passport, verifies a homeschooled child without a school ID. Verify online, at the MTS Transit Store, or at an NCTD Customer Service Center.
What the pass saves
These are the MTS and NCTD fares that took effect October 1, 2026; a rider with the Youth Opportunity Pass pays none of them.
- Adult one-way, most MTS and NCTD service
- $3.00
- Adult day pass earned with PRONTO
- $7.00
- Adult regional monthly pass
- $85
- Adult COASTER one-way
- $6.50
- Adult COASTER monthly pass
- $185
- Youth with the pass
- Free
A rider without a Youth PRONTO card or app pays the one-way cash fare, which includes no transfers, so set up the account before the first trip.
How to get free rides
- Before you apply
Get a PRONTO card or app
Download the free PRONTO app and create a virtual card, or buy a PRONTO card at a Trolley ticket machine or retail outlet for a one-time $2 fee plus a minimum load.
- When you apply
Change it to Youth
Request the Youth fare type online at RidePRONTO.com, by phone at 619-595-5636, or in person. Online requests are processed the next business day; phone requests give temporary Youth status until you verify eligibility.
- Every ride
Tap or scan
Tap the card or scan the app at the validator on the Trolley platform or at the front of the bus, and carry proof of age.
- By June 30, 2027
Watch the end date
The pilot is funded through June 30, 2027. Your child can keep the same Youth pass until their 19th birthday while the program runs.
What it includes
Included
- All fixed-route MTS buses and Trolley
- NCTD BREEZE, SPRINTER, COASTER, and FLEX
- Transfers when you tap each time
Not included
- NCTD LIFT paratransit
- Riders 19 and older
- Sharing one card or app between children
- Refunds of cash already loaded on a Youth card
Who to contact about the Youth Opportunity Pass
The PRONTO Support Center sets up Youth accounts and answers questions about MTS and NCTD fare products.
youthopportunitypass@sandag.org 619-595-5636 MTS Youth Opportunity Pass page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in California
For the home-based private-school pathway, file the Private School Affidavit during the October 1–15 annual filing period. New schools may use the online filing system during its separate August 1–June 30 opening window. Other legal pathways have their own rules.
California sets these rules:
- Subjects: The private-school pathway must provide instruction in English in the branches of study required for public schools; the parent chooses the materials and course sequence.
- Testing: California does not impose a statewide standardized-testing requirement on private-school students.
- Records: Private schools must keep the records required by California law, including attendance and faculty information.
- Teachers: Private-school instructors must be capable of teaching; California does not issue a separate homeschool-parent credential.
Read the California homeschooling guide See statewide programs in California
Questions parents ask
- Can a homeschooled child get a Coronado recreation scholarship?
- Yes. The scholarship depends on Coronado residency and family income, not school enrollment, so a homeschool family applies the same way as any other resident family.
- Who can use Coronado Public Library's homeschool collection?
- Anyone with a Coronado Public Library card. The library describes the collection as a way for homeschool families to try materials before buying them.
- Can I verify all my children for the Youth Opportunity Pass at once?
- No. The age verification site checks one card at a time, so complete the steps separately for each child's account.
- Is a school ID enough to ride free with the Youth Opportunity Pass?
- No. An ID only proves eligibility; your child must ride with a Youth PRONTO app account or Youth PRONTO card to get the free fare.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Camps and local activities give your child new interests to explore. Their discoveries can shape the examples and questions they study at home.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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