Homeschool benefits and savings in Pasadena
A Pasadena Public Library Educator Card lets you check out up to 100 curriculum-related items for 6 weeks, including up to 20 DVDs, separate from your personal card. Parents who homeschool children 18 and under qualify if they live in Pasadena, with proof of residency and of homeschool status.
Who qualifies
Homeschools children 18 and under
The library names homeschooling children 18 and under as a way to qualify, alongside teaching preschool through grade 12.
Lives or teaches in Pasadena
You must live in Pasadena, teach in Pasadena, or teach for Pasadena Unified School District. A homeschool parent usually qualifies by living in Pasadena.
Shows ID and homeschool proof
Bring a current photo ID, plus a current bill or receipt if the ID does not show your address, and verification of your homeschool status.
What the card gives you
Pasadena Public Library's Educator Card Policy sets these terms.
- Items checked out at once
- 100
- Loan period
- 6 weeks
- DVDs at a time
- 20
- Renewals per item
- 2
- Book Group Kit
- 15 copies
- Lost items before borrowing stops
- $125
Renewals work only when no one else has a hold, and charges for lost items carry over from year to year on the card.
How to get the card
- Before you apply
Gather your proof
Bring a current photo ID, proof of your Pasadena address, and something that verifies you homeschool. Ask Youth Services what homeschool record it accepts if you are unsure.
- At the library
Open the Educator Card
Register for the Educator Card in addition to your personal library card, which you keep for personal borrowing.
- During the school year
Borrow curriculum materials
Use the Educator Collection of workbooks and educator guides for Pre-K through grade 12 at Jefferson Branch Library, plus STEAM kits, class sets, and Book Group Kits.
- Each year by July 31
Renew the card
Show verification of your address and teaching status again to renew for the next school year.
What it includes
Included
- Curriculum-related books and materials
- STEAM kits and class sets
- eBooks and eAudiobooks curated for educators
Not included
- Personal-use borrowing
- Renewals on items someone else has on hold
The Educator Card is only for curriculum-related materials, so the library lets you keep a personal card as a second account for everything else.
Good to know
You keep your regular card
You can hold both an Educator Card and a Personal library card, and use the personal one for anything not tied to your curriculum.
Who to contact about the card
Youth Services and the Jefferson Branch Library answer questions about educator services and the Educator Collection.
lib_youthsvc@cityofpasadena.net 626-744-8046 Educators & School 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
- What can I borrow for a whole group on a Pasadena Educator Card?
- Book Group Kits come with 15 copies of a book and discussion questions, and STEAM kits and class sets are designed for larger groups.
- What happens if my child loses a book?
- The replacement charge stays on your card and carries over each year. Once lost and replacement items reach $125, educator borrowing is suspended.
- When do I renew?
- Every Educator Card expires on July 31. Show proof of your address and teaching status to renew it for the next school year.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Books and library resources give your child something to explore. We turn their interests into coursework, so library discoveries can lead to deeper study at home.
$149/month per child after the trial.
Find benefits for your ZIP code