Homeschool benefits and savings in San Diego
San Diego Public Library's Discover & Go program gives free day passes, many of them family passes, to attractions such as the New Children's Museum, Museum of Us, The San Diego Museum of Art, Children's Discovery Museum, and Skateworld. San Diego residents 16 and older with a permanent San Diego Public Library card in good standing can hold two reservations at a time. Other options include transit fare savings.
Benefits in San Diego
- San Diego Public Library Discover & Go passes
- San Diego Public Library Homeschool Resource Center
- San Diego County PRONTO Youth Opportunity Pass
- MTS and NCTD Youth Opportunity Pass
San Diego Public Library Discover & Go passes
Who qualifies
Lives in San Diego
The program is open to San Diego residents 16 and older. School enrollment does not matter.
Has a permanent library card
You need a permanent 14-digit San Diego Public Library card beginning with 01336, in good standing. A temporary online number starting with PACREG and Student EXCEL cards do not work.
Is 16 or older
Only cardholders 16 and older can reserve, so a parent books passes for younger children.
What the passes give you
San Diego Public Library's Discover & Go page sets these reservation rules.
- Admission with a pass
- Free
- Active reservations at once
- 2
- How far ahead you can book
- 3 months
- When new passes are released
- Midnight on the 1st
- Waiting list
- None
- Passes at some attractions
- 1 per year
Each attraction decides how many people one pass admits, so read the pass details before you book for a large family.
How to reserve a pass
- Before you reserve
Get a permanent card
Start a library card application online, then visit your local San Diego Public Library branch to get your permanent card.
- Up to 3 months ahead
Reserve a pass
Log in at sandiego.discoverandgo.net with your card number and PIN. Passes for a month are released at midnight on the first day of the month two months earlier, so March passes open January 1.
- Shortly before your visit
Print or download the pass
Print the pass from My Reservations or open it on your phone if the attraction accepts mobile passes. Once printed or downloaded, it cannot be cancelled.
- On the day
Bring photo ID
Bring the pass and a valid photo ID whose name matches the pass. The pass is good only for the name and date on it.
What it includes
Included
- Day passes to partner museums and attractions
- Family passes at some attractions
- Online, in-person, or phone reservations
Not included
- Cardholders under 16
- Student EXCEL cards and temporary online cards
- Use on a date other than the one reserved
Who to contact about Discover & Go
The library helps with card numbers, PINs, expired cards, and Discover & Go log-in problems.
weblibrary@sandiego.gov 619-236-5800 Discover & Go page
San Diego Public Library Homeschool Resource Center
Who qualifies
Homeschools or learns non-traditionally
The center is for homeschooling families and others engaged in non-traditional learning. You do not need to show homeschool paperwork to use it.
Visits the Mission Valley Branch
The center is at the Mission Valley Branch Library, 2123 Fenton Parkway, San Diego, CA 92108, and is open during the branch's hours.
Has a library card to borrow
Checking out kits and passes and using most online resources requires a San Diego Public Library card, which is free.
What the center gives you
San Diego Public Library's Homeschool Resource Center and Explore San Diego & California pages describe these resources.
- Educational kits
- Check out
- Laminator and binding machine supplies
- Free
- Meeting room for co-ops and programs
- Up to 18 people
- Laptops
- In-library use
- California State Parks vehicle pass
- 14 days
- Homework CA live tutoring, K-12
- 24/7
The library describes the State Parks pass as part of a three-year pilot that began in April 2022, and passes are first come, first served at each branch, so call ahead before planning a park trip around one.
How to use the center
- Before you visit
Get a library card
Apply for a free San Diego Public Library card online, then finish at a branch so you can borrow kits and use online resources.
- At the branch
Use the center
Browse kits, sample curriculum, homeschool company catalogs, and parent support titles, and use the laminator and binder during open hours: Tuesday 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- For a co-op meeting
Reserve the room
Contact Mission Valley staff to reserve the center for co-op meetings, get-togethers, or programs of up to 18 people.
- For a park day
Borrow a State Parks pass
Check out a California State Parks vehicle pass at any branch for 14 days, and return it to the same branch. It cannot be renewed.
What it includes
Included
- Educational kits to check out
- Sample homeschool curriculum and catalogs
- Laminating and coil binding supplies
- A reservable meeting room
- Chromebooks, hotspots, and park and museum passes with a card
Not included
- Taking the in-library laptops home
- Groups larger than 18 in the room
- Renewing a State Parks pass
Who to contact about the center
Mission Valley staff answer questions about the Homeschool Resource Center and room reservations.
mvstaff@sandiego.gov 858-573-5007 Homeschool Resource Center 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 homeschool families use Discover & Go for field trips?
- Yes, if a parent 16 or older is a San Diego resident with a permanent library card. The program has no school requirement, so you can reserve passes for any date the attraction offers.
- Do we need to prove we homeschool to use the San Diego Homeschool Resource Center?
- No. The library opens the center to homeschooling families and others in non-traditional learning, and borrowing needs only a San Diego Public Library card.
- 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
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