Homeschool benefits and savings in San Diego County
The Youth Opportunity Pass, funded by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and the County of San Diego, gives anyone 18 and under unlimited free rides on San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) buses and Trolley and North County Transit District (NCTD) COASTER and SPRINTER through June 2027. A homeschooled child qualifies by age alone: upload a birth certificate or passport to a Youth PRONTO account and the pass works until your child turns 19.
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 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.
- Our child had a Youth Opportunity Pass before 2025. Does it still work?
- Only after reactivation. MTS and NCTD began requiring proof of age for youth passes in spring 2025, so upload proof of age to reactivate a card for a child still under 19.
- 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.
- Do I need to load money onto my child's Youth Opportunity Pass?
- No. Youth riders need no balance. Cash already on a Youth card is not refunded, but you can move it to a non-Youth PRONTO account.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
A student fare helps with trips to classes and activities. We handle the learning at home, with lessons built around your child's interests and feedback on their work.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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