Homeschool benefits through County library cultural pass
RAD Pass lets anyone with a current Allegheny County library card reserve free or discounted tickets to 49 Pittsburgh-area attractions, including the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, the National Aviary, the Carnegie museums, and Phipps Conservatory. It depends only on the library card, so homeschool families use it like any cardholder: reserve at least a day ahead and hold up to three reservations at a time. Other options include college classes and scholarships and transit fare savings.
What it offers
- County library cultural pass
- Community College of Allegheny County BNY Early College
- Allegheny Go reduced transit fare
County library cultural pass
Who qualifies
Has an Allegheny County library card
Unexpired cards from Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and other Allegheny County libraries work. Get one online or at any county library with valid ID and proof of a county address.
Lives in an eligible ZIP code
Most offers are limited to Allegheny County ZIP codes.
Meets the offer's age rule
Anyone can use a pass, but some offers can be booked only by cardholders 18 or older, so a parent should reserve on their own card.
What the pass gives you
The terms come from RAD Pass's FAQ and participating organizations list; each partner sets its own discount and how often you can book it.
- Participating organizations
- 49
- Active reservations per card
- 3
- Phipps Conservatory pass
- Up to 4 people
- Booking notice
- At least 1 day
- Pass printing at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
- Free
- Passes per site each year
- Set by each partner
The RAD Pass pages do not say how many people most passes admit, so read the offer details for each attraction before you book.
How to use RAD Pass
- Before you book
Get a library card
Apply online at selfreg.einetwork.net or at any Allegheny County library, and make sure the card is not expired.
- At least a day ahead
Reserve a pass
Log in to Reserve a Pass with your library card number and PIN and pick a date. You can hold three active reservations; after your soonest pass date, you can book another.
- On the date
Use the pass
Show the digital or printed pass with ID, or use the promo code or discount link, depending on the offer. Passes are good only on the date you chose.
- If plans change
Cancel
Cancel under My Reservations before you print or download the pass. After that, use Contact Us and allow 2-3 business days.
What it includes
Included
- Free or discounted admission at participating museums and gardens
- Performances by participating arts groups
- Digital or printed passes, promo codes, and discount links
Not included
- Expired library cards
- Changing a pass date without canceling and rebooking
- Most offers for addresses outside Allegheny County
The Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD) supports RAD Pass, and each partner decides how many passes it offers.
Who to contact about RAD Pass
RAD Pass answers questions about reservations and cancellations through its online contact form.
Community College of Allegheny County BNY Early College
Who qualifies
Lives in Allegheny County
The program is open to high schoolers who reside in Allegheny County, from any school or district in the county.
In grade 11 or 12
CCAC accepts the home-school equivalent of 11th or 12th grade, so your homeschool transcript shows your student's grade level.
Younger students add a letter
Ninth and 10th graders, and students under 16, need a recommendation letter from a teacher or school counselor, must pass all three CCAC placement tests, and are reviewed by a CCAC committee.
Takes a track course
Courses come from the program's accounting, business, and computer information technology course map, and not every class runs every semester.
What it is worth
CCAC charges Allegheny County residents $130 per credit in 2026-27, plus $37.50 per credit in college, student service, and technology fees; the BNY grant pays these and books.
- Tuition, one 3-credit course
- $390
- Per-credit fees, one 3-credit course
- $112.50
- Tuition and fees, one 3-credit course
- $502.50
- Two 3-credit courses, tuition and fees
- $1,005
- Required books
- Covered
- What your family pays
- $0
Students who finish their courses successfully receive a stipend, which requires a W-9 form; CCAC does not list the amount, so ask the program team.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you apply
Pick a track
Review the BNY Early College course map and talk with the program team about which classes run next semester.
- To apply
Submit the forms
Complete the BNY Early College Interest Form, the CCAC Dual Enrollment Application, the Parent/Guardian Authorization Form, and a W-9 for the stipend, and send your homeschool transcript to EarlyCollegeProgram@ccac.edu.
- Before registering
Onboarding and placement
Attend a New Student Onboarding Session and take any placement tests your courses require. Ninth and 10th graders must take and pass all three.
- Each semester
Take courses free
Take a few classes or complete a full certificate. Continuing students do not resubmit the forms.
What it pays for
Covered
- Tuition
- Fees
- Books
Not covered
- Courses outside the three program tracks
- Students living outside Allegheny County
The four certificates in the program are Accounting, Supervision & Leadership, Network Support Specialist, and Software Development.
A grant from the BNY Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania, part of a $20 million multiyear commitment BNY announced in 2020, pays for the program.
Who to contact
The BNY Early College team answers questions about eligibility, applications, and which courses are offered each semester.
EarlyCollegeProgram@ccac.edu 412-237-2535 BNY Early College Program
Allegheny Go reduced transit fare
Who qualifies
Lives in Allegheny County
Allegheny Go is for county residents only.
Is 12 to 64 years old
Every household member in that range can enroll. Children 6 to 11 already ride half fare through PRT, and seniors 65 and older ride free with ID.
Has a SNAP household member
Someone in the household must currently receive SNAP. If only your minor child receives SNAP, you can apply using that child's Social Security number or EBT card number.
Has no other fare discount
You may not qualify if you already get a fare discount through another program.
What the discount saves
PRT's fares page lists each fare at full price and at the reduced half fare that Allegheny Go's 50% discount matches.
- 3-Hour Pass
- $2.75 / $1.35
- 7-Day Pass
- $25 / $12.50
- 31-Day Pass
- $97.50 / $48.75
- Card or app transfers within 3 hours
- Free
- Fare card replacement
- $1
The Allegheny Go pages do not say how long enrollment lasts or what happens when SNAP ends, so ask the Allegheny Go team when you apply.
How to get half fare
- Before you apply
Choose a card or the app
Decide between a physical fare card mailed by PRT or the Ready2Ride app. For the app, download it and create an account first.
- Any time
Apply
Apply online at acgo.alleghenycounty.us, request a paper application by email or at 412-244-3558, or get help at an Allegheny Go community event.
- After approval
Get your discount
PRT mails a fare card, or the app adds Half Fares under Buy Tickets. PRT is replacing ConnectCard with the ReadyFare card.
- Each ride
Ride at half fare
Use the card or buy half-fare tickets in Ready2Ride for PRT buses and light rail.
What it includes
Included
- PRT buses
- PRT light rail
- Half-fare passes in the Ready2Ride app
Not included
- Residents outside Allegheny County
- Households without SNAP
- Riders already getting another fare discount
Who to contact about Allegheny Go
The Allegheny Go team decides eligibility, mails paper applications, and offers interpreters; PRT Customer Service at 412-442-2000 handles fare cards.
dhs-allegheny-go@alleghenycounty.us 412-244-3558 Allegheny Go FAQ
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Pennsylvania
You must file a notarized affidavit or unsworn declaration with the superintendent before starting and by August 1 in subsequent years. Include educational objectives and required health and immunization documentation or exemptions. Certify that the supervisor, adults living in the home, and persons with legal custody have no conviction for the listed statutory offenses in the preceding five years.
Pennsylvania sets these rules:
- Subjects: Teach in English the subjects required for elementary or secondary home education, including English, math, science, geography, history/civics, health, PE, art, music, and ongoing fire-safety instruction. Provide 180 days or 900 elementary/990 secondary hours annually.
- Testing: Include reading and math test results in the portfolio in grades 3, 5, and 8. Obtain an annual evaluation and submit the evaluator’s certification to the superintendent by June 30. The supervisor, parent or guardian may not administer an alternative approved standardized test.
- Records: Keep a portfolio with a reading-materials log, work samples, required test results, and the annual evaluation. Document the required instructional days or hours.
- Teachers: The supervisor must be the parent, guardian, or legal custodian with a high-school diploma or equivalent. The supervisor, adults living in the home, and persons with legal custody must meet the statutory five-year criminal-conviction condition.
Read the Pennsylvania homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Pennsylvania
Questions parents ask
- Can my child reserve RAD Passes on their own library card?
- Only for some offers. Others are limited to cardholders 18 or older, so check each offer's details before booking.
- How many family members does a RAD Pass cover?
- It depends on the partner. Phipps Conservatory's pass admits a group of up to four, and other partners list their terms in each offer.
- Can a homeschooled student join BNY Early College?
- Yes. CCAC opens the program to students in 11th and 12th grade or the home-school equivalent who live in Allegheny County. You send the homeschool transcript yourself, since there is no school office to send it.
- Can my 9th grader take BNY Early College classes?
- Yes, with a recommendation letter from a teacher or school counselor, passing scores on all three CCAC placement tests, and a committee's approval. For a homeschooled student, ask the program team who can write the letter.
- Can my younger children ride with Allegheny Go?
- They do not need Allegheny Go. PRT gives children 6 to 11 half fare with a Kid's Card, and the youngest children ride free.
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.
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