Moneywise Teacher Staff
California educators serve the families of residents on a daily basis. They work tirelessly to ensure the safety and success of their students. Many corporations and other entities choose to honor their efforts by offering discounts or special rates. Various opportunities exist in the state that allow for teacher savings. What are the best teacher discounts in California?
The best teacher discounts in Califonia are offered through the California Teachers Association. In California, teachers who become members of CTA enjoy a unique and exclusive membership to Access to Savings, a nationwide private discount group, which offers up a plethora of teacher perks. Many of the world’s leading product brands, entertainment entities, and restaurant groups participate in Access to Savings. Also, within CTA, educators can enjoy banking and insurance breaks. Additional teacher discounts are provided through a variety of companies that choose to show teacher appreciation.
Start with CTA
Many valuable benefits and discounts are available to members of the California Teachers Association. It’s a great starting point to get an overview of the opportunities for discounts and other benefits offered to teachers in California. Becoming a member is quick and easy by visiting cta.org. From there, you can browse the categories of benefits available specifically to CTA members.
CTA Membership = Access to Savings
Access to Savings is the nation’s largest private discount network. There are over seven hundred thousand businesses that participate in the Access to Savings program, and a CTA membership guarantees membership in this exclusive network. The possibilities for savings are numerous and include entertainment, dining, travel, home, and more.
Top Companies and Brands in the Access to Savings Network
- Disney Parks
- Papa John’s
- Verizon
- Samsung
- Wyndham Hotels and Resorts
- Target
Members can download the MyDeals mobile app to search and save on deals right from their phone or sign up to receive email updates that include upcoming offers and newly added merchants.
It’s truly the most extensive marketplace for amazing deals. The savings afforded to California teachers through Access to Savings can easily offset the membership dues required to join CTA. It is a major perk and offers the best discounts for California teachers!
In addition to savings on products and experiences, CTA members also enjoy other perks, such as the CTA Auto Home and Insurance Program. This is an exclusive set of discounts available to CTS members through California Casualty Auto and Home Insurance. You can request a quote and also receive a $24 Amazon gift card for a quote completion.
Bank of America offers The CTA Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card to CTA members. The card has many perks, including no annual fee and a low introductory APR. Additionally:
- Customize 3% cash back in their choice of categories, including gas, online shopping, dining, travel, and more.
- Get automatic 2% cash back on grocery and wholesale club purchases and 1% on all other purchases.
- Make at least $500 in the first 90 days of opening the account and receive a $200 Amazon gift card.
Provident Credit Union provides savings to CTA members by offering lower rates on auto and home loans. Perks also lie in higher interest returns on checking and savings accounts.
ID.me
ID.me is an online platform that allows for the verification of identity and occupation. Some teacher discounts mentioned here will require logging in using ID.me credentials in order to be eligible. California teachers will need their California Department of Education credentials to set up an account. This can be found using the public credential search at ctc.ca.gov. An active account with ID.me will prove your identity and affiliation with the Department of Education. Unlocking various offers can be done using this one identification platform.
Using the ID.me Shop, teachers can search and unlock deals with their ID.me credentials.
Popular Attraction Deals to Unlock on ID.me Shop:
- Disneyland Resort California
- Universal Studios Hollywood
- San Diego Zoo and Safari Park
- Aquarium of the Pacific
- Madame Tussauds Hollywood
- Six Flags Magic Mountain
Perhaps the best attraction deal a teacher can get with the use of ID.me credentials is the teacher pass from Sea World. Sea World San Diego offers all certified classroom teachers a free teacher pass card. This pass entitles teachers to free and unlimited park access for the year. It takes a short pre-registration process via ID.me to be verified. After verification, the ticketing process is completed online, and vouchers are emailed to the teacher recipient.
Product Brands Featured as Top Deals to Unlock on ID.me Shop:
There are categories on the site ranging from clothing and accessories, to sports and outdoor, to technology and office, just to name a few!
Turn Your I.D. Into Discounts
Although CTA membership is the way to go for teacher discounts in California, and ID.me adds additional deals, there are some locations that merely request teacher I.D. or a simple sign-up process to take advantage of their special offers.
Attractions
All Ripley’s Believe It or Not! attractions have Educator Appreciation Days throughout the year when they offer free admission to educators. Additionally, during these date windows, guests who are accompanied by a certified teacher can enjoy 50% off admission.
Funderland Amusement Park has created educational programs for student learning while at their park. A school group can attend for the discounted price of just $10 per person. They have two learning experiences to choose from, math/science or language arts/fine arts.
Legoland California has been known to offer free dates for teachers, although their 2022 offers have not been announced.
Museums
Natural History Museum in Los Angeles County offers K-12 educators free admission any day of the week and also allows Teacher Preview Days where teachers can view new exhibits first. Experience hands-on multimedia exhibitions and fun First Friday events!
The California Museum in Sacramento offers teachers one full year of free admission. The permanent exhibits at this museum recount California’s rich history through creative storytelling and immersive experiences.
At The Museum of Tolerance Los Angeles, teachers can sign up for free professional development and learn how to develop custom programs for their school or classroom. Discover dynamic lessons on the Holocaust, human rights struggles, and confronting discrimination.
Teachers can join the Fleet Science Center’s Teacher Partner Program, which offers unlimited gallery access for a year and a free IMAX film admission. Discounts on purchases in their store and an invitation to their annual open house event are also included.
Keep in mind that although most offer their teacher discounts year-round, some locations have date ranges when offers for discounts or special rates are honored. Check websites for details.
Accommodations
Gaylord Hotels choose to honor teachers. Their upscale, luxury properties are loaded with amenities. Stays at their hotels do not disappoint! It’s a real treat to be able to enjoy their special education appreciation rates. Currently, they graciously welcome educators at five locations across the country and will soon have a hotel, Bayfront Inn, in Chula Vista, California.
Harrah’s locations offer a 35% discount to teachers and school staff. This includes the Harrah’s Resort and Casino Southern California. Enjoy over 1,600 slots and 50 table games, along with casual and upscale dining choices.
Other California hotels that offer educator rates or discounts:
- Red Roof Inns 10% with code 606732
- Expedia.com presents offers regularly
- Hotels.com 10% savings with teacher I.D.
- Some VRBO hosts offer discounts for teachers
A good tip for lodging is to ask about a teacher discount upon booking at any hotel. Some chains offer teachers the same discount they afford to military or government personnel. Since this can vary from each individual hotel, even within a chain, it is advisable to call and ask. Although it might not be listed on their website, some hotels choose to honor the discount to teachers upon request.
Retail Rewards
Ann Taylor and Ann Inc. brand stores (LOFT, Lou & Grey) will award 15% off full-price purchases by presenting a teacher ID at the register. Check for other perks like exclusive sweepstakes and teacher appreciation nights.
Calvin Klein outlet stores offer teachers an exclusive 10% discount on all in-store purchases with current teacher ID.
When shopping at J. Crew and J. Crew Factory Stores, teachers enjoy 15% off. By verifying status, this deal counts for online purchases as well.
Other retail stores with discounts for teachers
- Hanes
- New York and Company
- Quicksilver
- Sperry Shoes
- Talbots
- Vineyard Vines
- Champion
The Golden State Offers Golden Opportunities
The best teacher discounts in California can be found by securing a membership with the California Teachers Association and by creating an account through ID.Me. Through these organizations, teachers can enjoy deep discounts on an endless variety of products and services. They are, without a doubt, worth the association dues and the minimal time it will take to set up an account. Added savings opportunities are presented by a number of other companies who choose to show their appreciation to California’s educators.
