Homeschooling in the United States has transformed education for millions of families, offering tailored instruction and strong academic outcomes. Yet, despite this progress, homeschool graduates continue to face unnecessary barriers in accessing opportunities that their traditionally schooled peers take for granted. However, H.R. 6392, the Home School Graduation Recognition Act, sponsored by Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., looks to rectify this.
Although most homeschool alumni transition seamlessly into higher education, employment, and vocational training, the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) assists hundreds of families confronting discrimination annually. The overwhelming majority of institutions and employers fully recognize and accept homeschool graduates. However, a small minority of employers, trade schools, and certain institutions deny opportunities to these graduates under the mistaken belief that a homeschool diploma does not signify legitimate high school completion.
HSLDA President Jim Mason has emphasized that the legislation “will eliminate ambiguity, prevent ongoing misinterpretation, and ensure equal treatment for homeschool graduates by clarifying that homeschool graduates meet the definition of high school graduates for federal student aid purposes.” This clarification is long overdue.
The roots of this confusion trace back to the 1990s, when the first major wave of homeschool graduates started looking for opportunities in higher education. Questions inevitably arose about eligibility for federal financial aid and college admission. In response, HSLDA collaborated with Congress to amend the Higher Education Act in 1998, explicitly affirming that homeschool graduates qualify for federal student aid. This was a landmark victory for educational freedom.
Regrettably, the amendment was placed under a statutory heading designed for individuals “Who Are Not High School Graduates”— a relic of the era’s skepticism toward homeschooling. Despite clear guidance from the U.S. Department of Education affirming the eligibility of homeschool graduates, this misleading header has fueled decades of misinterpretation. While most institutions correctly read the intent of the statute, a select few, such as trade and cosmetology schools, and one for-profit university in particular, have cited it to justify exclusion.
H.R. 6392 addresses this anomaly directly by removing the outdated and discriminatory heading, thereby aligning the law’s structure with its substantive intent. During the committee hearing, Harris delivered compelling remarks in support, incorporating HSLDA’s endorsement.
He was joined by colleagues across the political spectrum: Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia shared her personal experience as a homeschooling parent; Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois echoed similar sentiments; Ranking Member Bobby Scott of Virginia and Rep. Kevin Kiley of California offered their backing. Committee Chairman Tim Walberg, himself a homeschooling father of three, also spoke in favor. Finally, Rep. Bob Onder of Missouri highlighted his family’s homeschooling journey while advocating for the measure.
The bill went on to pass out of committee in a unanimous vote, reflecting a shared recognition that homeschool graduates deserve unequivocal equality under federal law. No legitimate policy rationale justifies treating parent-issued diplomas differently from those awarded by public or private schools, particularly when outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of homeschooling.
Congress should act expeditiously to pass H.R. 6392 and present it for presidential signature. By doing so, lawmakers will affirm a core American principle: that educational choice should not come at the cost of opportunity. Homeschool families have proven the viability of their approach; it is time for federal law to reflect that reality without reservation.
Will Estrada is a husband, homeschool dad, attorney, and serves as senior counsel at Home School Legal Defense Association, a nonprofit organization that advocates for homeschool freedom across the nation in our laws, courtrooms, and local school districts.
