On Wednesday, Representative Mark Harris of North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District introduced new legislation aimed at preventing universities from discriminating against homeschooled students during the admissions process.
“No student should ever face discrimination or disadvantage during the college admissions process simply because they were homeschooled,” said Representative Harris. “Yet, many universities still treat homeschoolers as second-class applicants by requiring excessive documentation and additional testing. With nearly 3 million homeschooled students across America, it’s long past time to end this discrimination and guarantee every student a fair shot at higher education.”
The proposed Homeschool Graduation Recognition Act is designed to address what Harris describes as a legal loophole that allows some colleges to require more documentation or tests from homeschool graduates than from their peers. The bill would ensure that homeschooled students are not disadvantaged in the admissions process solely because of their educational background.
Jim Mason, President of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), expressed support for the measure. “The Home School Graduation Recognition Act 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. HSLDA strongly supports this legislation.”
The legislation comes as homeschooling continues to be a significant educational path in the United States, with an estimated 3 million students currently being educated at home.