(The Center Square) – Ending a loophole for discrimination by colleges and universities across the nation against homeschool students is a step closer to reality through a North Carolina congressman’s proposal.
The Homeschool Graduation Recognition Act has passed the Education and Workforce Committee 33-0 in the U.S. House of Representatives. House Resolution 6392, as it is also known, ensures fair treatment of prospective higher education student applications regardless of homeschool background.
The “markup of my bipartisan bill, the Homeschool Graduation Recognition Act, is an important step toward ending discrimination against homeschooled students,” Harris said in a statement. “If a homeschool graduate meets or exceeds the very same academic standards as a public-school graduate, they deserve equal treatment under the law – no exceptions, no excuses.”
Harris says many universities require excessive documentation and additional testing.
Total students being homeschooled in Harris’ native North Carolina is unclear. According to the U.S. Census, it’s 10% of nearly 4 million. According to the Non-Public Education’s division for the state, in 2024-25 it is estimated 165,243 students are being educated in 101,880 homeschools. The latter estimate is conservative in context to homeschools with students below the age of 7 by law not having to officially open as a school.
The Home School Legal Defense Association, led by President Jim Mason, favors the legislation.
He said in a statement, “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.”
