Harris bill would prevent discrimination against homeschool graduates

On Dec. 3, US Rep. Mark Harris, R-NC08, introduced a bill that would close an existing loophole allowing universities to discriminate against homeschool graduates. 

“No student should ever face discrimination or disadvantage during the college admissions process simply because they were homeschooled,” said Harris in a press release. “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.”

This bill targets universities that discriminate against homeschool students during the admissions process, ensuring that homeschool students are not disadvantaged due to their educational path. 

“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,” Jim Mason, president of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), said in a press release. 

The bill amends the language in Section 484(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965. 

“Rep. Harris’s bill is a good first step in ensuring colleges cannot discriminate against homeschool students,” Dr. Robert Luebke, director of the Center for Effective Education at the John Locke Foundation, told the Carolina Journal. “Homeschooled students should have the same standing and rights as any other applicant in the college admissions process. This bill makes that happen and is one of the reasons why we should support it.”

Harris told Fox News that some universities “inflict unwarranted requirements” on homeschoolers, such as taking the GED. He also pointed to the example of Malloy University, which requires homeschooled students to obtain a letter from a local school district official confirming that they have received an education “substantially equivalent” to that of a graduate from the district high school.Students also have the option to take and pass the GED.

“North Carolinians for Home Education applauds Rep. Mark Harris for introducing the Homeschool Graduation Recognition Act, an important step toward ensuring fair and equal treatment for homeschool graduates in the college admissions process and the job market,” Jessica Frierson, media director for North Carolinians for Home Education, told the Carolina Journal.“ For more than 40 years, NCHE has supported families across North Carolina as they pursue high-quality home education. We have long heard from parents and students who face unnecessary barriers when applying to colleges, or seeking a job — barriers that exist not because of ability, but because of outdated or inconsistent institutional policies.”

“Harris bill would prevent discrimination against homeschool graduates” was originally published on www.carolinajournal.com.