Home School Graduation Recognition Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6392) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to recognize students who have completed secondary school education in a home school setting as high school graduates, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6392

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Home School Graduation Recognition Act''. SEC. 2. RECOGNIZING HOME SCHOOL GRADUATES AS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.

Section 484(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(d)) is amended--

(1) in the heading of such subsection, by striking ``Who Are Not High School Graduates'' and inserting ``From Non- Traditional Settings''; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

``(3) High school graduate.--For purposes of this Act, a student who has completed a secondary school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under State law shall be considered a high school graduate.''.

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Mr. WALBERG. 6392.

Mr. Speaker, every student deserves to have their hard work recognized.

Unfortunately, many homeschooled students face unjust barriers when applying to college simply because they didn't attend a traditional school.

On average, homeschoolers do remarkably well, better than their public school peers, on tests. Yet for some reason, colleges arbitrarily and unfairly subject homeschooled students to additional hoops, like taking a GED exam, to prove they are fit for admission.

The Home School Graduation Recognition Act sends a clear and simple message to colleges and universities: Homeschooled students are just as qualified to attend college as any other high school graduate.

The Home School Graduation Recognition Act also reaffirms House Republicans' commitment to expand educational opportunity and school choice for American families.

As chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, I am grateful to serve alongside Members like Congressman Harris who are eager to sponsor legislation that empowers students of all ages on their respective educational journeys.

I am glad to have the opportunity today to stand up for homeschoolers and against the needless discrimination they face in the college application process. Today, we have a chance to stand up for homeschooled students and families who have transformed kitchen tables into significant classrooms.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6392, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARRIS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Walberg for his incredible leadership, and I am so grateful for this bill.

Mr. Speaker, would you believe that Federal law actually refers to students who have completed their home school education as students who are not high school graduates?

Mr. Speaker, strangely enough, it does.

While most colleges eagerly admit and help homeschooled students secure financial aid, some compliance-minded schools point to this language as a reason to make a homeschooled applicant jump through extra hoops to prove that their diploma is worth the same as that of their public- or private-school peers. This language makes it seem like the homeschooled student is not eligible for student aid as they are going through the application process.

This might seem like a small problem to fix, but it represents a real burden for the students and families who are impacted by it.

Mr. Speaker, a diploma is a diploma, whether it was earned in a classroom or at the kitchen table. My bill makes one simple but critically important clarification to fix this problem once and for all. It states plainly that a homeschooler who earns a diploma recognized under State law is a high school graduate. If a student has lawfully completed their education, the Federal Government must recognize them as a high school graduate when determining eligibility for Federal student aid.

Today's vote is about honoring the constitutional role of the States and parents in education. Federal agencies or college admissions offices can no longer use unclear statutory language to undermine State-recognized diplomas.

For decades, millions of American families have chosen to educate their children at home. In fact, nearly 3 million students today are receiving a quality education in a home school setting, guided by devoted parents who take their responsibility seriously to prepare the next generation for success. In my home State of North Carolina alone, more than 165,000 students are homeschooled under the authority and recognition of State law.

I extend my sincere gratitude to the Home School Legal Defense Association for their steadfast advocacy and for all they do to ensure homeschooled students are protected under the law. Their work has been instrumental in bringing clarity to this issue.

I thank our Senate co-leader, Senator Ashley Moody, for standing with families and leading this effort in the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense clarification: Homeschooled graduates are high school graduates. They deserve to be treated as such under Federal law.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and ranking member for his support on this legislation as well.

Homeschooled graduates are graduates plain and simple. They should not be penalized because their families chose a learning environment that met their specific needs and actually goes back to the beginning of time.

That is why we must pass H.R. 6392, the Home School Graduation Recognition Act, and tell colleges that it is completely unnecessary to subject homeschooled graduates to needless exams to prove they have, in fact, graduated.

I am proud to do my part in removing these roadblocks and helping more students pursue higher education.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6392, the Home School Graduation Recognition Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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