Families take issue with New York policy discriminating against homeschool graduates

When homeschool parents Jeffrey and Tabatha Ludwig applied for an educational letter from the local public school superintendent to help their youngest daughter, they assumed it would be approved, just as it was for their two older children. 

However, the office denied their application for a letter of substantial equivalency, which affirms students have homeschooled in compliance with New York’s laws. 

“They said that in order to grant us that letter, we had to follow the public school requirements,” Tabatha said, adding one condition included an additional foreign language class that’s not actually required by state law. 

The Ludwigs reached out to the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) to contact the school district on their daughter’s behalf, but the case is ongoing. 

“There’s no way to know if her case has been resolved until the family actually requests an equivalency letter when their teen graduates,” the nonprofit explained on its website. “If the public school superintendent refuses to provide such a letter, HSLDA stands ready to help the family apply kind but firm pressure in hopes officials will do the right thing.” 

‘A travesty for us parents’ 

While homeschool families are not required to obtain an equivalency letter, it provides many benefits for ambitious graduates looking to enter local trade schools, state colleges and universities. 

For example, the Ludwigs’ oldest daughter graduated high school in 2019 and successfully applied for a cosmetology school using the letter.  

“She probably would have been refused admittance had she not presented a letter of substantial equivalency,” HSLDA wrote. 

After her graduation, she began her career as a professional barber. 

The Ludwigs had no problem obtaining a second equivalency letter for their son, who is now attending college. 

“We don’t balk at all the paperwork and requirements,” Tabatha said of New York’s stringent laws on homeschoolers. “But it is really challenging to homeschool in New York.” 

Even if homeschool parents comply with all regulations, public school superintendents can still refuse to issue an equivalency letter – an injustice according to the HSLDA. 

“It’s a travesty for us parents who are working hard to educate our children,” Tabatha said. 

New York is the only state to offer an equivalency letter to homeschool graduates, according to HSLDA. An increasing number of states recognize parent-issued diplomas as valid documents, just like diplomas issued by other schools. 

However, some employers in New York and elsewhere still discriminate against homeschool high school graduates on account of their diplomas. 

“HSLDA will always fight for homeschool graduates and the validity of their diploma and transcripts,” said HSLDA Senior Counsel Tj Schmidt. “We also work with homeschool leaders in each state to find additional strategies for helping homeschool graduates illustrate their merit.”