New law streamlines process for Texas homeschoolers to enroll in public higher education 

Class rank is a “funny thing” for homeschool graduate Grace Hurley, now a journalism junior at the University of Texas at Austin.

“I was first in my class because I was the only one in my class,” she told the student newspaper, The Daily Texan, in response to a law streamlining automatic admissions and financial aid eligibility for students with a “nontraditional secondary education.”

Gov. Greg Abbott signed Texas House Bill 3041 last month, which built upon previous legislation in 2023 supporting homeschoolers in the automatic admission process used by many colleges and universities.

“Previously, under HB 3993, the universities assigned homeschooled students a ranking based on the average class rank of traditionally schooled students who scored the same on the SAT or ACT, according to the coalition’s website,” the newspaper explains.

“With HB 3041, colleges will begin using the median instead of the average of standardized test scores to correlate class rank, starting with admissions to the fall 2026 semester, to prevent the influence of outliers in the traditionally schooled comparison group.”

Opening ‘a path for homeschoolers’ 

Anita Scott, director of public policy at the Texas Home School Coalition, applauded the state’s ongoing efforts to make college admissions easier for homeschoolers.

“Prior (to) House Bill 3993, there was no way for a homeschool graduate to have access to (automatic admission),” she said. “House Bill 3993 opened up a path for homeschoolers.”

The new law also helps clarify previous misunderstandings of homeschool graduates facing limitations in their higher education options.

“I had a misconception that students wouldn’t be able to go to a four-year college after they complete their homeschool program, but they can,” said Kandace White, chief education officer at homeschool tutoring service Read Radiantly, Write Wonderfully LLC.

Scott echoed White’s sentiment, noting the new law is a “legislative fix” on previous laws to clarify their interpretation.

“The good news is (homeschool) students have always had access to attend these universities,” she said.

As previously reported by The Lion, more Texas parents are choosing to homeschool their children instead of staying with public schools.

“My son is 5 years old, and I am definitely going to homeschooling, not by choice,” said Sarah Jackson, noting an unsatisfactory experience at her son’s elementary school.

“I want him to actually have a good education in elementary school and have that experience. Unfortunately, because of safety concerns, I don’t feel I have a choice. I feel like I do need a homeschool.”