North Carolina bill aiming to prevent homeschool discrimination highlights ongoing challenges for students, graduates

Universities making a big deal about their “inclusivity” need to take a long, hard look at their own discriminatory practices against a minority population – the burgeoning homeschool community. 

“No student should ever face discrimination or disadvantage during the college admissions process simply because they were homeschooled,” said Rep. Mark Harris, R-North Carolina, upon introducing his recent Home School Graduation Recognition Act.

“Yet, many universities still treat homeschoolers as second-class applicants by requiring excessive documentation and additional testing.”

Considering homeschool is no longer a fringe movement but a well-established lifestyle since the 1980s, how has higher education continued such blatant disregard against it? 

By exploring past and present examples of discrimination, we’ll see how this occurred in an academic atmosphere priding itself on progressive liberality – all while ignoring its own narrow-minded intolerances. 

‘Unwarranted requirements’ such as GEDs, district letters 

Harris’ bill would replace the Higher Education Act’s description of homeschoolers as “Students Who Are Not High School Graduates” with “Students From Non-Traditional Settings.” 

As it stands, the act’s current wording enables some colleges and universities “to require homeschoolers to take the GED despite having legally graduated,” according to the Center Square. 

Harris called such tactics “unwarranted requirements” on homeschoolers, the Carolina Journal reported. 

“He also pointed to the example of Molloy 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.” 

Think about this for a minute. In what other sphere or industry would it be acceptable to require a public-facing institution to “approve” or rubber-stamp a nonpublic alternative? 

For example, do we require food bank administrators to ratify a parent’s home-cooked meals as “substantially equivalent” soup drives? 

Or should we start demanding daycare officials to evaluate stay-at-home moms for their work as “substantially equivalent” childcare services? 

Instead of considering homeschool the “experimental” approach to learning, universities would do well to remember the historical record where learning at home was the norm for U.S.-based education. 

On the other hand, public schools dating to Horace Mann’s once-experimental “common school ideology” are showing increasingly dismal learning outcomes nationwide. 

“For more than 40 years, (North Carolinians for Home Education) has supported families across North Carolina as they pursue high-quality home education,” said the association’s media director, Jessica Frierson. “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.” 

‘Unequal system’ of dual-credit access 

In Texas, one university is facing a lawsuit from homeschool mom Autumn Selman over access to its dual-credit courses. 

“According to the lawsuit, Selman’s son was told he could enroll only in a narrow selection of courses, while students enrolled in public schools are allowed to take a full slate of core curriculum classes for college credit,” KSST Radio reported Dec. 15. 

“Selman argues the policy creates an unequal system that discriminates against homeschool students and undermines the intent of the law, which was passed to ensure they are treated the same as their public and private school peers when seeking access to college-level instruction.” 

Such barriers have far-reaching consequences for homeschool families, since dual-credit access can help provide “affordable pathways to college,” the news outlet observed. 

“In her filing, Selman is asking the court to order Sam Houston State to provide her son full access to its dual-credit catalog, identical to what is offered to other eligible students. The university has not yet publicly responded to the lawsuit.” 

By hindering dual-credit access, universities are intentionally penalizing homeschoolers simply because they’re … different? 

This doesn’t involve an inability to pay for registration, or a demonstrated lack of student competence. 

Instead, it shows an elitist mindset that immediately treats anything outside current public education norms as suspect. 

“If you’re driven to lead, achieve and leave a lasting impact — you’re ready to be a Bearkat,” the university trumpets on its homepage. “Here, you’ll have the opportunity to rise to every challenge.” 

Unless, of course, you happen to be a homeschooler. 

Challenges over college placement exams 

Finally, universities need to account for – and help remove – the ongoing barriers faced by many homeschoolers in applying for higher education. 

An important example involves the College Board’s PSAT/NMSQT test (PSAT), which can help students prepare for the SAT and qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program. 

Unfortunately, public schools such as the Gwinnett County Public Schools in Georgia often deny homeschool families access to the PSAT while allowing their own students to take it. 

“They were informed that the district had said homeschoolers were no longer allowed to test, and they cited safety,” said Mary Beth Morris, board member at the Georgia Home Education Association (GHEA), in 2023. “It was very distressing, because these tests can only be taken at a brick-and-mortar school.”  

Only after pressure from the Home School Legal Defense Association did the district reverse course and allow homeschoolers to take the test. 

“As long as we have to rely on public or private schools, homeschoolers will be at a disadvantage when it comes to gaining access to the tests,” said the association’s senior counsel, Will Estrada. “We are working with leadership at the College Board to find a long-term solution.”  

Instead of insisting on outdated admissions requirements, procedures and policies, universities should be at the forefront of welcoming all students to their campuses.  

After all, homeschooling can be increasingly recognized as a “common good” with graduates who enjoy statistically higher rates of civic engagement and community participation than their public-school counterparts. 

Furthermore, they tend to excel academically, with 78% of peer-reviewed studies showing they “perform statistically significantly better than those in institutional schools,” according to the National Home Education Research Institute. 

“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,” said Rep. Mark Harris of his bill. 

I couldn’t agree more – especially as it serves higher education’s own interests not only to pay lip service to inclusion, but also demonstrate moral leadership by putting it into practice.