[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2364-H2366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HOME SCHOOL GRADUATION RECOGNITION ACT
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--
[[Page H2365]]
(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.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Walberg) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
{time} 1700
General Leave
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and insert extraneous material on H.R. 6392.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
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. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6392, the Home School
Graduation Recognition Act. The bill reinstates and clarifies present
law to make clear that homeschooled students are eligible for Federal
student aid so that they can pursue higher education.
Under the Higher Education Act, students who complete a home school
program recognized under their State's law qualify for title IV aid,
including Pell grants and Federal student loans. Each State sets its
own requirements for the education of homeschooled students.
The HEA confirms that homeschoolers must meet their State's
eligibility requirements to receive Federal student aid if educated at
home according to those State rules. HEA does allow schools to set
their admission standards for students, including those educated at
home, but no homeschooled student should be denied Federal higher
education assistance just because they do not technically have a
regular high school diploma. This bill clarifies that eligibility if
they have qualified under their State laws.
Mr. Speaker, I do urge my colleagues to support the bill in its
efforts to clarify the laws to ensure students access to higher
education. Of course, that being said, the bill may clarify some
students' right to Federal student aid, but the action does not go far
enough to mitigate the damage done since the Trump administration came
in about 1 year ago. By illegally dismantling much of the Department of
Education, firing critical Federal financial aid staff, and limiting
access to Federal aid in the big, ugly law, the Trump administration
has only put higher education further out of reach for many.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Harris), who is the bill's sponsor and a member of
the Education and Workforce Committee.
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. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6392 because the
bill makes it clear that homeschooled graduates have access to higher
education.
By further clarifying the intent of the Higher Education Act, this
bill would ensure that students who complete a home school program
recognized under their State's law can continue to qualify for title IV
aid, including Pell grants and Federal student loans.
Fortunately, this bill will help ensure that these students can
access an affordable, high-quality degree while this action taken by
this body is reducing and denying aid to others.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that we pass the bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and ranking member for his support
on this legislation as well.
[[Page H2366]]
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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 6392, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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