Unintended Admission Consequences of Federal Aid for Homeschoolers

Journal of College Admission, Fall 2004 by Callaway, Sean

On May 29, 2002, Mr. Klicka's office posted a long email to FINAID-E that restated Mr. Jaso's points (generally unknown until this post). Mr. Klicka seemed to imply that the change in aid regulations required a change in the admission for homeschooled students based on implied federal recognition of the validity of home school diplomas. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) became concerned about the impact that some of the Department's language might have on the admission policies of states and institutions-policies that were not under the Department's regulatory scope. While NACAC welcomed the assurance given to institutions that they would not lose federal financial aid over the admission of homeschooled students who fall outside the HEA's scope of "traditional" (i.e., under the age of compulsory attendance) completers of secondary education, it was concerned whether the Department's guidance was to be considered more broadly. NACAC contacted the Office of the General Counsel, which replied that the regulations concerned financial aid only, particularly relating to the issue of self-certification.14

Unintended Consequences: "Undocumentable" Students

Postsecondary institutions need to have consistent and well-stated admission and aid policies and procedures. Unfortunately, the attempt to reduce the admission and aid burden placed on homeschooled students may actually result in worse burdens for some. As Mr. Becher said in February of 2000, "In some states, if you are a home-schooled student it can be a lengthy process to document that you are in compliance with the state's truancy laws. It can be much more difficult than simply sending a copy of a high school transcript with a graduation date printed on it. Depending on state laws you may have to document various permissions granted by the local school administrator or the school board, or you may have to provide attendance logs for four years, or you may have to provide evidence that you filed the proper affidavit with the state even though the state doesn't have the manpower (or the will) to acknowledge the state's receipt of the affidavit."15

How do district superintendents or state departments of education respond to multiple post-secondary requests for the certification documentation of a multiple number of applicants? In fact, how do most states know the homeschooled student "graduated?" And, what if the student finishes in June? Does the state certify in August when the district staff returns to the office, months after institutional financial aid has been exhausted in the postsecondary institution?

There is a further difficulty in the federal legislation and regulation as written. A student should be required to homeschool for the last year prior to receiving aid the ensure against system manipulation. For instance, under New York regulations, a failing high school student can withdraw from high school in May of senior year, file an intent to homeschool, and finish homeschool a month later and be qualified for federal aid.