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Committee approves Homeschool Graduation Recognition Act, clarifies federal eligibility for homeschool graduates
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Summary
The House Education and Workforce Committee agreed to a substitute amendment and voted to report HR 6392, which clarifies that homeschool students who meet state requirements are considered high school graduates for federal student aid, by voice votes on amendments and a final committee tally of 33–0.
Representative Mark Harris introduced HR 6392, the Homeschool Graduation Recognition Act, saying the bill fixes misleading language in the Higher Education Act that led some colleges to treat lawful homeschool graduates as if they were not high school graduates. He described examples of colleges demanding paperwork that state law does not require and called the treatment "discrimination."
The committee considered an amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Harris and heard multiple members speak in support. Representative Lucy McBath, a former homeschool educator, described her personal experience homeschooling and urged support for the amendment, saying families should not be forced into choices that harm children or public schools. Ranking Member Bobby Scott said Democrats would offer clarifying language to ensure the bill's provisions explicitly apply to Title IV federal student aid programs; the majority indicated support for that clarification.
Supporters said the bill makes a narrow, technical correction to conform statutory text with current practice: students who complete state-recognized homeschooling programs are eligible for Title IV aid. Opponents did not press objections on the record during markup. The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to, and the committee voted to report HR 6392 to the House as amended. The clerk announced a recorded tally of 33 ayes and 0 nays.
The committee also accepted a unanimous-consent submission of a letter of support from the Home School Legal Defense Association into the record. The committee left open opportunities for members to submit additional materials electronically by the end of the day.
The committee's action sends HR 6392 to the House floor with the committee recommendation that it pass as amended.
