Home School Graduation Recognition Act
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Would amend the Higher Education Act to formally recognize students who complete a home school program treated as a home school or private school under state law as high school graduates for federal student aid purposes.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would amend Section 484(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to state that a student who completes secondary school education in a home school setting recognized as a home school or private school under state law is considered a high school graduate for purposes of that title, which governs federal student aid eligibility. It would also revise the subsection's heading from referring to students "Who Are Not High School Graduates" to students "From Non-Traditional Settings."
The bill does not create a new federal aid program or change other eligibility requirements for federal student aid; it only clarifies the graduate status of home-schooled students for purposes of the existing Higher Education Act framework governing aid eligibility.
Key provisions
- 1Would amend the Higher Education Act to consider a student who completed home school education recognized under state law a high school graduate for federal student aid eligibility purposes
- 2Would rename the relevant subsection heading from students 'Who Are Not High School Graduates' to students 'From Non-Traditional Settings'
Who would be affected
Home-schooled students applying for federal student aid, colleges and universities that determine aid eligibility, the Department of Education, and state education authorities whose home school recognition status under state law would determine a student's status under this provision.
Why it matters
Home-schooled graduates could be classified as high school graduates rather than under alternative eligibility pathways when applying for federal student aid, potentially simplifying their path to financial aid eligibility and removing ambiguity that previously existed under the "not high school graduates" framing.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(d)) (Sec. 2)
Adds language deeming home-schooled students who meet state law recognition as home schools or private schools to be high school graduates; renames subsection heading
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 6392 would have no significant effect on the federal budget, with any changes to direct spending, revenues, and the deficit each amounting to less than $500,000 in any year or scoring window.
CBO estimates that H.R. 6392, the Home School Graduation Recognition Act, would produce negligible budgetary effects — any changes to direct spending (mandatory spending), revenues, and the resulting deficit impact would each fall between zero and $500,000 over the 2026–2036 period. The bill would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to clarify that students who complete their secondary education in a homeschool setting recognized under state law qualify as high school graduates for purposes of federal student aid (such as federal student loans and Pell grants), but because homeschooled students meeting state requirements are already eligible under current law, the affected population would be very small. Administrative costs to the Department of Education to implement the bill would also be insignificant and subject to appropriated funds. CBO identified no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 358.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill clarifies that students who complete their secondary education in a home school setting recognized under state law are high school graduates for purposes of eligibility for federal student aid.
Legislative subjects
Education; Elementary and secondary education
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-492