“Legally, there is no difference in California between a homeschool diploma and a public school or private school diploma, because there is no distinction between homeschooling and public/private schooling.” ~Tammy Takahashi
Last week I reported how homeschoolers in Tennessee had pushed for legislation to put homeschool diplomas on a par with state-issued diplomas, and having shepherded their bill through the House and the Senate, were now just awaiting the Governor’s decision on it.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, homeschooling Mom and LA Homeschooling Examiner Tammy Takahashi took on the question of diplomas in her state:
What about in California? What do homeschool diplomas mean here?
To answer that question, we have to first understand the law governing education in California. Simply put, there are no homeschoolers in our state. All children are in public school, private school, or being tutored. If a child receives a diploma, it is from one of these three avenues.
Tammy offers good advice about how to determine your status in California and what to do about the diploma question, but she also notes:
From my experience in the homeschooling community in Los Angeles, the biggest challenge with having a homeschool diploma is getting into college.
Tammy also does a little thoughtful questioning of the whole concept of diplomas, and invites reader feedback:
I wonder just how important diplomas are these days. Other than getting into college, is it important to have a piece of paper that says we graduated? And if so, are there other options besides using a diploma?
HEM
Helen
Tracy
mark
marynix
ann-lahrson-fisher
valerie
sandi
david
What problems have homeschooled kids had with getting into college? I’m not familiar with Los Angeles, but most colleges have run into enough homeschoolers in the past that the school has developed guidelines, often involving a GED, SAT, portfolio review, etc. Once the Ivy League colleges took homeschoolers (some of them underage prodigies), it broke some ground. Colleges are competing for the top students (homeschooled or not), but average students might need to jump through more hoops. I’m curious what obstacles the LA families have run into.