House Education Committee
Hearing for HB 2560
Testimony regarding HB2560
to change the Home Education Law in Pennsylvania
Presented by
Mary L. Hudzinski
Administrator, MDHSA Diploma Program
June 13, 2002
Good morning, I am Mary Hudzinski, administrator of the MDHSA [1] Diploma Program.For the past sixteen years I have educated my children at home, graduating three from high school and shepherding them into college, as well as helping numerous families on their home schooling journeys.
At this point I would like to say that I am the mother of two children who have been privately identified with learning disabilities and one profoundly handicapped child.
I would like to address the issue of diplomas and diploma programs. I will describe diplomas, explain what diploma programs are and how they came about, describe what is meant by state recognition, and show what will change under HB2560.
A diploma is “a certificate given to a student by a high school or college to show that the student has completed the required courses of a program”. [2] It is tempting to think that a diploma asserts a level of educational attainment but it does not. High schools do not submit their graduation candidates for third party review. Those who provide the education also acknowledge its successful accomplishment.
The PDE [3] has specifically stated that it will only recognize three “diplomas” for home educated students.The first is one issued by a diploma program. The second is a GED, which carries an undesirable stigma. The last is a statement signed by the superintendent of the district of residence stating that the home educated student has completed graduation requirements.Sadly, many superintendents will not sign such a statement despite annually reviewing student portfolios and evaluations.
Diploma programs arose as a way for parents to acknowledge graduation and earn PDE recognition.Diploma programs are unique to Pennsylvania and no other state has any comparable policy (see attached affidavit).Howard Richman and I worked with Greg White, then Director of Policy at the PDE, to develop the agreement by which the PDE would authorize certain organizations to award diplomas. [4]
Diploma programs are the only real option for homeschoolers in Pennsylvania. The PDE has agreed to give special privileges to those who hold these diplomas and in doing so has excluded any students who do not hold these certificates. [5]
However, if a Pennsylvania home educated student applies to a college out-of-state, the question of diplomas is generally not raised. Home-educated students are able to provide evidence other than a diploma to satisfy admissions requirements. My daughter attends a college in Minnesota. The admissions office was not interested in her “state-recognized” diploma.
It is imperative to see what state recognition is not. Most importantly, diploma programs are not authorized to say anything other than that the diploma is “recognized”. Greg White, Director of Policy at the PDE when this policy was drafted, was adamant that the language could NOT be “certified”, ”authorized”, or “accredited”. These appellations were specifically excluded from the list of possible descriptions of what the PDE was granting. Furthermore, school districts are free to reject these diplomas (see attached letter from Sarah Pearce, April 3, 2001).
The agreement does not require review of the organization’s standards and procedures.The specific interpretation of a credit of English, science, or math is entirely at the discretion of the organization awarding the diploma. The PDE is not recognizing any standard of education or achievement. It is simply recognizing that the organization requires compliance with the public school code.Public and private schools are permitted to acknowledge this without submitting their candidates to third party evaluation. Home educating parents in 49 other states may do likewise and this is acceptable for Federal financial aid. [6]
One area of confusion that is well addressed by HB2560 is the meaning of “substantially equivalent to a public high school diploma”. This stipulation grants the privileges of applying to college, obtaining PHEAA [7] aid, and possibly home schooling his own children. Again, there is no authentication of any degree of achievement inherent in this recognition.
What will HB2560 do?It will eliminate discrimination by PHEAA against students whose parents choose not to purchase a diploma [8] .It will bring Pennsylvania into agreement with Federal practice. Federal law [9] already recognizes parent-issued diplomas for purposes of post-secondary financial aid [10]
HB2560 will eliminate a great deal of confusion in admissions offices. In a survey of colleges in Pennsylvania, many admissions counselors believe that a home-educated student must obtain a diploma or certificate from the agency that oversees Pennsylvania homeschoolers. There is a diploma program that is called Pennsylvania Homeschoolers Accreditation Agency.This particular agency also conducts an annual high school-at-home seminar and regularly interacts with college admissions personnel. Because it can be legitimately said that a state recognized diploma is required in order to gain PHEAA aid and admission to college, many admissions counselors believe that there is only one organization legally allowed to issue such diplomas.It is unacceptable that college admissions officers hold this belief. Retaining language that permits this situation to continue unchallenged is in direct violation of Federal law.
I urge you to release HB2560 from the Education Committee and actively support its passage into law.
I know this is not audience participation but I have a question. After listening to the two ladies earlier explain how the school districts are so concerned about homeschooled children, I would like to know why fewer than 50% of school districts provide services such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy for special needs children, my district included?
Note to the Education Committee:
Thomas J. Gentzel, in his testimony before the House Education Committee on December 3, 1987 said, “that PSBA believes that parents ought to be actively involved with the education of their children, regardless of the setting in which that instruction occurs. Surely no one would argue with the overwhelming evidence that parental involvement promotes and enhances the educational achievement of children.” HB2560 allows parents to be actively involved in the education of their children and free of unnecessary, expensive, and often-autocratic state oversight. It allows parents to direct the education of their children until graduation requirements have been met.
Attachments
Attachment 1 is a copy of the affidavit submitted by an organization desiring to issue diplomas recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Attachment 2 is a letter from Sarah Pearce (dated April 3, 2001) that explains to Dr. Richman that a school district may challenge the high school diploma issued by an organization such as PHAA or MDHSA as “equivalent” to a high school diploma.
Attachment 3 is an example of someone who has suffered under the current PDE policy regarding diplomas and PHEAA aid.
[1] MDHSA is an abbreviation for Mason Dixon Home Schoolers Association, Inc.
[2] Webster’s New World Student’s Dictionary, Macmillan, NY, 1996, p. 244
[3] PDE is an abbreviation for the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
[4] An “organization which is properly registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Education to issue secondary school graduation credentials for post-secondary school admittance, PHEAA grants and loans, and supervision of a home education program .” Found at:
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/home_education/cwp/view.asp?a=150&Q=46560&home_educationNav=[5] These special privileges are the right to apply to an institution of higher learning (like a college), to receive PHEAA aid upon enrolling in a qualified college, and to possibly homeschool his own children under Act 169.
[6] Pennsylvania residents, however, are not permitted to direct this aspect of their student’s education.This is a direct violation of every applicable Federal law, code, or policy. For example, section 3401 of the Federal Code from January 23 rd , 2000 says, “Parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their children, and States, localities, and private institutions have the primary responsibility for supporting that parental role.” [6] (emphasis added)
[7] PHEAA is an abbreviation for Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.
[8] If a graduating, home-educated student elects to pursue post-secondary education, he will be eligible to receive PHEAA aid.He will only receive the aid when enrolled in a qualified institution and through the treasurer’s office of the institution.
[9] So long as the home education program was conducted in compliance with the prevailing home education laws in the state of residence.
[10] "Guidance letter issued by the United States Department of Education, Office of General Counsel, April 19, 2002, entitled, "Institutional eligibility and student eligibility under federal student financial assistance programs--home schooled students."
Back to
[ June 13 Summary ]
