What is a Homeschool Diploma?

A homeschool diploma is a document awarded to a student who has completed his or her studies at home through a level equivalent to high school or secondary education. Homeschooling is the education of students in their homes instead of the traditional classroom. When these students complete high school level studies, they can be awarded the homeschool diploma which is usually issued by parents or others responsible for overseeing the students' educations. In some areas, specific educational requirements must be met while in other regions it is left to the discretion of the parents. Together with detailed transcripts and college admissions tests, this diploma is usually sufficient for students to pursue employment or higher education goals.

Although a large percentage of students are educated in a traditional school setting, a growing portion of them are utilizing an alternative option called homeschooling, also known as home based education. These students do their learning from home utilizing a variety of methods. This practice is legal in all 50 states in the U.S. and in most countries around the world. There are varying degrees of regulation of homeschooling depending on the country and region. Although some homeschool students receive diplomas from accredited online or correspondence private schools, many do not use this option.

Students who complete their secondary education at home often receive a homeschool diploma in recognition of their accomplishment. This diploma is a document that often strongly resembles one from a traditional secondary school. It usually contains the student's full name as well as label given to the homeschool along with a statement certifying that the pupil completed all of the required studies to qualify for a homeschool diploma. It carries the same significance to the homeschool student as a traditional high school diploma. The homeschool diploma is usually issued by the student's parents who supervised his or her education or by a homeschool group or organization.

Depending on the homeschooled student's location, there may be specific educational requirements to fulfill before the homeschool diploma can be awarded. In many regions, it is left to the discretion of whoever supervised the home based education process. In most instances, this is usually the student's parents. That is because they are the ones who set the educational requirements, which often, for example, include four years each of math, English, history, and science. As a result, the parents are the appropriate people to certify that the student has satisfactorily completed the necessary courses.

Although a small number of universities require a diploma from an accredited secondary school, many primarily consider the student's transcripts, recommendations, and college admission test scores. For this reason a homeschool diploma is usually all homeschooled students need in order to pursue their future goals. These goals usually include getting a job, going to college, or pursuing other forms of career training. Together with appropriate documentation of their level of education, a homeschool diploma allows students to begin the next phases of their lives.