Across the States
Demand For GED Rebuffed
The Vincents, a Home School Legal Defense Association member family, were recently informed that their daughter Tiffany had graduated at the top of her class in an EMT training program, breezing through the written exam and passing her skills exam with one of the highest scores in her class.
As the final step for state certification, Tiffany needed to take the National Registry of Emergency Technicians (NREMT) Exam. However, the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services told Tiffany that she would not be able to sit for the exam because they would not accept her homeschool diploma or transcripts. She was told that she must produce a diploma issued by the state department of education or get a GED.
The Vincents immediately called HSLDA for assistance and staff attorney Thomas Schmidt contacted the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services and their legal staff. Schmidt indicated that failure to accept Tiffany’s homeschool diploma could be seen as discrimination. He explained that under state law, Tiffany should be eligible for all rights and privileges extended to all other Kentucky private school students. Shortly after receiving HSLDA’s letter, the board changed its decision and allowed Tiffany to sit for the state certification exam.
Tiffany passed the exam with flying colors and is on her way to continuing her education while practicing emergency medicine. In a letter to HSLDA, Tiffany wrote, “You have saved me from having to take the GED and being labeled a high school ‘dropout.’”
— by Thomas J. Schmidt
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