Across the States
Decision to Reject Homeschool Diplomas Reversed
In fall 2008, a member family in eastern Oklahoma contacted Home School Legal Defense Association after their two sons applied to take the Certified Pedorthist Exam through the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC). Both young men were high school graduates and otherwise met all the requirements to take the exam. Additionally, both had completed over 50 College-Level Examination Program credits.
However, ABC informed these young men that their application to take the winter exam was denied because “the State of Oklahoma does not recognize homeschooling as an equivalent to a high school diploma or general education diploma.” Based on this, ABC stated that their homeschool diplomas and transcripts were not sufficient proof of their completion of high school and returned their application fee.
Mr. and Mrs. Kaplan (name changed to protect privacy) immediately contacted HSLDA Staff Attorney Thomas Schmidt for assistance with this issue. Schmidt wrote to ABC and pointed out that home education was not only authorized under Oklahoma law, but also was protected by the state constitution.
Over 100 years ago when Oklahoma was drafting its state constitution, home education was discussed. During that debate, the phrase “other means of education” was inserted into the constitution to protect parents’ right to teach their children at home.
Schmidt pointed out that the federal government recognizes that a parent may self-certify that their child has completed a home education program. He also included language from Congress which states that requiring something more than a diploma and transcripts from homeschool graduates “could reasonably be seen as discriminatory.”
After receiving this letter from HSLDA, ABC reversed its position. Mr. and Mrs. Kaplan’s sons are now scheduled to take the spring exam.
— by Thomas J. Schmidt
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