FAFSA - homeschool or diploma

[mims]

Happy New Years! Filling out my first FAFSA. The question is "What will the student have completed." I would typically put High School diploma but Homeschool is an option. In the box with extra info it says that studrents enrolling in college for the first time on or after July 1, 2012, must have a high school diploma or GED to qualify for federal aid. Am I lying when I say she has a diploma when it is Mommy issued? Will there be a problem if I put homeschooling?

Thanks!

[garddwr]

Homeschool is the correct option to check. From the official government student aid site:

 

to qualify for federal aid you must:

 

"show you’re qualified to obtain a college or career school education by

• having a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or
  
• completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law."
  

By checking the homeschool box, you are not required to show proof of a high school diploma or GED.

 

The information in the little box on the application is simply an incomplete version of the information above that fails to mention the homeschool path. They are trying to differentiate not between homeschool and traditional high school graduates, but between first time college students and those who have already taken college classes, who show their ability to benefit differently (from the same site):

 

"If you were enrolled in college or career school prior to July 1, 2012, you may show you’re qualified to obtain a higher education by

• passing an approved ability-to-benefit test (if you don’t have a diploma or GED, a college can administer a test to determine whether you can benefit from the education offered at that school);
  
• completing six credit hours or equivalent course work toward a degree or certificate (you may not receive aid while earning the six credit hours); or
  

• meeting other federally approved standards your state establishes."
  

[Nan in Mass]

Homeschool is the correct option to check. From the official government student aid site:

 

to qualify for federal aid you must:

 

"show you’re qualified to obtain a college or career school education by

• having a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or

• completing a high school education in a homeschool setting approved under state law."

 

By checking the homeschool box, you are not required to show proof of a high school diploma or GED.

 

The information in the little box on the application is simply an incomplete version of the information above that fails to mention the homeschool path. They are trying to differentiate not between homeschool and traditional high school graduates, but between first time college students and those who have already taken college classes, who show their ability to benefit differently (from the same site):

 

"If you were enrolled in college or career school prior to July 1, 2012, you may show you’re qualified to obtain a higher education by

• passing an approved ability-to-benefit test (if you don’t have a diploma or GED, a college can administer a test to determine whether you can benefit from the education offered at that school);

• completing six credit hours or equivalent course work toward a degree or certificate (you may not receive aid while earning the six credit hours); or

 

• meeting other federally approved standards your state establishes."

 

 

 

That is interesting. I thought the government had done away with the ability to benefit test. This looks like it will be easier than I thought.

 

Thanks.

Nan

[Lolly]

Well, for my family homeschooling is legally private schooling. The private school issues the diploma. I checked high school diploma.

[garddwr]

Well, for my family homeschooling is legally private schooling. The private school issues the diploma. I checked high school diploma.

 

 

This could certainly vary by state/circumstances. The only caveat is if you check the diploma box the college/university is required to verify that the diploma came from a legitimate school not a diploma mill. If you check the homeschool box (and your student has in fact met the homeschool requirements in your state) the college/university is not required to further verify. Presumably if you homeschool under an umbrella school of some sort that is considered a legitimate private school the college will be able to verify that.

[Ellie]

 

This could certainly vary by state/circumstances. The only caveat is if you check the diploma box the college/university is required to verify that the diploma came from a legitimate school not a diploma mill. If you check the homeschool box (and your student has in fact met the homeschool requirements in your state) the college/university is not required to further verify. Presumably if you homeschool under an umbrella school of some sort that is considered a legitimate private school the college will be able to verify that.

 

Many states don't have requirements that homeschoolers could meet. Texas, California, and New Jersey come to mind.

[Nan in Mass]

 

 

Many states don't have requirements that homeschoolers could meet. Texas, California, and New Jersey come to mind.

 

 

I know. I wondered about those people.

[garddwr]

Many states don't have requirements that homeschoolers could meet. Texas, California, and New Jersey come to mind.

 

If they don't have requirements then the requirements have been met--the federal government just wants your homeschool to be legal.