When a child graduates from your homeschool, can you give a homeschool diploma? YES! When you homeschool within your state law, you become an official homeschool. You can give your child an official homeschool diploma.
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When I speak to groups, I sometimes show my sons’ diplomas. It’s fun to show them off and you can see that my boys even graduated with honors!
When your child is grown and filling out job applications, they may be asked questions that seem difficult. “Do you have a high school diploma?” for example. Your child can answer, “yes.” If you have overseen your child’s education and they have graduated from your homeschool, then they can say they are a high school graduate and have a diploma.
When you are ready to purchase a diploma, I always recommend HomeschoolDiploma.com. All of my friends used it for their diplomas and when I helped organize our state homeschool graduation, we used it. It is a very helpful, easy-to-navigate website that will help you decide on the right wording for the diploma.
In addition to diplomas, the site also has everything else you need for graduation, whether you are graduating with a group, or just one student at a time – the cap and gown, tassle, and invitations. I have used HomeschoolDiploma.com for years. The company is very used to the needs of homeschoolers (just look at the name!) and they are a joy to deal with.
And if you’d like more ideas for your child’s graduation, check out Graduate Your Homeschooler in Style.
Please note: This post was originally published in June 2009 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Congratulations for the recognition, Lee! It’s been fun watching your business take off like a rocket!
Is this valid for Ontario Canada as well?
Dear Niki,
Whether or not parents can issue a diploma for their student varies by country and state / province. You can check your local laws here: http://www.TheHomeScholar.com/Know-Your-State-Homeschool-Law.php
Blessings,
Robin
Assistant to The HomeScholar
Hi Niki!
We have homeschooled in Ontario as well as Nova Scotia. You can make your own homemade homeschool diploma in Ontario. Some universities in Ontario demand Gr. 12 public school credits though. There are homeschoolers who homeschool through high school, and some who homeschool through Gr. 11 and send their kids to public school for Grade 12, depending on which universities they have their eyes on. Here is homeschool admission information for some of the more homeschool friendly universities in Ontario: http://learni.st/users/charron.k/boards/41395-homeschool-university-admissions-policies-ontario-canada
~Kimberly
Thank you so much for the info! 🙂
As always, this is such helpful information!! Thank you!!
As always, Kristen, you are welcome!
Blessings,
Robin
Assistant to The HomeScholar
What school do you put on the diploma?
Hi Sara,
That’s totally up to you. Some people use their school name, others simply say “Homeschool High School Diploma”.
Blessings,
Robin
Assistant to The HomeScholar
Thank you!
You’re welcome, Sara!
Hello Sara, thanks for clarifying my question. Does this mean that almost anyone can be their own “high school” as long as they fit within the laws of their state? So cover schools are essentially only organizations that are there to prove a student has proper education?
Hi Tony,
Cover schools are required in very few locations. Parents are certainly capable, and within their rights to be “their own high school” – create records, and give a diploma. As you have already surmised, it’s dependent on the laws in your area. It is more and more common for homeschool families to submit home-produced records, and colleges are typically very accepting of them.
These two articles might help:
[url=https://www.homehighschoolhelp.com/know-your-state-homeschool-law]Know Your State Homeschool Law[/url]
[url=https://www.homehighschoolhelp.com/6-ways-to-declare-homeschool-independence]How to Declare Homeschool Independence[/url]
I hope that helps!
Robin
Assistant to The HomeScholar