College Tells Student to Leave—Because She Was Homeschooled

Midway into her first semester studying for a degree in occupational therapy, Peyton Weiss heard from college officials that her efforts had been wasted. They determined that, upon further review of her homeschool records, she no longer qualified as a student and had to leave the program—immediately.

Peyton had invested too much to give up. She’d moved to Manhattan, landed a job that accommodated a college schedule, and immersed herself in medical courses.

She spoke with officials in an effort to resolve questions about her homeschool diploma. When that failed, she asked HSLDA to intervene. Our legal team sprang into action, but the situation was not resolved for a few tense weeks while Peyton’s fate hung in the balance.

If HSLDA had not been there, I would not be in school today.
—Peyton Weiss, homeschool graduate now studying massage therapy

“We’ve long made it part of our mission to help homeschool graduates who face obstacles because of misunderstandings and even discrimination,” said Jim Mason, HSLDA president. “In most cases, as in this one, we’re able to obtain positive results simply by explaining state homeschool law.”

‘Dream come true’

Along with her siblings, Peyton began homeschooling at 10 when her family moved to Florida. She graduated from her parents’ home education program in 2011. She then relocated with her family to Texas, where they spent the next decade engaged in ministry.

Recently the family moved to New York to aid Peyton’s brother as he studies medicine at New York University. Peyton decided the new situation also offered an opportunity to pursue her own medical career.

To obtain more information, last fall Peyton visited the admissions office at the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences in New York City. She enrolled on the spot, signing up for courses in anatomy, physiology, and the health care technique the institute is best known for—Swedish massage.

“It was kind of a dream come true,” Peyton said. “You really learn about the whole body in this program. It’s not just a spa massage.”

Several weeks into her first term, however, Peyton received messages that revealed officials were questioning her qualifications as a homeschool graduate. At first it was merely an issue of providing more documentation for her financial aid packet. Then in early October an admissions officer called Peyton’s mother to ask about her homeschool diploma.

“He didn’t seem to know much about homeschooling,” Peyton noted.

Shortly afterward, Peyton was locked out of her online student account. Buoyed by the support of fellow students and instructors, Peyton continued to attend classes despite her uncertain status. Then a professor delivered devastating news.

“He called me into a separate room,” Peyton recalled. “He asked: ‘Didn’t you get the email that said you were terminated?’ That’s when I had a total meltdown.”

Invoking the law

Peyton and her mother contacted HSLDA for help. Senior Counsel Tj Schmidt immediately reached out to college officials on Peyton’s behalf. After being referred to someone on the executive level, Schmidt set about explaining homeschool law.

Schmidt affirmed that Peyton had been homeschooled in accordance with Florida law, which allows parents to provide a signed affidavit attesting that their students have indeed completed a high school education.

According to the Florida Department of Education’s online FAQs, this affidavit “is equivalent to a high school diploma and is regularly accepted by state colleges and universities as proof of high school completion.”

College officials accepted Schmidt’s explanation and said Peyton could re-enroll for the term beginning in January.

“I decided we needed to escalate our advocacy,” Schmidt recalled. “I told officials: ‘Peyton’s really only missed a single class. Wouldn’t it be in everyone’s best interest to let her complete the fall semester?’”

Officials agreed, fully restoring Peyton’s status as an active student.

“It was such a relief to be able to go back to class,” she said. “The thought of restarting everything next year and missing out on advancing with my classmates was horrible.”

Peyton is now on schedule to graduate in 2027 and pursue her goal of opening her own clinic.