Misinformed college officials nearly prevented a New Mexico family from accessing a state program that has greatly benefited homeschool students. HSLDA successfully intervened.

In June, Juanita Pfaff contacted us after her 13-year-old daughter was rejected by the dual credit program with waived tuition fees at Central New Mexico Community College.

Like similar programs in many other states, New Mexico’s dual credit system allows students to apply completed college courses toward high school graduation credit requirements. As an additional benefit, high school students who are approved for the dual credit program have their college tuition fees waived.

When officials told Juanita her homeschooled daughter did not qualify for the dual credit program with waived tuition fees, she questioned the assertion because her older daughter had participated in the same program at the same school just two years ago.

Closer Look at the Law

Juanita enrolled her 13-year-old anyway, then contacted HSLDA to ask if the law was being misapplied.

“I thought of it as a matter of principle,” Juanita said. “We were willing to pay for classes if we needed to. But I felt it wasn’t right to let the matter go without looking into it.”

HSLDA Senior Counsel Tj Schmidt told Juanita that the law governing the state’s dual credit program was being misconstrued by the college on multiple levels.

First, the college’s website stated that only high school students ages 15 to 18 could participate. Schmidt pointed out to Juanita that when the dual credit law changed in 2014 to permit private school and homeschool students to take part, it only stated that they had to be in high school. No age range was indicated.

Juanita said that under these guidelines, her 13-year-old certainly qualified. The teen had recently taken an Accuplacer math assessment exam, and she placed at the college freshman level.

Because her daughter is younger than most high school students, Juanita did have to provide the college with letters recommending her teen for advanced academics.

Even so, added Juanita, “once she was admitted, officials said she couldn’t be a dual credit student because she doesn’t go to a traditional school.”

Officials then explained they were concerned that the teen lacked access to a dedicated counselor.

“I told them I’m directly involved in my daughter’s education, so I can advise her,” Juanita recounted.

On the State Level

Schmidt contacted the New Mexico Public Education Department’s (PED) homeschool liaison. The first official he spoke to upheld the decision to reject the dual credit program application for Juanita’s daughter, citing one of the department’s administrative rules.

Schmidt pointed out that the law governing that rule had been superseded in 2014. He then spoke to another official at the College and Career Readiness Bureau (within the state PED), who acknowledged the department’s obsolete guidance. He pledged to update it and to contact Central New Mexico Community College on behalf of Juanita’s teen.

Juanita heard nothing in response from the college, but the next time she checked her daughter’s online account, she was pleased to see that the tuition fees had been rescinded.

“I appreciate HSLDA’s help,” she said. “There have been lots of families saying they’ve faced similar situations.”

Juanita added that she hopes this victory on behalf of her daughter sets a precedent that helps smooth the way for other homeschooling families looking to take advantage of dual credit.

Benefits of Homeschooling

 Resolving the college enrollment dispute also affirms the commitment she and her husband made to homeschool all eight of their children.

They first chose homeschooling for the sake of their son, who struggles with a blood disorder that makes him more susceptible to germ-borne illnesses. Juanita said that schooling his siblings at home reduced the risk of introducing pathogens her son had not developed an immunity to.

Home education has since provided the family with other benefits. Her children have been free to study at their own pace, which has typically resulted in accelerated learning.

“We do kindergarten and 1st grade in one year, so our kids are ahead,” explained Juanita.

Her oldest daughter, now 15, has accrued enough credits to graduate from high school.

“She’s still exploring,” Juanita said. The teen is interested in pursuing a career in business. In the meantime, she enjoys playing soccer for the local high school.

“We’re so glad we could help this family keep moving forward with their homeschool program,” Schmidt noted. “It’s frustrating when homeschooling families encounter obstacles just because officials fail to follow the law. That’s why we intend to follow up on the situation to ensure no other families encounter similar issues.”