One of our priorities at HSLDA is helping homeschool graduates who, because of bureaucracy or outright discrimination, are blocked from pursuing life goals such as employment or additional education.
We recently aided an Oregon graduate who was prevented from starting a job as an emergency medical technician (EMT), because the state Health Authority refused to issue her a license. Officials said her homeschool diploma did not meet state standards, and that she should obtain alternate credentials such as the GED—a high school equivalency exam.
They were wrong.
Misreading the Law
The graduate’s mom contacted HSLDA for assistance, and I took part in a team effort to advocate on the family’s behalf. There was no question that the graduate is fully qualified.
She is up-to-date on her training, is listed on a national registry for EMTs, and even held an EMT license in Virginia. I doubt her employer would have offered her a job had she lacked any of these qualifications.
The snag arose from the Oregon Health Authority’s misinterpretation of the criteria for issuing an EMT license.
Officials insisted: “The applicant must have a public high school diploma, passed a General Education Test (GED), or have a degree from an accredited institution of higher learning.”
Making It Right
We pointed out their error in a letter we sent on the graduate’s behalf. I’m happy to quote from it, because it was drafted by my colleague, HSLDA Senior Counsel Darren Jones, and signed by HSLDA President Jim Mason.
In it, we pointed out that officials’ message to the graduate “incorrectly states the wording of Oregon Administrative Rules . . . which only requires the EMT to have ‘received a high school diploma.’”
We added that homeschooling is a valid form of education under Oregon law. What’s more, the proper authority to issue transcripts and a high school diploma is the homeschool instructor, which in this case was the graduate’s mother.
State officials quickly responded to say that if the graduate would provide a copy of her homeschool diploma, they would change their stance and issue her an EMT license.
We’re pleased to have been able to help this deserving graduate. Still, it’s perplexing that despite clear legal guidance, some officials seem to believe that graduates are disqualified for certain opportunities just because they were homeschooled.
HSLDA remains committed to battling this ongoing discrimination and ensuring that homeschooled students have an equal chance to compete based on their individual qualifications.