When Daniel Barton heard about a job opening at a major power company in New Mexico, it sounded like the opportunity he had been looking for to advance his career and make plans for starting a family.

Thanks to his work experience, the application process went smoothly—until company officials learned that he had been homeschooled. That’s when they nearly rescinded their employment offer.

Daniel’s parents were members of HSLDA while they were homeschooling, so when they heard about their son’s difficulties, they encouraged him to contact us. Our legal team intervened on Daniel’s behalf, submitting documents attesting to the validity of his homeschool diploma just before the deadline set by the company.

With their concerns resolved, the company once again offered Daniel a job.

“We’re so glad to have been able to resolve this situation for the good of everyone involved,” remarked Tj Schmidt, HSLDA senior counsel. “Even though homeschooling is perfectly valid under the law, there are still some organizations who question the ability to verify a homeschooler’s completion of high school. Sometimes, as in this case, it takes some effort by HSLDA to overcome the skepticism or misunderstanding.”

Adventures in Learning

The very diploma that nearly cost Daniel the job is a product of a childhood he wouldn't trade. Growing up, education in the Barton household looked a lot less like a traditional school and a lot more like adventure.

Cynthia and Kress Barton homeschooled all five of their sons from kindergarten through graduation. Cynthia started out as the primary teacher; when Kress retired, he stayed home and assumed that role.

As a result, Daniel recalls his teen years as a time of adventure and bonding with his father and brothers. He and his siblings played sports at the local public school. And they talked their dad into buying a dilapidated Jeep, which they fixed and used for hunting and camping trips.

“When you are homeschooled, you have the freedom to structure your day,” Daniel said.

After graduating from high school in 2013, Daniel went straight into the workforce. At his most recent job, he spent seven years purchasing construction supplies for a drywall company. Before that he worked for two years at a federal prison.

“Their background check is extensive,” Daniel noted.

Yet, neither he nor his twin brother—who obtained a higher security clearance for a different job at the prison—ever ran into problems because of their homeschool diplomas.

Which is why Daniel was so taken aback when officials at the power company told him a third-party background check indicated his homeschool credentials supposedly didn’t meet the requirements for the job. Based on their initial offer of employment, Daniel had already handed in his resignation for his previous job.

 “I was a little stressed out,” Daniel admitted.

He talked to his parents, who suggested he submit additional homeschool documents that they had kept on file. He followed their advice, but to no avail. However, company officials did give Daniel a few more days to make his case.

Quick Turnaround

Daniel and his parents contacted HSLDA on a Friday in March. By the following Monday, the New Mexico legal team had composed a letter verifying Daniel had been homeschooled in accordance with New Mexico law. He sent the document to the power company that evening.

The next time the company contacted Daniel was to ask when he could start training.

“It was such a relief,” he said.

He’s now on track to start work as a real-time energy trader, buying electricity from other providers and selling surplus power as supply and demand fluctuates within his company’s own grid. It’s an integral part of how the industry works; power companies keep energy traders on the clock at all hours.

“I like it,” said Daniel. “It’s like a mini-Wall Street job, except instead of trading stocks we’re trading energy. It’s fun, and it’s stimulating.”

Schmidt said he couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome.

“Helping to smooth over the hiring process for a qualified homeschool graduate with a company that needs reliable employees is a win for everybody,” he said. “It just goes to show how our members make it possible for us to advance homeschooling in a way that benefits not just one individual or their family—but the entire community.”