Emma Trainer’s last year homeschooling her youngest daughter was marked by a momentous occasion—the implementation of the first major changes to Ohio homeschool law in decades.

The new law benefited numerous families by lifting restrictions and streamlining the homeschool reporting process. But it also caused confusion that ended up raising a roadblock when Emma’s daughter Trinity applied to college this spring. (Trinity graduated in 2024.) HSLDA helped resolve the problem.

Emma homeschooled Trinity from the very beginning. Emma said she decided against public school because “I was not thrilled with the school district we lived in, and I thought I could do a better job.”

Though Emma had no definite plans about how long to homeschool, she discovered it was helping her daughter thrive. Homeschooling allowed Trinity more time to pursue her love of dancing.

“We thought—we’re going to do this for as long as it works for us,” Emma recounted. “And it never stopped working.”

No more excuses

In early September 2023, the beginning of Trinity’s senior year, the welcome reforms to Ohio’s homeschool law took effect. Homeschooling parents no longer had to obtain what was called an “excuse letter” from their local public school superintendent. This document provided formal acknowledgement that homeschool students were in compliance with compulsory education laws.

Since the change, parents still file a notice informing public school officials of their intent to homeschool. But the notice is much shorter and simplified. In response, public school superintendents are required to issue a receipt within 14 calendar days.

However, as HSLDA Staff Attorney Amy Buchmeyer emphasized in an article explaining the change—the receipt provided by superintendents is simply that. It is not an excuse letter.

Official confusion

This distinction caused trouble for Trinity when she applied to Ohio University earlier this year. Admissions officials asked to see copies of the homeschool excuse letter for the first three years the teen attended high school, even though the new law rendered the excuse letters obsolete. Trinity turned 18 before her senior year of high school, so by law, Emma was under no obligation to turn in homeschool paperwork for that academic period.

Emma replied to university officials, pointing out the change in Ohio homeschool law also stipulates that a high school diploma issued by a parent should be considered valid on its own merits. But the admissions office continued to insist on seeing the excuse letters.

Uncertain of how to proceed, Emma contacted HSLDA.

Finding a solution

Buchmeyer reached out to Ohio University officials on Emma’s behalf, but also suggested the mom contact her local public school district to ask if they had copies of the letters. The district said the letters were no longer on file, but that they did have documents showing Emma had submitted her homeschool paperwork and that excuse letters were issued in response.

Emma submitted copies of this manifest to Ohio University, along with an affidavit that HSLDA helped draft affirming that she had homeschooled her daughter in compliance with Ohio law. By mid-April Trinity received word that she had been approved for enrollment. She plans to start classes in the fall.

Emma said she’s grateful that HSLDA helped break through this bureaucratic stalemate. When confusion arose over what the new Ohio homeschool law really says, she added: “I was prepared for some pushback, but not this much. It was a journey I could not have navigated all by myself.”

Buchmeyer said she’s gratified that she was able to help a qualified homeschool student pursue her goals.

“Even when the law changes for the better, sometimes there’s an adjustment period when officials need a little coaching to get used to the new system,” she said. “That’s why it’s so important to have an advocate like HSLDA to help work through these misunderstandings.”