Graduation and Diplomas

There are several ways to get a high school diploma. From easiest to hardest they are:

1. Use the diploma found on the PA Department of Education web page.
2. Make your own diploma or order one from HSLDA, sign it and present it to the graduate.
3. Apply for a diploma through one of the diploma organizations registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
4. Enroll in a distance learning program that offers a diploma.
5. Apply for the Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma after your child has received 30 college credits from an accredited college or by taking the GED.

PA Dept of Education Diploma Awarded by a Supervisor

• By statute, the Department of Education home education diploma is equivalent to a PA public school diploma
• Signed by the supervisor and 12th grade evaluator

From the Home Education Law (24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(d.1)(1))

(d.1)  (1)  Notwithstanding any provision of this act or any other law or regulation to the contrary, a high school diploma awarded by a supervisor or an approved diploma-granting organization shall be considered as having all the rights and privileges afforded by the Commonwealth, a Commonwealth agency, including, but not limited to, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, a political subdivision, a local agency and an authority or instrumentality of the Commonwealth or a political subdivision to a high school diploma awarded under this act, subject to subparagraphs (i) and (ii):

(i)  In the case of a diploma awarded by a supervisor the following shall apply:

(A)  The student receiving the diploma shall have completed all the requirements in subsection (d) while enrolled in a home education program that is in compliance with this section.

(B)  The diploma shall be awarded to the student on a standardized form to be developed by the department and which shall be made available on the department’s publicly accessible Internet website.

(C)  The diploma shall be signed by the student’s twelfth grade evaluator in confirmation of the student’s suitability for graduation.

Parent Issued Diploma

• Granted by the parent(s)
• The home education law was changed in 2014 to include the Pennsylvania Department of Education home education diploma because this type of diploma was not always accepted by various institutions.

Diploma Programs

• Pennsylvania is unique in that there are state-recognized diploma programs. The state-recognized diploma organizations may be helpful in assisting with consultation or guidance.
• The PA Department of Education home education diploma which came with the law change in 2014 made it possible for supervisors to issue a recognized diploma themselves.

Distance Learning Program Diplomas

• The distance learning programs’ diplomas will be viewed with varying degrees of acceptance.

Commonwealth Secondary School Diplomas

• A Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma (CSSD) can be obtained both by homeschooled and privately tutored students by passing a high school equivalency test or completing of 30 college level credits from a United States accredited postsecondary institution. 22 Pa. Code § 4.72.Opens In A New Window
• The CSSD may be issued to an applicant who is a resident of Pennsylvania; is at least 18 years of age (or, for 16 and 17 year old, has an approved age waiver from PDE); does not possess a secondary school diploma from the United States; is not enrolled in a public, licensed private, registered accredited or licensed nonpublic secondary school and has not obtained a state-recognized home education high school diploma.
• Information about the Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma may be obtained at [email protected].
• From Pennsylvania Department of Education

Yes. Virtually all colleges will accept homeschoolers. Many colleges are actively recruiting them. It is helpful to look at college websites to find out if they have specific requirements for homeschoolers.

If you are absolutely sure that your child will never go to college, he doesn’t need to take the test. If you think your child will go to college, he probably should take the test. You may want to have your child take it in his sophomore year for practice. Then in his junior year he can take it for credit. There is a special code number for homeschooled applicants from Pennsylvania to use. It is 993999.

If your child does well on the PSAT, he may qualify as a National Merit Scholar Semi-finalist and eventually a NMS finalist, possibly offering a full-tuition scholarship.

The SAT and ACT are often used in college admission and merit-based scholarships decisions.

There are many options to use to prepare such as current preparation books found in your local library.