Diploma Program FAQ – MDHSA Diploma Program

You have questions — We have answers!

Why were Diploma Programs created? | What are the benefits of using a diploma program? | Why do families use diploma programs? | How much does it cost? | What are the legal requirements? |

Why were Diploma Programs created in PA?

Diploma programs were created so that homeschool students could qualify for financial aid. The homeschool law had passed in 1988, legalizing homeschooling and providing requirements for graduation from a home education program. However, no PA homeschool students could qualify for financial aid. At that point in time, the local school superintendent could not sign that a homeschooler had completed the home education requirements and was eligible to receive financial aid (that option was not allowed until many years later). In 1990, Philip Mulvihill, Chief of the Office of Advisory Services of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) proposed that homeschool organizations develop diploma programs to award diplomas to home educated students. His premise was that the homeschool organizations, not the state, should oversee and develop criteria for diplomas that would be recognized by the PDE and the PA Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) so that those students would be eligible for financial aid.

Return to Top

What are the benefits of using the MDHSA Diploma Program?

Good question! The answer is too long for this page, so we’ve put the answer in an article. Please read Benefits of Using the MDHSA Diploma Program.

Return to Top

Why do families use diploma programs if parents are permitted to award diplomas in PA?

Many parents like the idea of a third party issued diploma, especially parents of students who are not attending college. Diploma programs, as a separate entity, are not found in other states. However, homeschoolers in other states do use correspondence and distance learning programs as well as umbrella schools to obtain a third party issued diploma. Below are some reasons families have chosen to use Diploma Programs.
♦ Cost is one reason families choose this option. The fees for most diploma programs run under $100 for the total program, as opposed to hundreds of dollars for correspondence/umbrella schools or distance learning.
♦ Flexibility is another. Correspondence schools and distance learning programs require families to use THEIR curricula in THEIR way and may require the family to hold to an arbitrary schedule or certain number of hours requirements, as well. Diploma programs (at least MDHSA’s) recognize that parents should set the goals and choose approaches/methods/curricula.
♦ A diploma issued by a third party is something with which family members who do not support homeschooling can identify. For some families, this is worth the price of a diploma program.
♦ Some families like having someone else maintain transcripts and send them to colleges. There is no need to run to the notary every time a college or employer requests a transcript. Just send the transcript request to MDHSA and “they” take care of it.
♦ Many students delay pursuing a post-high school education for several years. Others choose to enter the work force directly after graduation. A diploma from a third party can be useful to these students in obtaining employment because many employers simply do not consider a parent-issued diploma the same as a school-issued diploma.

Return to Top

How much does it cost?

As of 01/2021:

Registration Fee: $40 (one time only, NOT yearly)
Diploma Fee: $45, and is not due until the end of 12th grade when the Diploma Request Form is submitted.
Transcript Requests to colleges or for other use: $5 per transcript
Transcript Request uploaded to the Common App: $10 per upload request

Return to Top

What are the legal requirements for homeschoolers using a diploma program?

In addition to the standard requirements with which all PA homeschoolers must comply (see Homeschooling in PA on our Support Group website), a family enrolled in a diploma program in Pennsylvania is required to have an Evaluator determine if their student has met the organization’s criteria for credits and for graduation. Diploma programs in Pennsylvania must keep on file a copy of each 9th-12th evaluation and the course credit information signed by an Evaluator. Diploma programs are prohibited from issuing a diploma to any candidate whose PA educational program is under review or pending a hearing for non-compliance until the review of hearing is completed and confirms that an appropriate education has occurred.

Return to Top