Homeschooling thru HS and Pre-Employment Background Checks
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 5:05 am
... the outcome really depends on the company you're being hired with -- not the background check company.
I was homeschooled for high school, and went to college almost 10 years ago after completing our family's curriculum. I've had two experiences where I had to have a background check that verified educational experience, not just previous employment/criminal etc. The first was a horrific experience -- the second, which I am in the process of now, I hope will work out.
For the first, the job requsition stated it needed a "high school diploma or GED". In my case, my state wouldn't allow me to take a high school equivalency exam before I left for college -- I was admitted to college right before my 17th birthday. Our family didn't have the money to pay for some of the services that will keep your records and issue a diploma. I've seen much better offerings for those who plan to homeschool for high school when your state doesn't offer an equivalency test (we were from Arkansas) lately, this was awhile ago.
However, I am firmly of the opinion that if a homeschooler graduates from their parents curriculum they have the right to say they have a high school diploma. It might not be accredited, but there are lots of other programs we could have gone through that likely weren't accredited but would have given the paper that the first company wanted so badly. They wouldn't accept one from my mother's home school. Even though I went to college on full scholarship.
This time the background check people have given me a hard time as well, and I immediately called my company's recruiter and explained the situation. I made sure when I applied that the job requision did not say anything about a high school diploma, and said I was homeschooled in the interview (the other time it was just on my resume).
He agreed with me, and said they have the final decision-making power. Of course, this company's home office is in a slightly more progressive state, where people homeschool through high school more often and have a state equivalency test. When I explained that as far as I know Arkansas still does not allow homeschoolers to take the GED early if they go to college early, or have any state equivalency test they can take that labels them as homeschoolers and not dropouts, he was appalled.
They said I have the job regardless of how the background check comes out on this issue.
... God does look out for us! This is a much better job than the other one that declined me for being homeschooled!
I was homeschooled for high school, and went to college almost 10 years ago after completing our family's curriculum. I've had two experiences where I had to have a background check that verified educational experience, not just previous employment/criminal etc. The first was a horrific experience -- the second, which I am in the process of now, I hope will work out.
For the first, the job requsition stated it needed a "high school diploma or GED". In my case, my state wouldn't allow me to take a high school equivalency exam before I left for college -- I was admitted to college right before my 17th birthday. Our family didn't have the money to pay for some of the services that will keep your records and issue a diploma. I've seen much better offerings for those who plan to homeschool for high school when your state doesn't offer an equivalency test (we were from Arkansas) lately, this was awhile ago.
However, I am firmly of the opinion that if a homeschooler graduates from their parents curriculum they have the right to say they have a high school diploma. It might not be accredited, but there are lots of other programs we could have gone through that likely weren't accredited but would have given the paper that the first company wanted so badly. They wouldn't accept one from my mother's home school. Even though I went to college on full scholarship.
This time the background check people have given me a hard time as well, and I immediately called my company's recruiter and explained the situation. I made sure when I applied that the job requision did not say anything about a high school diploma, and said I was homeschooled in the interview (the other time it was just on my resume).
He agreed with me, and said they have the final decision-making power. Of course, this company's home office is in a slightly more progressive state, where people homeschool through high school more often and have a state equivalency test. When I explained that as far as I know Arkansas still does not allow homeschoolers to take the GED early if they go to college early, or have any state equivalency test they can take that labels them as homeschoolers and not dropouts, he was appalled.
They said I have the job regardless of how the background check comes out on this issue.
... God does look out for us! This is a much better job than the other one that declined me for being homeschooled!