Updated: January 26, 2012
“Military homeschooling” is most logically divided into two categories—1) military families who homeschool their children and 2) homeschool graduates who want to enlist in the military.
Homeschooling among military families is becoming more and more popular, as it provides a consistent educational setting for families who move frequently. The Department of Defense recognizes that, just like all other parents, military parents have the right to homeschool their children. Nevertheless, miscommunication about the DoD’s role in home education programs sometimes occurs. HSLDA has been highly involved in ensuring that military homeschoolers are well-informed of and retain their rights.
The number of homeschool graduates who enlist in the United States military continues to grow, but ensuring that these men and women are recognized for their academic achievements takes constant vigilance. The military classifies would-be recruits into one of three categories, known as tiers. Tier I candidates are graduates of a traditional high school or students who have at least 15 college credit hours. Tier II candidates are high school dropouts who then get their General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Tier III are individuals who possess neither a high school diploma nor a GED.
Prior to October 1998, the military classified homeschoolers as Tier II candidates, often requiring them to get a GED. However, in October 1998, Congress approved a five-year pilot program, which allowed homeschoolers to be considered high school graduates and placed in Tier I. This pilot program expired on September 30, 2004. However, on January 21, 2005, the Department of Defense authored a new policy affirming that homeschoolers could be placed in Tier I without having to take a GED. This policy is set to expire on September 30, 2011, but HSLDA is currently working with DoD officials to have it extended permanently.