Homeschooled Students

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Homeschooled Students

Students who are homeschooled must meet the same criteria, high school diploma or the recognized equivalent, or a passing score on an approved ability-to-benefit test, to be eligible for State student financial assistance as do those students who attend public high schools.

However, homeschooled students do not receive a high school diploma that is acceptable for financial aid purposes as only public and registered nonpublic schools in New York State are permitted by Education Law to award diplomas.  Therefore, homeschooled students must demonstrate their eligibility for State student financial aid in one of the following ways:

  • obtain a letter from local school district officials confiming that the student has received an education "substantially equivalent" to instruction given to students graduating high school in the public schools;
  • take and pass a Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) formally known as a GED and receive a NYS High School Equivalency Diploma from the New York State Education Department (SED) by the first day of classes to be certified as eligible for a financial aid award for that term; or
  • achieve a satisfactory score on an approved Ability-to-Benefit test by the term add/drop date.

More information on homeschooling can be obtained from SED:

The University of the State of New York
New York State Education Department
High School Equivalency (HSE) Office
P.O. Box 7348
Albany, NY 12224-0348
(518) 474-5906
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