Vermont Homeschool Diploma and Graduation Requirements

When a Vermont public school student graduates, the school district issues a diploma. When a Vermont homeschool student graduates, the parent issues it — because under 16 V.S.A. §166b, Vermont does not issue grades, transcripts, or diplomas to home study students. The parent assumes the role of school administrator, which means setting graduation requirements and signing the diploma yourself.

That sounds intimidating until you understand what's actually involved. Here's how to set up graduation requirements that are rigorous enough for college and legally defensible under Vermont law.

Vermont Sets No Minimum Graduation Requirements for Homeschoolers

This is genuinely unusual compared to most states. Vermont specifies a Minimum Course of Study (MCOS) for annual compliance — subjects like reading, writing, math, Vermont and U.S. history, natural sciences, and literature — but it does not mandate a specific number of credits or courses required to graduate from a home study program.

That means you, as the parent-administrator, set your own graduation standards. You decide when your student is "done" with high school. Most families align their requirements with the expectations of the colleges or programs their student is applying to, which is the practical approach.

How to Set Graduation Requirements That Hold Up

For a student planning to apply to Vermont colleges, the following is a reasonable baseline:

• English/Language Arts: 4 credits (one per year, 9–12)
• Mathematics: 3–4 credits (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II minimum; Pre-Calculus for selective schools)
• Science: 3 credits (Biology, Chemistry, and one additional lab science)
• Social Studies/History: 3 credits (U.S. History, World History, and Vermont/Government)
• Foreign Language: 2 credits in the same language (required by Middlebury; recommended for UVM)
• Electives: 4–6 credits in areas like the arts, technology, health, or vocational subjects

That puts a typical graduation around 20–22 total credits, which is consistent with what Vermont public schools require and what Vermont colleges expect to see.

Write these requirements down in a formal document — something you can refer back to and that demonstrates intentionality if your student's records are ever reviewed during a college admissions process or a custody dispute.

What a Vermont Homeschool Diploma Looks Like

There is no required format. A parent-issued homeschool diploma is a document that:

• States the student's full name
• Names the home study program (e.g., "Maple Ridge Home Study Program")
• States that the student has completed the required course of study
• Notes the graduation date
• Is signed and dated by the parent as school administrator

Many families add a seal (available at office supply stores) for a more formal appearance. While no Vermont law requires a specific look, a diploma that looks professionally produced signals to colleges that the program was run with intention and care.

Keep the original permanently. Colleges and employers have occasionally requested copies of high school diplomas years after graduation.

The GED and HiSET as Alternatives

If your student doesn't complete a traditional parent-issued diploma, Vermont recognizes two alternatives:

GED: Vermont GED testing is available through Pearson VUE centers. The test covers four subjects (Reasoning Through Language Arts, Mathematical Reasoning, Science, and Social Studies). A GED certificate is accepted by Vermont colleges in place of a homeschool diploma.

HiSET: Vermont also accepts the HiSET, a five-subject equivalency exam administered by ETS. Some students prefer it because it can be taken in paper format.

UVM explicitly accepts either the parent-issued diploma, GED, or HiSET as proof of high school completion. Champlain and most other Vermont colleges do as well.

Timing Graduation with Act 77 Opportunities

Vermont's Act 77 Flexible Pathways Initiative creates a strong reason to think carefully about when your student officially "graduates."

Dual Enrollment lets juniors and seniors take up to two free college courses at CCV, Vermont State University, Champlain College, Landmark College, Bennington College, or Norwich University. Your student must still be enrolled in a home study program to access dual enrollment — once they graduate, they're no longer eligible.

Early College lets seniors spend their final year full-time at a participating Vermont college, tuition-free, earning both high school graduation credit and a full year of college credit simultaneously. This is only available to students still enrolled in high school.

If your student is approaching graduation age and hasn't yet used these programs, it may be worth extending the home study enrollment by a semester to capture the free dual-enrollment credits before issuing the diploma.

Keeping Records That Back Up the Diploma

A diploma without supporting documentation is a credential that no one can verify. Vermont colleges — especially selective ones like Middlebury — will ask for transcripts, course descriptions, and work samples that substantiate the graduation requirements you set.

The portfolio records you build year by year through high school are what make the diploma credible. High school portfolios should be retained permanently, not just for the two years Vermont law requires for your EOYA records. Colleges, military recruiters, and employers conducting background checks have all been known to request verification years after graduation.

The Vermont Portfolio & Assessment Templates includes transcript templates, course description frameworks, and a graduation requirements planner — so when the time comes to issue a diploma, all the documentation behind it is organized and ready.

Issuing your own student's diploma feels like a big responsibility because it is. But it also means you get to define what graduation means for your family. Build the requirements deliberately, document the work behind them, and the diploma carries real weight.

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