Straight-A College Student Kicked Out Because He Was Homeschooled

The answer to WHY is in the first sentence from the president of the school. FEDERAL FUNDING!!!

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Take the recent case of 22-year-old Jacob Berry from Morgantown, West Virginia. His parents opted to homeschool Berry and not too long ago he decided to attend West Virginia’s Bridgeport Junior College, enrolling last fall. After one half-time semester where he received A’s in both of his classes, it came to the campus president’s attention that Berry did not have an official high school diploma. Consequently, he was shortly thereafter kicked out of college.

Via HSLDA:

“Your homeschool diploma isn’t state recognized. We can’t mess with our federal funding by having people with unaccredited diplomas here,” she reportedly said. The president had Jacob called to the financial aid office after class and gave him one day to produce an “accredited” diploma.

The next day Jacob was called out of his lecture and attempted to explain again to the president that his diploma was valid. Ms. Stephens refused to listen and suggested he take the GED. When he attempted to attend his next class, the school sent him directly to Ms. Stephens who kicked him out and informed him that he was an intelligent young man who would do well on the GED.

“It was a shock,” said Jacob. “She signed the letter acknowledging that I had been homeschooled and then kicked me out. It hurts me that she would do that to me. I don’t want to be negative, but I do feel like it was discriminatory.”

Jacob’s parents, Dr. Nathan Berry and Mrs. Cynthia Berry, a woman who reportedly holds a lifetime teacher’s license in the state of Missouri, were also quite shocked, so they contacted HSLDA who attempted to contact the school. Association attorney Michael Donnelly sent a letter to the school’s president informing her that homeschool students self-certify when they complete a home education program, a process that is clearly stated in the federal funding guidelines, but to which the woman apparently refused to respond.

Were it a gender, race, or sexual orientation case, one can only imagine that it would make headlines, prompt court cases and widespread cries of discrimination.

But who cries out for the homeschooled?

When did this group become so ostracized and shunned? Read More