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Two homeschool civics and economics programs, compared on what actually decides the fit: viewpoint, what you study, teaching style, and how much you'll teach.
Updated September 2026 · based on parent reviews and publisher information
Still torn? Answer a few questions and see how both rank for your child, side by side.
Compare for my child| Notgrass Government & Economics | Classical Historian Gov & Econ | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | 9th–12th | 9th–12th |
| Viewpoint | Christian, conservative and limited-government (free-market in the economics course) | Leans free-market and limited-government; not tied to a religion |
| Approach | Daily textbook reading plus a collection of primary sources, with a project menu in every unit | Reading, discussion, research and presentations; students defend and argue both sides |
| Who teaches | The program does the teaching | The parent teaches |
| Parent prep | Low (answer keys included; a parent grades essays, quizzes and exams) | High (learn the Socratic method, lead discussion, buy two outside books) |
| Screen time | Mostly offline (books and paper) | Mostly offline (books and paper) |
| Video lessons | None: print books with no video lessons | Available: a training DVD for teachers and a live online class are sold separately |
| Cost | $70: Exploring Government curriculum package (textbook plus We Hold These Truths); Exploring Economics is sold separately | $22: student edition; the teacher edition (about $22) and two required outside books are extra |
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Parents and reviewers like the clear, readable writing and the way each unit builds toward a project or essay. Many call it easy to hand to a teen. The viewpoint is openly Christian and limited-government, so families who want a neutral treatment will need to supplement, and the full bundle with literature costs more than the base books.
Reviewers like that it joins government and economics into something engaging and builds the skill of defending an opinion. It works best in a weekly group, so a single student at home loses a lot. Expect to learn the Socratic method and to buy two outside books, and note the free-market lean.
Neither is better for every child. Notgrass Government & Economics is the stronger fit for christian worldview; minimal; some. Classical Historian Gov & Econ is the stronger fit for video lessons a big plus; plenty.
Notgrass Government & Economics: christian, conservative and limited-government (free-market in the economics course). Classical Historian Gov & Econ: leans free-market and limited-government; not tied to a religion.
Notgrass Government & Economics: $70: Exploring Government curriculum package (textbook plus We Hold These Truths); Exploring Economics is sold separately. Classical Historian Gov & Econ: $22: student edition; the teacher edition (about $22) and two required outside books are extra.
Summaries are in our own words.