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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
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Compare for my child| Notgrass Government & Economics | The Tuttle Twins | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | 9th–12th | Ages 5–11 (teen guidebooks too) |
| Viewpoint | Christian, conservative and limited-government (free-market in the economics course) | Limited-government and libertarian; no religious content |
| Approach | Daily textbook reading plus a collection of primary sources, with a project menu in every unit | Story books with discussion questions; companion workbooks and parent guides sold separately |
| Who teaches | The program does the teaching | The parent teaches |
| Parent prep | Low (answer keys included; a parent grades essays, quizzes and exams) | Low (read aloud and talk through the questions) |
| Screen time | Mostly offline (books and paper) | Mostly offline (books and paper) |
| Video lessons | None: print books with no video lessons | None: books and PDF workbooks; no video lessons |
| Cost | $70: Exploring Government curriculum package (textbook plus We Hold These Truths); Exploring Economics is sold separately | $13: each story book ($12.99); all 14 PDF activity workbooks are $64.99, and the Family Starter Pack (14 books, 3 history volumes, workbooks) is $229.95 |
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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.
Parents like the short, easy-to-read stories and say children can explain big ideas afterward. The one detailed outside review notes the books strongly push a limited-government, libertarian viewpoint and that some discussion questions are too advanced for younger children. The workbooks and parent guides are PDF-only and cost extra, and some of the online reviews we found read as promotional.
Neither is better for every child. Notgrass Government & Economics is the stronger fit for christian worldview; yes, for the transcript; minimal. The Tuttle Twins is the stronger fit for no, just learning.
Notgrass Government & Economics: christian, conservative and limited-government (free-market in the economics course). The Tuttle Twins: limited-government and libertarian; no religious content.
Notgrass Government & Economics: $70: Exploring Government curriculum package (textbook plus We Hold These Truths); Exploring Economics is sold separately. The Tuttle Twins: $13: each story book ($12.99); all 14 PDF activity workbooks are $64.99, and the Family Starter Pack (14 books, 3 history volumes, workbooks) is $229.95.
Summaries are in our own words.