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How to pick a starting point for every civics and economics program we cover, in one place. These programs place by grade and prior knowledge, not by test.
Links checked September 2026
| Program | Type | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Abeka Gov & Econ | Placement guide | Rainbow Resource: Abeka American Government text A senior-level, one-semester text; study U.S. history first |
| BJU Press Gov & Econ | Placement guide | BJU Press: American Government kit contents Government is a one-semester senior course; Economics is separate |
| Classical Historian Gov & Econ | Placement guide | The Classical Historian: government and economics resources Shows the student book, teacher edition and bundle |
| Constitution 101 | Placement guide | National Constitution Center: About Constitution 101 15 modules; use all of them or pick single ones |
| Documents of Freedom | Placement guide | Bill of Rights Institute: Documents of Freedom units Use as a full course or pick single units |
| Guest Hollow Gov, Econ & Finance | Placement guide | Guest Hollow: sample schedule and details Grades 9–12; no prerequisites |
| iCivicsSupplement | Placement guide | iCivics: for families Free account; pick games by topic |
| LIFEPAC Gov & Econ | Placement guide | AOP: LIFEPAC Government and Economics One 12th-grade course in ten units; no placement test needed |
| Master Books Civics and the Constitution | Placement guide | Master Books: Civics and the ConstitutionAffiliate link Recommended for grades 10–12; one semester |
| Notgrass Government & Economics | Placement guide | Notgrass: Exploring Government packages Shows the base package, the literature package and the full bundle |
| Notgrass Uncle Sam and You | Placement guide | Notgrass: Uncle Sam and You One level for grades 5–8: younger students use the workbook, 7th–8th graders the Lesson Review |
| Ramsey Personal Finance | Placement guide | Ramsey: Foundations in Personal Finance One half-credit course; a separate Foundations in Economics is sold |
| The Land of Fair Play (Christian Liberty Press) | Placement guide | Christianbook: The Land of Fair Play Labeled 8th grade; retailers place it anywhere from 7th to 9th |
| The Tuttle Twins | Placement guide | Tuttle Twins: Homeschool HubAffiliate link Books are for ages 5–11; guidebooks target teens |
No. These are mostly one-semester courses chosen by grade and by the credit you need, so the notes above say what each one expects a student to know.
Several textbook programs, such as Abeka's, assume a good grasp of U.S. history. If that is missing, do a history course first or choose a program that teaches its own background.
Most publishers aim for 11th or 12th grade, but strong readers can start in 9th or 10th. Younger children can use story-based options like The Tuttle Twins, and middle schoolers can use a full civics course like Notgrass Uncle Sam and You.