Thinking & leadership

Thinking & Leadership

Six skills a family can schedule, with the research on each labeled and curriculum options labeled by worldview.

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This page uses "leadership" as a heading for six practiced skills; none of the studies below measured leadership itself. The skills are reasoning clearly, speaking persuasively, taking part in self-government, handling money, acting on a stated set of values, and running one's own work without constant supervision. Each is a skill a family can schedule. Each section below gives an age-by-age ladder of practices, the picks that support them, and the research that bears on the skill.

The research is narrower than the marketing around it. The outcomes reported in the studies linked below are test scores, civic engagement, financial knowledge, social and emotional measures, and executive-function tasks; leadership itself does not appear as an outcome in their abstracts. Most were run in schools or youth programs rather than homeschools, and the one homeschool-specific study cited on this page covered a single university (Cheng, 2014). For the wider question of how homeschooled students turn out, see the outcomes research guide and the socialization guide, which carry the self-selection caveat.

How to read the labels

Evidence labels. Each label ends with the direction of the finding. Strong: pooled or randomized studies agree on the direction of the average result, which can be a positive effect or no effect; the label says how certain the finding is, not that a skill or program works. Mixed: studies disagree, the design is observational, or the outcome measured is narrower than the claim. Unproven: a single study, a practitioner framework, or no qualifying studies; a single negative result is labeled as such. The Overall label summarizes the items under it and reads Mixed when they point in different directions. A label describes the research on a skill, not the quality of any product listed under it. The age ladders are practice suggestions; the studies cited did not test them.

Worldview labels follow each publisher's own pages. Not stated means the pages read state no worldview. Christian (denomination not stated) means the pages state a Christian framing and name no denomination. Where the Every Homeschool directory classifies an entry more specifically or differently, the card adds the directory classification and marks it as EH's. LDS is its own label. A worldview missing from a section means no program was verified, not that none exists.

Picks are chosen for fit and for what each publisher's own pages show, not for commission, and appear youngest age band first, then alphabetically. Prices are each publisher's own, retrieved October 2026.

Logic & critical thinking

Logic work runs from sorting games at age four to formal syllogisms in high school. The practices below keep it concrete: state the rule, give the reason, and check the argument.

What the research shows

OverallMixed

Strong · positive average
A 2015 meta-analysis of 341 effect sizes found that teaching critical thinking raised scores on standardized critical-thinking tests by an average of 0.30 standard deviations, with dialogue, real-world problems, and mentoring among the features that had positive effects (Abrami et al., 2015). Results varied widely from study to study, and the outcome was test scores.
Mixed · expert argument
Cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham argues that critical thinking is not a context-free skill: how well someone thinks critically in a subject depends heavily on what they know about it and on practice in it (Willingham, American Educator, Summer 2007). Abrami et al. report positive effects for generic and content-specific approaches alike, so the two sources differ on whether stand-alone instruction transfers.
Mixed · one small positive trial, one larger trial with no average effect
An independent randomized trial of Philosophy for Children in 48 English primary schools found about two additional months' progress in reading and maths (Gorard et al., 2015). A larger trial, with 75 intervention and 123 control schools, found no effect on reading or maths and no effect on social and communication skills measured by a pupil survey, although teachers reported better respect for others' views and clearer self-expression (NFER, 2021).

None of these sources is cited as evidence that a particular product below works.

Practices by age

Ages 4 to 7

Sort a handful of household objects two different ways and say the rule for each sort.
After a picture book, ask "How do you know?" and "What else could be true?" The Teaching Children Philosophy library offers nearly 300 discussion guides for grades K-5, which its Educators and Parents page describes as free.

Ages 8 to 11

Hold one shared-inquiry discussion a week: read a short story, ask a question the text can answer in more than one way, and have each child point to the line that supports an answer. The Great Books Foundation calls this method Shared Inquiry.
Add classification, analogy, and if-then puzzles from Building Thinking Skills.

Ages 12 to 14

Name informal fallacies in advertisements, headlines, and family arguments, then write one argument and the best objection to it. The Fallacy Detective and The Art of Argument are the fallacy texts in the picks below.
Take one family decision and describe it from three viewpoints with the Circle of Viewpoints routine in the Project Zero thinking routines library.

Ages 15 to 18

Study formal logic, such as syllogisms and validity, next to a content course in history, science, or literature so the reasoning has material to work on. Traditional Logic I from Memoria Press is a classical syllogistic text for grades 7 and up; its product page says it presents the four kinds of logical statements and the seven rules for the validity of syllogisms, along with a basic understanding of the Christian theory of knowledge.
Keep one setting where someone else challenges the claims: a debate club, a co-op discussion class, or a speech and debate league.

Picks

CurriculumNot statedEH directory: Secular

Outcome evidencePublisher-reported: the product page links a North Carolina case study that EH has not evaluated

Building Thinking Skills

The Critical Thinking Co.

A workbook series that teaches classifying, analogies, and deductive and inductive reasoning, each skill first with figures and then in verbal form, from toddler level through grade 12 and up.

Ages: Toddler through grade 12+ (Beginning 1 through Level 3)
Price: Beginning 1 $26.99; Primary $29.99; Level 1 $37.99; Level 2 $42.99; Level 3 Figural $32.99; Level 3 Verbal $39.99 (criticalthinking.com, retrieved October 2026)

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CurriculumNot statedEH directory: Secular

Outcome evidencePublisher-reported: the Foundation's evidence compilation cites outside studies; none is homeschool-specific

Junior Great Books (Shared Inquiry)

Great Books Foundation

Shared Inquiry discussion programs built on anthologies for kindergarten through high school, from the Great Books Foundation.

Ages: Kindergarten through grade 12 (K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 programs in the publisher's store)
Price: Price not listed on the page read

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Free resourceNot statedFree

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Teaching Children Philosophy

Prindle Institute for Ethics, DePauw University

Free discussion guides for children's picture books, nearly 300 of them for grades K-5 and a growing set for middle-grade readers, from the Prindle Institute for Ethics at DePauw University.

Ages: PreK-K through grade 5 and up on the page's grade filter; nearly 300 guides for grades K-5 plus a growing middle-grade set
Price: Free

Free resourceNot statedFree

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Thinking Routines (Visible Thinking)

Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education

A free library of short question routines, including See, Think, Wonder and Circle of Viewpoints, from Harvard's Project Zero.

Ages: No age band stated by the publisher
Price: Free

CurriculumNot statedEH directory: Christian · Ecumenical

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

The Art of Argument (Revised Edition)

Classical Academic Press

A text, with a companion video course, that covers 28 informal fallacies, placed at grades 7-8 on the publisher's logic page.

Ages: Grades 7-8 (CAP's logic page)
Price: Student Edition $28.95 (classicalacademicpress.com, retrieved October 2026)

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BookNot statedEH directory: Christian · Evangelical

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

The Fallacy Detective

Nathaniel and Hans Bluedorn

A 264-page paperback of thirty-eight lessons on recognizing bad reasoning, with exercises, an answer key, and cartoon examples, for ages twelve through adult.

Ages: For ages twelve through adult (publisher)
Price: $32.00 paperback; $9.99 ebook (fallacydetective.com, retrieved October 2026)

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Reader reviews posted on the publisher's page describe it as written from a Christian perspective.

CurriculumChristian (denomination not stated)EH directory: Christian · Evangelical

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Introduction to Logic (Curriculum Pack)

Master Books (Jason Lisle)

A one-year, one-credit logic course for grades 8-10 with daily lessons of about 30 to 45 minutes, taught from a biblical worldview.

Ages: Grades 8-10, one year, one credit
Price: $46.38 (masterbooks.com, retrieved October 2026)

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CurriculumChristian · Catholic

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Comprehensive Course in Logic

Homeschool Connections

Four online logic courses for high school, informal through symbolic, that share one required textbook.

Ages: High school (four courses)
Price: Unlimited Access $39.97 per month for all courses and all students in a family (homeschoolconnections.com, retrieved October 2026); the textbook is bought separately

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Speech, rhetoric, and debate

Speaking and debate need an audience, so this area pairs practice at home with leagues, clubs, and tournaments. The ladder runs from family stories to tournaments, and each league's eligibility rules decide which routes a given family can use.

What the research shows

OverallMixed

Mixed · positive association
A 1999 meta-analysis found positive associations between communication-skills instruction and critical-thinking measures, with competitive speech and debate (forensics) showing the largest effect (Allen et al., 1999, ERIC record). It mixed longitudinal and cross-sectional designs (Communication Education abstract), so it cannot separate an effect from students who chose to debate.
Mixed · observational association
A study of Baltimore public-school students found that those in the city's urban debate league during the preadolescent years had higher test scores, less chronic absence, and better odds of attending a selective high school than similar students who did not debate; the design was not a randomized trial (Shackelford, 2019).

Neither study examined homeschoolers or any league listed on this page.

Practices by age

Ages 4 to 7

Tell a two-minute story at dinner with a beginning, a middle, and an end, and have the speaker look at the listeners.
Memorize and recite a short poem for the family.

Ages 8 to 11

Give a short speech to a live audience of family or a co-op each month: a self-introduction, a how-to talk, a story. Beginning Public Speaking is built for ages 6-10 and A Reason to Speak for ages 11-13.

Ages 12 to 14

Run a five-speech series at home or in a co-op (self-introduction, narrative, expository, persuasive, impromptu), the format of IEW's Introduction to Public Speaking.
Visit one league tournament or club meeting before deciding to join; the leagues are listed under Outside the home.

Ages 15 to 18

Debate a resolution with a prepared case and a prepared rebuttal, then swap sides.
Coach or judge a younger speaker, or read a rhetoric text with a guide such as Everyday Debate & Discussion or Thank You for Arguing.

Picks

CurriculumChristian (denomination not stated)EH directory: Christian · Evangelical

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Beginning Public Speaking, A Reason to Speak, EXPRESS

Institute for Cultural Communicators (ICC)

Three online speech courses, Beginning Public Speaking (ages 6-10), A Reason to Speak (ages 11-13), and EXPRESS (ages 14 and up), each with an instructor guide and student workbooks.

Ages: Ages 6-10, 11-13, and 14 and up (one course for each band)
Price: Beginning Public Speaking $147 instructor access, or $77 for a Basic Package with 180 days of instructor access, workbooks $17 each; A Reason to Speak $147; EXPRESS $197 (iccinc.org course pages, retrieved October 2026)

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Free resourceNot statedEH directory: Faith-neutralFree

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Argument Wars

iCivics

A free online game in which the student argues real Supreme Court cases, from iCivics, a nonprofit that describes itself as nonpartisan.

Ages: Grade levels 6-8 and 9-12
Price: Free

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CurriculumNot statedEH directory: Christian · Ecumenical

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Everyday Debate & Discussion

Classical Academic Press

A one-semester or yearlong textbook course in debate and discussion for grades 8-12, sold as a book rather than as a league membership.

Ages: A one-semester or yearlong course for grades 8-12
Price: Student Edition $31.95 (classicalacademicpress.com, retrieved October 2026)

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CurriculumNot statedEH directory: Faith-neutral

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Introduction to Public Speaking

Institute for Excellence in Writing (Andrew Pudewa)

A twelve-lesson video course in which students write and give five speeches: self-introductory, narrative, expository, persuasive, and impromptu.

Ages: Grades 6-8 and 9-12
Price: $99.00 (iew.com, retrieved October 2026)

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BookNot stated

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Thank You for Arguing (Fourth Edition)

Crown (Penguin Random House); Jay Heinrichs

A 480-page paperback on rhetoric and the art of persuasion (fourth edition, 2020) by Jay Heinrichs; the publisher states no age range.

Ages: The publisher states no age range; EH places it with older teens and parents (editorial judgment)
Price: $19.00 paperback (penguinrandomhouse.com, retrieved October 2026)

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ProgramNot stated

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Youth Leadership Program

Toastmasters International

An eight-session workshop for ages 14-18, for up to 25 students, coordinated by Toastmasters members under a sponsoring club or a cooperating organization.

Ages: Ages 14-18
Price: Price not listed on the page read

For ages 4 to 11 the one verified curriculum card is ICC, a Christian program; no verified card with another worldview label was found for those ages, which does not show that none exists.

Civics & self-government

Civics here covers knowing how government works and practicing deliberation and participation. The picks cover the first; the practices and the outside programs cover the second.

What the research shows

OverallMixed

Mixed · favors participatory methods
A 2021 systematic review found only 25 controlled trials testing whether citizenship education changes political engagement; the trials largely support participatory methods, whole-school approaches, and teacher training and cast doubt on knowledge alone producing changes in behavior (Donbavand and Hoskins, 2021).

This source concerns kinds of citizenship programs and is not cited as evidence for a particular product below. Whether civic practice changes civic engagement among homeschooled students was not tested in the source read; the self-selection caveat in the socialization guide applies to any outcome claim about homeschoolers.

Practices by age

Ages 4 to 7

Make one family rule by vote and review it a week later; talk about who decides what at home, in the neighborhood, and in the town.
Use the lessons for kindergarten through grade 5 in BRI Jr. or the grade K-5 games and videos at iCivics.

Ages 8 to 11

Follow one local issue from a news item to a meeting agenda and write a letter to the official responsible for it.

Ages 12 to 14

Attend one local government meeting as a family and write a one-page summary of the question, the speakers, and the vote.
Run a mock hearing at home or in a co-op with a We the People unit or the free Argument Wars game. Middle schoolers can enter National History Day in the Junior division (grades 6-8).

Ages 15 to 18

Take part in a state-level program such as youth government, mock trial, or Model UN (see Outside the home) alongside a full government course.

Picks

CurriculumNot statedEH directory: Faith-neutralFree

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read; the Statement of Academic Integrity describes a scholar review process but reports no outcome data

Government and Politics: Civics for the American Experiment (and BRI Jr.)

Bill of Rights Institute

Free civics and history lessons for K-12, which the publisher says are scholar reviewed, including a 99-lesson high school government course.

Ages: K-12 (BRI Jr. for grades K-5; high school government course of 99 lessons)
Price: Free (the publisher states each resource is free)

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CurriculumNot statedEH directory: Faith-neutralFree

Outcome evidencePublisher-reported: iCivics cites third-party studies on its impact page that EH has not opened

iCivics

Free games, lesson plans, videos, and primary sources for grades K-12 from a nonprofit that describes itself as nonpartisan; its families page presents them as homeschool curriculum.

Ages: Grade bands K-5, 6-8, and 9-12
Price: Free (free account)

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CurriculumChristian (denomination not stated)EH directory: Christian · Evangelical

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read (testimonials only)

Uncle Sam and You

Notgrass History

A civics and government course for grades 5-8, written from a Biblical worldview, sold as a bundle with a literature package and student workbook.

Ages: Grades 5-8
Price: $199.00 Uncle Sam and You Bundle (shop.notgrass.com, retrieved October 2026)

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CurriculumNot statedEH directory: Faith-neutral

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read; the Research page refers to research generally and names no study in the text read

We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution

Center for Civic Education

A constitutional-democracy curriculum for elementary, middle, and high school students that ends in a simulated congressional hearing.

Ages: Elementary, middle, and high school levels (Level 1 upper elementary; Level 3 high school)
Price: Level 1 student edition $28.00; Level 3 student edition $62.00 (shop.gibbssmitheducation.com, retrieved October 2026)

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CurriculumNot statedEH directory: Faith-neutralFree

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Civics and Government Curriculum (K-12 American History & Civics)

Hillsdale College K-12 Education

Complete lesson plans for grade 6-8 civics and grade 9-12 government, available at no cost through an account.

Ages: Grades 6-8 civics and grades 9-12 government
Price: No cost (the program's home page says it is now available at no cost)

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CurriculumNot statedFree

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Constitution 101

National Constitution Center

A free Constitution course in three forms: a 15-module teacher-led high school curriculum, a 15-module middle school curriculum, and a self-paced high school course on Khan Academy.

Ages: Grades 6-12 (teacher-led middle and high school curricula; student-led high school course on Khan Academy)
Price: Free

CurriculumChristian (denomination not stated)EH directory: Christian · Evangelical

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read (customer reviews only)

Civics and the Constitution (Curriculum Pack)

Master Books

A one-semester, half-credit course on the U.S. Constitution for grades 9-12, with a student book, teacher guide, and USB video lectures.

Ages: Grades 9-12; one semester
Price: $78.37 (masterbooks.com, retrieved October 2026)

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BookChristian · Catholic

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

U.S. Government for Catholic Students

Seton Press

A 288-page softcover civics textbook, grounded in the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas, that evaluates laws and political institutions by their moral impact; the listing gives its grade as 12.

Ages: Grade 12 (the listing's grade field reads 12 HS)
Price: $35.00 (setonbooks.com, retrieved October 2026)

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Money, work, and entrepreneurship

Financial education has pooled randomized evidence behind it, with clearer gains for knowledge than for behavior. Business programs for children are a separate question, and the evidence panel keeps the two apart.

What the research shows

OverallMixed for school-age financial education (knowledge gains clearer than behavior gains); Unproven for entrepreneurship programs (one negative result)

Strong · positive average
A meta-analysis of 76 randomized experiments with over 160,000 participants found that financial education programs have, on average, positive effects on financial knowledge and on later financial behavior (Kaiser et al., 2022). The participants were of mixed ages, not only children.
Mixed · knowledge up, behavior small
A meta-analysis of school-based financial education found clear gains in students' financial knowledge and smaller gains in financial behavior, and the knowledge gain was smaller when the analysis was limited to randomized experiments (Kaiser and Menkhoff, 2020).
Unproven · one negative result
One study of a leading entrepreneurship education program for college students found no significant effect on students' self-assessed entrepreneurial skills and a negative effect on their intention to become entrepreneurs; it examined a single program and does not speak to programs for younger children (Oosterbeek et al., 2010).

None of these studies is cited as evidence for a particular product below.

Practices by age

Ages 4 to 7

Use clear jars for spending, saving, and sharing with small amounts of real money.
Read the young-children stage of the Money as You Grow parent guides, which include Money Monsters story books.

Ages 8 to 11

Run a time-limited stand or service business with a written ledger of costs and sales. Kid-run markets such as the Acton Children's Business Fair are open to ages 6-17.
Give a fixed weekly amount and let the child make the spending choices.

Ages 12 to 14

Move to a monthly budget with real choices, and watch the Credit & Debt bundle in Biz Kid$ before the first conversation about borrowing.

Ages 15 to 18

Complete a full personal-finance course (NGPF is free) and manage a real budget for a trip, a vehicle, or a first paycheck.

Related guidesBest Economics and Financial Literacy Curriculum (2026); and the outside-the-home programs for this skill.

Picks

CurriculumNot stated

Viewpoint (publisher's own page): headed 'Introducing the Ideas of Liberty to a New Generation'; the founder describes Libertas Institute as 'a free market think tank'

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Free Market Rules and Business Basics Grade 3

The Tuttle Twins

A 30-unit, 120-lesson economics curriculum for ages 5 to 12 and a 36-lesson Business Basics course for grade 3 from The Tuttle Twins.

Ages: Ages 5 to 12 on the parent guides; Business Basics Grade 3 is a grade 3 course
Price: $144 (regular $195) for all 30 units of Free Market Rules; $39 for Business Basics Grade 3 (tuttletwins.com, retrieved October 2026)

Free resourceNot statedFree

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read as an outcome evaluation

Money as You Grow

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (U.S. government)

Stage-by-stage parent guides with money milestones, activities, and conversation starters for young children through young adults, from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Ages: Three stages: young children, school-age children to preteens, and teens to young adults
Price: No price is listed; the guides are web pages open to read (a U.S. government site)

CurriculumNot statedFree

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Biz Kid$

Biz Kids LLP

Free video bundles and lesson plans on seven money topics, from the Emmy Award-winning public television series Biz Kid$.

Ages: Kids and teens; the companion book is aimed at 10+ year olds
Price: Free video bundles and lesson plans

CurriculumChristian (denomination not stated)EH directory: Christian · Evangelical

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Foundations in Personal Finance: Homeschool Edition

Ramsey Solutions

A boxed personal-finance course with a textbook, streaming video, auto-graded assessments, and 13 stand-alone chapters, with devotionals and a scripture reference guide included.

Ages: High school (the store text states no grade range; EH directory lists grades 6-8 and 9-12)
Price: $89.99 (store.ramseysolutions.com, retrieved October 2026)

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CurriculumNot statedEH directory: Faith-neutralFree

Viewpoint (publisher's own page): the About page describes an affiliate, the Mission 2030 Fund, that it says has helped pass laws in over 20 states

Outcome evidencePublisher-reported: the site links a Financial Literacy Progress & Efficacy Assessment, offered by Penn State Behrend and NGPF, that EH has not evaluated. The research in the evidence panel concerns financial education in general and does not evaluate NGPF

Personal finance courses (flagship Semester Course)

Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF)

Free personal-finance courses for middle and high school, led by a 67-lesson semester course, through a free teacher account whose sign-up form includes a homeschool-teacher option.

Ages: Middle school and high school courses
Price: Free

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BookNot statedEH directory: Secular

Viewpoint (EH review): a free-market orientation, stated by the review as an editorial position of the book

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Common Sense Economics

A four-part economics text by academic economists whose companion site lists PowerPoints, audio, and readings for educators.

Ages: High school (EH directory lists grades 9-12; the publisher states no grade band)
Price: Price not listed on the page read

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BookChristian (denomination not stated)EH directory: Christian · Evangelical

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read (customer reviews only)

Consumer Math: Biblical Stewardship & Personal Finance

Master Books (Katherine Loop Hannon)

A 360-page paperback for grades 9-12 that applies math to budgeting, credit, and personal-finance decisions, framed by biblical stewardship.

Ages: Grades 9-12
Price: $40.79 paperback (masterbooks.com, retrieved October 2026)

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CurriculumChristian (denomination not stated)EH directory: Christian · Evangelical

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read (testimonials only)

Exploring Economics (2nd Edition)

Notgrass History

A high school economics course sold as a bundle with a curriculum package, literature package, and student review pack, written through a Biblical worldview.

Ages: Grades 9-12
Price: $123.00 Exploring Economics Bundle, 2nd Edition (shop.notgrass.com, retrieved October 2026)

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Free resourceLDSFree

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Personal Finances for Self-Reliance (course)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

A free small-group course on budgeting, saving, avoiding debt, and investing, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Ages: Not stated by the publisher; adult small-group course
Price: Free

Character and virtue across worldviews

Each pick is labeled by what its own pages state; two state none. The picks include a program whose publisher says it is not religious, a multi-faith framework, Christian programs (one of them Catholic), a Jewish program, and an LDS program. The evidence panel is the most cautious of the six.

What the research shows

OverallMixed for school-based social and emotional learning; Unproven for virtue and leadership curricula

Mixed · two large school-based studies point in different directions
A 2011 meta-analysis of 213 school-based social and emotional learning programs found that, on average, students in the programs improved on social and emotional skills, attitudes, behavior, and academic achievement compared with control groups (Durlak et al., 2011). A federally funded randomized study of seven schoolwide social and character programs in 84 elementary schools (grades 3-5) found no differences between program and comparison schools in students' social and emotional competence, behavior, academic performance, or perceptions of school climate (Institute of Education Sciences, 2010; report PDF).
Mixed · small effects
A 2017 meta-analysis of 24 randomized trials of out-of-school positive youth development programs found small benefits for academic achievement and psychological adjustment and no significant effects on problem behavior or positive social behavior, and its authors cautioned that the trials had methodological flaws (Ciocanel et al., 2017).
Mixed · clearinghouse rating
Evidence for ESSA, a Johns Hopkins University clearinghouse, rates the school version of Positive Action Strong for Academic Competence and Promising for Problem Behaviors (listing); the outcomes are academic, behavior, and attendance measures from school-based studies, not character. Positive Action was also one of the seven programs in the federal randomized study above, which found no average differences.
Unproven · no qualifying studies
The sources read include no controlled study showing that a virtue or leadership curriculum produces leaders. Evidence for ESSA's CHARACTER COUNTS! listing (listing, filed under Social-Emotional) reads "No studies met inclusion requirements," which records an absence of qualifying studies, not a finding of no effect. Its Leader in Me listing (listing) is filed under Reading, so it concerns reading outcomes, not leadership.

School-based and teacher-delivered studies do not test home or co-op use, and none of these sources is cited as evidence that a particular curriculum below builds character.

Practices by age

Ages 4 to 7

Choose one virtue a month, tell one story that shows it, and ask the child to name one concrete action. The Virtues Project decks and the Catholic Heritage Curricula preschool and kindergarten sets are two sources of vocabulary.

Ages 8 to 11

Give each child a household responsibility with a stated standard, a check-in, and a consequence agreed in advance.
Write one thank-you note a week.

Ages 12 to 14

Hold a recurring volunteer role with a named duty, such as reading helper for a younger child, a service shift through a congregation or community group, or a 4-H project.

Ages 15 to 18

Lead something with accountability: coach a younger speaker, run a service project, or manage a team, and keep a short log of decisions and what followed.

Related guidesCharacter and Leadership Curricula Compared (2026); and the outside-the-home programs for this skill.

Picks

CurriculumChristian · Catholic

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Building Good Character (Levels A and B) and The Virtue Tree

Catholic Heritage Curricula (CHC)

Theme-card character sets for preschool (Level A) and kindergarten (Level B), and The Virtue Tree, a grade 7 course with stories of how the saints put the virtues into practice.

Ages: Level A preschool; Level B kindergarten; The Virtue Tree grade 7
Price: Building Good Character Level A $18.95 and Level B $18.95; The Virtue Tree $30.50 (chcweb.com, retrieved October 2026)

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CurriculumChristian (denomination not stated)EH directory: Christian · Evangelical

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read (testimonials only)

KONOS

KONOS Inc.

Teacher-manual volumes that study one character trait at a time for one to two months, folding science, social studies, art, music, literature, health, safety, and Bible into each unit, for kindergarten through 8th grade.

Ages: Teacher-manual volumes with activities for kindergarten through 8th grade; each of three volumes covers two to three years
Price: Volume I Curriculum $110.00 (konos.com, retrieved October 2026)

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CurriculumLDS

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

The Mindful Heart

A homeschool curriculum in five levels, from Alpha (preschool-kindergarten) through Omega (grades 9-12), organized into collections designed to be completed over sixteen days. The LDS label comes from the publisher's homepage title, and the EH directory entry notes that its materials reference the King James Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

Ages: Five levels, Alpha (grade equivalent preschool-kindergarten), Zeta (first-second), Theta (third-fifth), Sigma (sixth-eighth), and Omega (ninth-twelfth); the publisher says it intentionally removes grade-level labels from the curriculum
Price: Price not listed on the page read

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CurriculumJewish

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read (the page lists intended outcomes only)

Mussar for Children

The Mussar Institute

A downloadable program for ages 4-8 that teaches nine middot, among them forgiveness, patience, courage, and generosity, through scrolls, discussion prompts, activities, and family materials.

Ages: Ages 4-8
Price: $500 for the complete nine-middot program, one time (mussarinstitute.org, retrieved October 2026)

Every Homeschool directory entry →

ProgramMulti-faith

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read; the site cites research into wisdom traditions but no outcome study

Virtues Cards and Family Virtues Guide

The Virtues Project

Family virtues card decks, in use since 1991, sold in Multi-Faith, Catholic, Holy Bible, Jewish, LDS, and other editions.

Ages: Families and educators (no age band stated)
Price: Virtues Cards, Family (Multi-Faith Edition) $19.95 (virtuesproject.com, retrieved October 2026)

FrameworkNot statedFree

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read. A framework, not a product; category-level evidence is in the panel above

CASEL Framework

CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning)

A framework that names five competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Ages: K-12 framework
Price: No price is listed; the framework is a web page open to read

CurriculumSecular

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

CharacterLeads

KiDs Beach Club, Inc.

A downloadable curriculum of 18 units over 36 weeks, built on a stated aim of working backward from adult leadership to the character traits children need.

Ages: Elementary (the pages read give no grade range)
Price: Home use, all 18 units: $79 (kidsbeachclub.gumroad.com, retrieved October 2026); homeschool co-op or small group of up to 25 students: $375.00 per year (kidsbeachclub.wildapricot.org, retrieved October 2026)

Every Homeschool directory entry →

ProgramNot statedFree

Outcome evidenceClearinghouse rating: Evidence for ESSA rates the school version Strong for Academic Competence and Promising for Problem Behaviors (listing) and Strong for attendance, 2 studies and 12,050 students (listing); all school-based. Positive Action was also one of the seven programs in the federal randomized study cited in the evidence panel, which found no average differences across the seven (report)

Positive Action (school program; family lessons)

Positive Action, Inc.

A school social-emotional program with free family lessons for registered users, whose school version is rated by the Evidence for ESSA clearinghouse.

Ages: PreK-12 (the evaluated school version covers grades 1-8 in the clearinghouse listing)
Price: Free family lessons (positiveaction.net homepage); a one-year Pasela school license is $240.00, and the page does not say whether a family may buy one (retrieved October 2026)

Independence & executive function

Executive-function research points to repeated practice at a rising level of difficulty, with adult support withdrawn over time, as the panel below shows. The picks mix guides and routines, three of them free, with parent books and one paid kitchen-skills course.

What the research shows

OverallMixed

Mixed · activities improve executive-function measures
A 2011 review in Science concluded that several kinds of activity, including aerobics, martial arts, yoga, mindfulness, games, and some school curricula, have been shown to improve children's executive functions, and that the successful ones all involved repeated practice at progressively harder challenges (Diamond and Lee, 2011).
Strong · no far-transfer gain
A 2016 meta-analysis of 87 publications found that computerized working-memory training improved performance on similar memory tasks but produced no convincing gains on broader measures such as intelligence, reading, or arithmetic (Melby-Lervag et al., 2016).
Mixed · expert synthesis
The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard describes executive function as the skills that let a person focus, hold and work with information in mind, filter distractions, and switch gears (InBrief), and its Working Paper 11 says adults support these skills through scaffolding that is reduced over time as children manage on their own (Working Paper 11).

The review covers ages 4 to 12, and none of these sources tested chores, routines, or homeschool schedules.

Practices by age

Ages 4 to 7

Give one daily job with a picture checklist.
Play turn-taking and waiting games; the Harvard activities guide lists age-appropriate activities for each stage.

Ages 8 to 11

Have the child plan and cook one family meal a week with less help each month; Kids Cook Solo is built for ages 8 and up.
Assign something the child does alone for the first time each month, as in the Let Grow guide.

Ages 12 to 14

Hand over a weekly plan and a calendar: the child schedules study blocks, chores, and appointments, with a weekly review.
Make personal errands and laundry standing jobs.

Ages 15 to 18

Have the student run a semester plan, keep appointments, and manage a budget, with the parent acting as consultant rather than manager.

Picks

Free resourceNot statedFree

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read for the guide; it rests on the Center's executive-function synthesis

Activities Guide: Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills

Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University

A 16-page downloadable guide of age-appropriate activities and games that practice executive-function skills, organized from infancy to adolescence.

Ages: Infancy through adolescence, by developmental stage
Price: No price is listed on the page; the guide is offered for download

Free resourceNot statedFree

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Family Chores System

Raising Healthy Families (Katie Kimball)

A chore system delivered after an email sign-up, as three printable versions with a video walkthrough.

Ages: The page does not state an age range
Price: Free with an email sign-up; no price is listed, and the sign-up form also enrolls the address in the publisher's emails, with optional text messages

The sign-up form at Raising Healthy Families also enrolls the address in the publisher's emails.

BookChristian (denomination not stated)EH directory: Christian · Evangelical

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read

Laying Down the Rails for Children: A Habit Training Companion

Simply Charlotte Mason

A habit-training companion of more than 400 pages of stories, Bible passages, poems, activities, and quotations, sold by Simply Charlotte Mason as a printed book and an e-book.

Ages: Children; the page states no age band
Price: $34.95 to $47.95 depending on format (simplycharlottemason.com, retrieved October 2026)

Every Homeschool directory entry →

Find it

BookChristian (denomination not stated)

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read (testimonials)

Managers of Their Chores

Titus2.com (Steve and Teri Maxwell)

A chore-system book, with a ChorePack Kit for four children included, that covers chores from preschoolers through teens.

Ages: Preschoolers through teens
Price: $25.00; extra ChorePack Kit $11.00 (titus2.com, retrieved October 2026)

Find it

BookNot stated

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read as outcome data; the publisher says the guide is grounded in research on brain-based skills

Smart but Scattered (Second Edition)

Guilford Press (Peg Dawson, Richard Guare, Colin Guare)

A parent guide to identifying a child's executive-skill strengths and weaknesses and building routines, written for parents of 4- to 13-year-olds.

Ages: Parents of 4- to 13-year-olds
Price: $19.95 paperback; $30.00 hardcover (guilford.com, retrieved October 2026)

Every Homeschool guide →

Find it

Free resourceNot statedFree

Viewpoint (publisher's own pages): the site has a Legislation section listing a Let Grow Legislative Toolkit and State Policies and Updates

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read (testimonials)

Four Weeks to a Let Grow Kid and the Independence Kit

Let Grow

A free four-week guide and Independence Kit, with a printable Kid License, from the nonprofit Let Grow.

Ages: K-8 Experience program
Price: Free

CurriculumNot stated

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read beyond testimonials and a usage claim

Kids Cook Real Food (includes Kids Cook Solo)

Raising Healthy Families

A kitchen-skills video course of 45 videos in three levels, including Kids Cook Solo, a nine-lesson independent training session for ages 8 and up.

Ages: Kids Cook Solo independent training for ages 8 and up
Price: VIP access $197.00 one time, or four payments of $59 (raisinghealthyfamilies.com, retrieved October 2026)

BookNot stated

Outcome evidenceNone shown on the pages read as outcome data; a clinician-authored synthesis, not a trial

The Self-Driven Child

Penguin Random House (William Stixrud and Ned Johnson)

A parent guide whose subtitle names its aim, giving kids more control over their lives, with advice on stepping back from micromanaging homework and friendships.

Ages: Parents of children and teens
Price: $22.00 paperback (penguinrandomhouse.com, retrieved October 2026)

Find it

Outside the home

Leagues, clubs, and competitions give a skill an audience and a deadline. Each entry below states, in the organization's own words, who may join and what it costs; none of these organizations is a curriculum, so, apart from Acton Academy, none is in the Every Homeschool directory. Worldview labels follow each organization's own published statements. Where a page read states nothing about homeschoolers, the entry says so rather than guessing. A basis note under a label appears only where the pages read contain a faith-related statement that is not itself the label.

Speech and debate

Leagues and programs, with the eligibility facts that decide whether a homeschool family can use them. Alphabetical by name.

LeagueChristian (denomination not stated)

Logos Forensic Association (LFA)

Ages: Primarily grades 9-12; grades 7-8 may also compete (LFA join page)
Who may join: Membership is for private Christian schools that agree with the league's statement of faith (LFA join page). The page says Christian homeschool families are not necessarily precluded if the student is affiliated with a private Christian school, and tells families to call the office; homeschoolers cannot join as individuals (LFA join page).
Fees: $500 per school and $60 per student per season; the page still refers to a June 28, 2024 discount deadline, so confirm current dues with the league (LFA join page, retrieved October 2026)
Format: School-based teams; founded 2008 per the About page

LeagueChristian · Catholic

The About page says the league originated in the Catholic secondary school community and serves all secondary school students.

National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL)

Ages: Schools with grades 5-12 may join; Grand National contestants must be current high school students (NCFL join page)
Who may join: Home schools may join the local leagues and the NCFL and compete, but only one home school per local league counts toward that league's membership quota (NCFL join page). A school must be a member of a local league to join the NCFL, and the page says a region without a league can start one (NCFL join page).
Fees: $60 per school to the NCFL; Grand National entry $100 per student in the designated hotel block, $200 otherwise; local leagues may add fees (NCFL join page, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Diocesan leagues and an annual Grand National Tournament, founded 1951 per the About page; speech events and debate events (Lincoln-Douglas, Policy, Public Forum, and Student Congress)

LeagueNot stated

National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA)

Ages: Middle school and high school students through member schools (NSDA membership page)
Who may join: Students must join through an NSDA member school; the FAQ defines a school as an accredited, diploma-granting public or private entity recognized by the state (NSDA FAQ). The FAQ says that in most states homeschooled students compete through their zoned school district, and that a homeschool may be eligible if its state recognizes individual homeschools for school-based activities; it directs families to the state activities association or info@speechanddebate.org. The entry is dated September 12, 2022 (NSDA FAQ).
Fees: School membership $349 per year; individual student membership is a one-time $20 (high school) or $10 (middle school). The page also lists school membership of $149 (high school) and $75 (middle school), so confirm current dues with the NSDA (NSDA membership page, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Interscholastic tournaments; supporting students since 1925 per its homepage

LeagueChristian (denomination not stated)

NCFCA (National Christian Forensics and Communications Association)

Ages: No younger than 12 on January 1 of the season, no older than 18 on September 1 of the academic year, and no high school diploma yet (NCFCA Pre-Tournament Policies)
Who may join: Parent involvement is required for affiliation and for competitors; affiliates agree to Christian conciliation for disputes that cannot be resolved internally (NCFCA League Affiliation Policies). The league began in 1997 as the HSLDA Debate League for homeschooled students and opened eligibility to all Christian students, including private Christian schools, in 2019 (NCFCA history).
Fees: 2026-27 Qualifying Affiliation $160; Non-Qualifying Affiliation $30; tournament fees are listed on the fees page (NCFCA Fees and Payment Policies, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Independent clubs and regional and national tournaments; Lincoln-Douglas value debate, team policy, and speech events (NCFCA homepage)

LeagueChristian (denomination not stated)

Stoa USA

Ages: Competitors 12-18 on October 1 of the season; Junior registration for families with students 11 and younger (Stoa membership)
Who may join: Serves the privately educated Christian homeschool community: the parent member agrees with the league's Statement of Faith, and the parent may not be "the direct recipient of public funds" (Stoa's wording) whose purpose is to cover the student's education-related expenses, whether local, state, or federal. The eligibility wording does not name ESA programs, so a family that receives one confirms with Stoa (Stoa membership). Students in other leagues may also register with Stoa (Stoa FAQ).
Fees: Family registration $160 from October 1, 2026 ($135 early bird through September 30); Junior $35; coach $160 / $135; dues non-refundable. Tournament entry fees not found on the page (Stoa membership, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Local clubs plus tournaments in Lincoln-Douglas value debate, team policy, and speech events (Stoa membership); national invitational (NITOC) (Stoa FAQ)

ProgramNot stated

Youth Leadership Program (Toastmasters International)

Ages: 14-18 (Toastmasters program page)
Who may join: Participants are selected by a sponsoring Toastmasters club or by a cooperating organization such as a school; the program page does not mention homeschoolers (Toastmasters program page). An older Toastmasters magazine article quotes a club member who was scheduled to run workshops for home schoolers, among other groups.
Fees: Participant cost not published on the page (Toastmasters program page, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Workshop of eight one- to two-hour sessions, up to 25 students (Toastmasters program page)

Civic action and history

Youth government, mock trial, Model UN, and history competitions. Alphabetical by name.

CompetitionNot stated

Illinois State Bar Association High School Mock Trial Invitational

Ages: Students in grades 9-12; teams of up to ten (2026 ISBA handbook)
Who may join: Illinois only: the 2026 handbook says each team must be affiliated with a sponsoring school or a group such as a law explorer group or home school group, with an adult coach or sponsor; independent ad hoc teams and all-star teams of individuals are not permitted (2026 ISBA handbook).
Fees: Registration fee not retrieved; the handbook sets out payment in separate registration materials (2026 ISBA handbook, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Invitational tournament; limited spots (2026 ISBA handbook)

CompetitionNot stated

NAIMUN (North American Invitational Model United Nations), Georgetown

Ages: High school delegates (NAIMUN homepage)
Who may join: Independent delegations are welcome with a minimum size of one, and the required advisor can be a parent, so a homeschool family can register without a school (NAIMUN registration page).
Fees: Regular registration (September 14 to October 26, 2026): $115 per delegate, advisor $105, delegation $105. Late registration (October 27, 2026 to January 4, 2027): $115 per delegate, advisor $105, delegation $185 (NAIMUN registration page, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Four-day conference, February 11-14, 2027, Washington Hilton (NAIMUN homepage)

CompetitionNot stated

National History Day

Ages: Junior division grades 6-8; Senior division grades 9-12 (NHD get started page)
Who may join: The contest page names homeschool among the places where projects begin, and says projects can advance through local affiliate contests (NHD contest page).
Fees: Fees not found on the pages read; contests run through local affiliates, so ask the affiliate (NHD contest page, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Annual history research contest: paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or website; individual or group (NHD get started page)

CompetitionNot stated

South Carolina Bar High School Mock Trial

Ages: Middle and high school programs; the page does not state 2026-27 grade rules (SC Bar mock trial page)
Who may join: A South Carolina program: the program page says public schools, private schools, and home school groups are welcome and encouraged to participate (SC Bar mock trial page).
Fees: Registration fee not shown on the page (SC Bar mock trial page, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Extracurricular competition in which teams try a fictional case at regional competitions, then a state championship; trainings for teacher and attorney coaches are provided at no cost (SC Bar mock trial page)

ProgramChristian (denomination not stated)

TeenPact Leadership Schools

Ages: One Day State Class 8-12 (TeenPact One Day class); Four Day State Class 13-19 (TeenPact Four Day class)
Who may join: State-capitol classes with a mock legislature; the pages read state no homeschool requirement or exclusion (TeenPact Four Day class). HSLDA concluded its Generation Joshua program, with a notice dated November 20, 2025 (HSLDA notice).
Fees: 2027 classes: Four Day tuition $329 (includes a $50 non-refundable registration fee); One Day $50 (includes $10); Political Communication Workshop $50 with the Four Day class or $60 alone (TeenPact registration and billing FAQ, retrieved October 2026). Tuition covers about one third of program cost (TeenPact FAQ).
Format: State-capitol classes; the One Day class is designed for parents and students to attend together, with no extra charge for the parent (TeenPact One Day class)

ProgramNot stated

A YMCA of Central New York page describes the Y's mission as putting Christian principles into practice through programs for all.

YMCA Youth & Government

Ages: Middle and high school students (YMCA of Dallas); grade ranges differ by program, for example grades 7-12 in the New York program and grades 8-12 in the Albert Lea, Minnesota delegation
Who may join: Eligibility differs by local program. The Albert Lea Family YMCA (Minnesota) says any student in grades 8-12 from any district, including home school, can join (Albert Lea YMCA); the Dallas YMCA limits registration to students in a club at their school or YMCA (Dallas YMCA).
Fees: Not published on the national site, which points to state programs (YMCA Youth & Government national site, retrieved October 2026)
Format: State-run model government with a state conference; the national site cites over 60,000 participants and over 250 state events per year (YMCA Youth & Government national site)

Money and business

Programs where children run or simulate a business. Alphabetical by name.

ProgramNot stated

Acton Children's Business Fair

Ages: 6-17 (Acton Children's Business Fair)
Who may join: A one-day market where children create a product or service, set prices, and sell (Acton Children's Business Fair). Children apply for a booth at a nearby fair and each fair's host reviews booth applications; a family that wants to host applies on the Start a fair page, which the FAQ says takes about five minutes (FAQ).
Fees: Hosting costs nothing per the site; some hosts charge booth fees (Acton Children's Business Fair, retrieved October 2026)
Format: One-day local market; the site reports more than 5,000 fairs and more than 120,000 entrepreneurs (publisher figures) (Acton Children's Business Fair)

ProgramNot stated

Junior Achievement (local homeschool days)

Ages: National programs are K-12 classroom programs (JA USA educator page); local homeschool events run from Pre-K through grade 12 (JA in a Day Homeschool Edition) (JA of Northern Indiana) and grades 4-5 or 4-6 (BizTown day) (JA of Northern Indiana)
Who may join: JA USA's educator pages describe classroom delivery and no homeschool option (JA USA educator page). Some local chapters differ: JA of Northern Indiana lists a BizTown Homeschool Day on March 3, 2027 (grades 4-5 on the event listing; the program description on the same page says grades 4-6) with registration opening December 1, 2026 (JA of Northern Indiana); Greater St. Louis lists a BizTown homeschool visit day (JA of Greater St. Louis). A family must check its own chapter.
Fees: Varies by chapter; JA of Northern Indiana lists JA in a Day Homeschool Edition at $7 per student, $35 maximum per family (event dated March 11, 2026, already past) (JA of Northern Indiana, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Classroom lessons plus simulated town or finance-park days (JA of Northern Indiana; JA of Greater St. Louis)

ProgramNot stated

Lemonade Day

Ages: Not stated on the pages read (Lemonade Day get started page)
Who may join: Licensed and independently operated in 90 communities per the get started page (the homepage says 97); an individual, family, group, or community can take part through the local licensed program (get started page). Homeschool is not mentioned on the pages read.
Fees: Not published nationally on the pages read; the get started page sends families to local community websites for registration information (Lemonade Day get started page, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Lesson-based program in which kids start and run a lemonade stand (Lemonade Day homepage)

Character and service organizations

Youth organizations that run on a unit or troop model. Alphabetical by name.

ProgramNot stated

4-H

Ages: 5-18 per a North Carolina county extension page (Buncombe County Extension); a Maryland page says 8-18 (University of Maryland Extension)
Who may join: Delivered by Cooperative Extension in every county and parish, so availability is county by county (4-H About page). The Buncombe County (North Carolina) extension page says 4-H has much to offer homeschool families and, in a post dated August 28, 2026, announced an Exploring 4-H meeting for them on September 21 (Buncombe County Extension); the national pages read contain no homeschool statement.
Fees: No national fees, and a University of Maryland Extension page says costs are kept to a minimum (University of Maryland Extension, retrieved October 2026); National 4-H Council does not direct or implement 4-H programs at the state or local level, so confirm local costs with the county office (4-H About page).
Format: Local clubs and projects in agriculture, STEM, civic engagement, and healthy living (4-H homepage); one county page adds cooking and nutrition, robotics and coding, and gardening (Buncombe County Extension)

ProgramChristian (denomination not stated)

American Heritage Girls

Ages: Girls 5-18 (AHG homepage)
Who may join: Troops are chartered by a church, private school, or other Christian nonprofit; the pages read state no homeschool requirement or exclusion (AHG structure and costs page).
Fees: Annual membership $43 per girl (sister cap $114 for three or more daughters) plus a $20 program support fee per girl (cap $50 for three or more); the page says the support fee is free for a troop's first year of chartering (AHG structure and costs page, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Faith, service, and outdoor activities with badge advancement (AHG homepage)

ProgramNot stated

Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program

Ages: At least 12 and not yet 19 (CAP cadet FAQ)
Who may join: The cadet FAQ states eligibility in terms of age and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency; homeschool status is neither required nor addressed (CAP cadet FAQ).
Fees: Dues are set by wing and listed in the FY2027 dues table; national dues rose $10 for FY27 (CAP membership dues page, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Local squadron; the cadet program page describes a curriculum built on four elements: leadership, aerospace, fitness, and character; cadets wear uniforms (CAP cadet FAQ)

ProgramNot stated

The Scout Oath includes duty to God (Scouting America homepage).

Scouting America (Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Lone Scout plan)

Ages: Scouts BSA ages 11-17 (Scouts BSA page)
Who may join: An undated fact sheet on filestore.scouting.org (still written for the Boy Scouts of America) lists youth being home schooled whose parents do not want them in a youth group as eligible for the Lone Scout plan, only if they cannot conveniently join a unit. Confirm the current plan with a local council (Lone Scout Plan fact sheet).
Fees: Scouts BSA $85 annual fee plus any council or unit fees (Scouts BSA page, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Units (packs and troops) plus council activities (Lone Scout Plan fact sheet)

ProgramChristian (denomination not stated)

Trail Life USA

Ages: Boys at least 5 and under 18 (youth membership is limited to males) (Trail Life FAQs)
Who may join: Boys join a troop run by a charter organization, typically a church; the pages read state no homeschool requirement or exclusion (Trail Life FAQs).
Fees: Youth membership $42.98 per year, adult $46.55 per year, plus troop dues (Trail Life FAQs, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Troops owned and operated by charter organizations, typically churches (Trail Life FAQs); camping, hiking, fishing, riflery, archery, and canoeing (Trail Life homepage)

Problem-solving competitions

Team competitions in creative problem solving. Alphabetical by name. For enrichment of this kind for advanced learners, see Homeschooling a Gifted Child (2026).

CompetitionNot stated

Destination Imagination (DI)

Ages: Recommended for grades 3-12 and university students (DI homepage); non-competitive Early Learning level (DI Challenge Experience page)
Who may join: The Challenge Experience page lists homeschool co-ops among the settings where it works (DI Challenge Experience page). Team Managers can be parents, educators, or any volunteer at least 18, and U.S. Team Managers clear a background check (DI Start a Team page).
Fees: Team Number $175 in the United States; required U.S. background check for Team Managers $25; affiliate tournament fees not found on the page (DI Start a Team page, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Teams of 2 to 7 solve open-ended STEAM challenges and an Instant Challenge (DI Challenge Experience page)

CompetitionNot stated

Future Problem Solving Program International (FPS)

Ages: Global Issues divisions: Junior grades 4-6, Middle grades 7-9, Senior grades 10-12 (FPS Global Issues page)
Who may join: The Open Affiliate page says independent participants from regions without an active affiliate compete virtually, and that coaches can be teachers, parents, or others; involvement can begin with a single coach and student or an out-of-school group. The Open Affiliate is for regions without an active affiliate or programs a local affiliate does not offer, so check the state affiliate first (FPS Open Affiliate page; FPS Get Started page).
Fees: 2026-27 Open Affiliate: Global Issues $135 per team of four or $110 per student; Community Projects $125 per project; Creative Writing and Storytelling $65 premium or $45 standard per student; coaches $50 new, $40 returning. Local affiliates set their own fees (FPS Open Affiliate page, retrieved October 2026).
Format: Teams and individuals; six-step problem-solving process; Global Issues, Community Projects, Creative Writing, Storytelling, Learning Problem Solving (FPS Open Affiliate page)

CompetitionNot stated

Odyssey of the Mind (OM)

Ages: Division I grades K-5, II grades 6-8, III grades 9-12, IV college (per the information page, whose age cutoffs are dated to May 1, 2025) (OM information page)
Who may join: The FAQ says students are welcome through home schools, public and private schools, and community groups; each team may contain one student who attends a different school or is home schooled (OM FAQ).
Fees: Standard membership $290, with homeschools listed among eligible members; additional membership $190 when a second team competes in the same problem and division (OM memberships page, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Teams of up to seven students plus a coach solve a long-term problem and a spontaneous problem (OM FAQ); regional, then state or association finals, then World Finals (OM information page)

Learner-driven schools and centers

A network of schools; part-time options exist at some campuses only. One entry. For what the terms microschool and hybrid mean legally, see Microschools, Hybrid Schools, and Co-ops (2026).

ProgramNot statedEH directory: Secular

Acton Academy (network)

Ages: Most Acton Academies serve ages 4-18 (Spark 4-7, Elementary 7-11, Middle School 11-14, Launchpad 14-18); groupings vary by campus (Acton Academy FAQ)
Who may join: Most campuses operate as private schools or learning centers; the FAQ says some offer part-time or hybrid options, so a homeschool family needs a local campus that does (Acton Academy FAQ).
Fees: Tuition was not published on the network homepage, which tells families to contact their local campus about enrollment models (Acton Academy homepage, retrieved October 2026)
Format: Independently owned learner-driven schools and learning centers; the network site states 300-plus schools in 30 countries (Acton Academy homepage). See the Acton Academy directory entry.

This page lists programs that publish their own terms. Eligibility rules, fees, and availability change, and several programs above are local; confirm current details with the organization before registering.