The Origins of Homeschooling:
From Legal Battles to a National Movement
A prelude: parental rights before “homeschooling” had a name
TL;DR: Homeschooling in America began with legal battles over parental rights, gained momentum in the 1970s through reformers like John Holt and the Moores, and faced prosecutions in the 1980s until groups like HSLDA secured legal recognition in all 50 states by 1993. Since then, it has moved from the margins to the mainstream, accelerated by the pandemic, and is now entering a new era shaped by Education Savings Accounts. This history explains why homeschool families prize trust, word-of-mouth, and values-aligned products above all else.
Homeschooling didn’t emerge from catalogs or conferences. It grew out of kitchen tables, courthouse steps, and decades of determined parents who were willing to face fines, jail time, or worse for the freedom to educate their children at home. Understanding those roots matters, because today’s homeschool market still carries the DNA of those struggles: a fierce loyalty to trusted brands, a reliance on networks over advertising, and a strong filter of worldview and philosophy when making decisions.
This is the backstory—the foundation every marketer should understand before stepping into the homeschool world.
Parental Rights Before Homeschool Had a Name
Long before the modern movement, American courts affirmed that parents—not the state—hold primary responsibility for their children’s education. In 1925, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Oregon’s compulsory public-school law in Pierce v. Society of Sisters, declaring that “the child is not the mere creature of the State.” Nearly fifty years later, in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972), Amish parents won the right to withdraw their children from high school on religious grounds.
Exclusive Client Access
I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse into the origins of homeschooling — where conviction, courage, and the fight for parental rights shaped a movement that still defines how families think and choose today. In the full article, we trace how legal battles, reformers, and shifting policies transformed homeschooling from a grassroots fight for freedom into one of the fastest-growing education markets in the nation.
Our Marketing Insights Division is home to a growing library of in-depth research, strategy frameworks, and case studies built from over two decades of homeschool industry expertise.
These resources are reserved for active Well Planned Advertiser clients, providing exclusive access to:
- Deep market intelligence on the values, history, and mindset shaping homeschool families
- Proven strategies for reaching parents across digital, print, and community channels
- Insights on shifting education trends, funding models, and emerging marketing technologies
- Forward-looking analysis to help brands anticipate change and position for long-term growth
If you’re not yet a client, you can still preview a portion of each article below — or book a strategy call to learn more about partnership access.
