Initially diverse in its ideological motivations, the homeschooling community during the 1980s and 1990s gradually coalesced into a movement advocating for educational freedom and parental rights. Central to this transformation were the magazines published by and for homeschooling families. These publications articulated collective ideals, shared educational resources, fostered community identity, and began to shape a narrative that has significantly influenced the adoption of broad school choice policies across many states. This shift is highlighted by the increasing adoption of Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) and scholarship tax credits. In 2021 alone,18 states enacted seven new educational choice programs and 21 states expanded their existing ones, illustrating a notable shift in educational policy towards broader school choice options.[1] Additionally, as platforms for political advocacy and recruitment tools for conservative Christian colleges, the magazines helped anchor the homeschooling movement in the sphere of conservative politics. By mapping the network of individuals and organizations the featured prominently in these periodicals, this study reveals the structural dynamics and influence pathways within the movement.
Using Python for initial data analysis and Gephi for network visualization, the poster showcases findings from an exclusive collection of homeschooling publications. It illuminates the remarkable growth of the homeschooling network over time, and highlights key influencers, emphasizing the crucial role of women and the increasing connection to political figures. Concurrently, it explains the nuanced dynamics of class, race, and gender within the movement and shows how these factors intersected over time. The visual component is designed not only to make complex network relationships accessible but also to stress the centrality of print culture to the growth of a grassroots movement that has left major marks on American educational policy and parental rights discourse.
This research project argues that the homeschooling movement's role in political processes was at once a cause and effect of its evolving identity. Initially spurred by diverse educational philosophies, the growing politicization of homeschooling was both reflected in and amplified by its vibrant print culture. The project seeks to demonstrate that self-published magazines decisively shaped the movement’s trajectory and nation-wide impact with the ultimate aim of explaining its significance for today’s public debates on parental rights and school-choice policies.
[1] Jason Bedrick and Ed Tarnowski, "How Big Was the Year of Educational Choice?" Education Next, August, 2021, https://www.educationnext.org/how-big-was-the-year-of-educational-choice/ (Accessed February 12, 2024)