Why Secretary Hegseth Is Right: Military Families Choose Homeschooling at Double the National Rate

The numbers tell a compelling story—one that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and advocates like Natalie Mack are helping to write.

I was born on a Navy base in Taipei, Taiwan, and spent my childhood moving every two to three years between military installations around the world—from Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany to Greenham Common Air Force Base in England, from Eielson AFB near Fairbanks, Alaska (where we lived for four years) to Fairchild AFB in Washington State (where my family lived on five acres just outside the base), and from Mather AFB in California to others that shaped my formative years. Back in the 1980s, homeschooling wasn't even on most military families' radar—we simply followed our parents from base to base, adapting to new schools, new teachers, new curricula, and entirely different educational systems with each PCS move.

But something remarkable has happened in the decades since. Military families have discovered what I wish had been available during my own nomadic childhood: educational stability through homeschooling.

Now, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has taken notice. His recent directive ordering a comprehensive review of DOD support for military homeschooling families isn't just good policy—it's long-overdue recognition of what military families have been proving for decades.

Here's the statistic that validates Hegseth's attention: roughly 12 percent of active-duty military families homeschooled their children in the 2023-24 school year—double the rate of civilian families at 6 percent, according to recent reporting by Nexstar Media. This percentage remained consistent even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools were temporarily shut down across the country.

Secretary Hegseth clearly understands what the numbers are telling us. In his May 15 memo, he noted that "homeschooling offers an individualized approach for students and highlights the significant role parents play in the educational process." This isn't just policy speak—it reflects recognition of a trend that has been building for over two decades among the families who serve our nation.

What's driving this unprecedented growth that caught Secretary Hegseth's attention? The answer lies in both the unique challenges of military life and the extraordinary advocates who have made homeschooling accessible, legal, and successful for military families worldwide.

Having experienced firsthand the challenges of constant educational disruption—from base schools in Germany, England, and Alaska to adapting to civilian schools near our off-base home in Washington State—I understand intimately why military families are choosing educational stability through homeschooling at twice the rate of civilian families.

Hegseth's directive comes at the perfect time. President Trump's January 29 executive order on "Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families" set the stage, and Hegseth's follow-up action deserves genuine appreciation. The May 15 review calls for officials to examine "current support for homeschooling military-connected families, as well as best practices, including the feasibility of providing facilities or access to other resources for those students."

This isn't political calculation—it's principled recognition of what works. Hegseth has been a vocal advocate for educational choice, and his book "Battle for the American Mind: Uprooting a Century of Miseducation" demonstrates his understanding that the country's public schools are failing to educate students effectively. When someone who has studied educational failure at the institutional level directs support for family-centered education, it carries tremendous weight with military families who have been pioneering this approach for decades.

The Numbers Tell the Story: A Homeschooling Revolution

The military homeschooling trend isn't new—it's been building steadily for over two decades. But the acceleration has been remarkable:

• 1980s: Homeschooling gains legal recognition across all 50 states, with military families among early adopters

• 2000s: Military installations begin developing informal support for homeschooling families

• 2010s: Military homeschooling rates consistently exceed civilian rates

• 2018-2019: Blue Star Families reports 11-13% of military families homeschooling, compared to 2-3% civilian rate

• 2019: Johns Hopkins research confirms 11% of military families homeschooling

• 2023-24: Military homeschooling reaches 12%—a 100% increase over civilian families at 6%

This isn't just statistical growth—it represents hundreds of thousands of military children receiving stable, consistent education despite the inherent instability of military life. When I think about my own childhood, moving between Ramstein and Greenham Common, constantly adjusting to new educational systems and curricula, I'm struck by how different my experience could have been with homeschooling as an option.

Natalie Mack: The Premier Architect of Military Homeschooling

At the forefront of this educational revolution stands Natalie Mack, whose impact on military homeschooling cannot be overstated. With over 23 years as a military home educator herself—having served alongside her Navy chaplain husband through 16 military moves—Mack brings authentic understanding to her advocacy work that resonates with military families worldwide.

As the creator and developer of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) Military Community Outreach Program, Mack has built crucial bridges between military families and educational resources that address their unique challenges. Her "Base2Base Military Homeschooling" podcast provides practical guidance for families navigating frequent relocations and deployments while maintaining educational continuity.

What makes Mack's contribution particularly valuable is her comprehensive approach. Through her consultancy work and as founder of the Military Homeschoolers Association (MHA), she has collaborated with all six DoD branches of school liaisons, helping to standardize support for homeschooling military families across service branches. This creates more consistent experiences regardless of where families are stationed—something that would have been invaluable during my childhood moves between installations spanning from Alaska to Germany, from Washington State to England.

Mack, who holds a Master of Education degree and is a National Certified Counselor, has dedicated her professional life to supporting military families through educational transitions. Her TEDx speech on "The Impact of Homeschooling" has garnered over 27,000 views, demonstrating the growing interest in this educational approach. As HSLDA's Military Community Outreach Coordinator, she provides consultations and resources to military homeschoolers, school liaison officers, and military recruiters, ensuring that accurate information reaches families at every stage of their homeschooling journey.

Her recent survey of nearly 750 military families revealed compelling insights: 58% cited religion as a factor in their homeschooling decision, nearly 48% had concerns about bullying in traditional school settings (especially for children with special needs), and 58% factored school violence into their decision. Additionally, nearly 30% were concerned with local educational offerings, citing needs for critical thinking development and age-appropriate content aligned with their worldviews.

As a mother of five children—four college graduates and a current high school student—Mack recently entered a new chapter as her husband retired after 34 years as a Navy chaplain. Through her business, Natalie Mack LLC, she continues providing mentorship to military homeschool leaders and consultations to families navigating military homeschooling's unique challenges.

The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine is proud to have Natalie Mack as our columnist for Military Homeschooling, where her insights and guidance reach thousands of families monthly. Her work exemplifies the kind of grassroots leadership that has made military homeschooling not just possible, but extraordinarily successful.

The Rich Historical Foundation

The tradition of homeschooling within military families has deep historical roots that predate many of today's formal support structures. Since the 1980s, when the modern homeschooling movement gained legal recognition across the United States, military families have been at the forefront of this educational approach.

The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) began in 1983, and the modern homeschooling movement gained significant momentum. According to the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, home education was illegal in most states as recently as the early 1980s. By 1989, only three states, Michigan, North Dakota, and Iowa, still considered homeschooling a crime. By 1993, homeschooling became legal in all 50 states. This pioneering spirit makes sense when you consider the military community's culture of adaptation, self-reliance, and mission-focused thinking.

Military families have consistently homeschooled at rates significantly higher than the civilian population—a trend that has remained stable for decades. This isn't merely coincidental; it reflects the unique challenges military families face and the solutions homeschooling provides. Long before the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily closed schools nationwide, military families were pioneering educational continuity through home education.

The Department of Defense has gradually recognized this reality. In the early 2000s, military installations began developing informal support for homeschooling families, though these efforts varied widely in quality and availability. By 2010, some bases had established dedicated homeschool support groups and resource centers, recognizing that while homeschooling serves a minority of military families, those who choose it do so at consistently higher rates than civilian families.

This consistent trend among a significant minority demonstrates that military homeschooling isn't merely a reaction to temporary educational disruptions but a strategic choice that addresses the fundamental challenges of military life—frequent relocations, deployments, and the need for educational consistency across different states and countries.

Legal Protection Across Borders: A Personal Connection

Military families should know that homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, though regulations vary significantly. For families stationed overseas, a crucial legal protection exists that holds particular meaning for me personally.

Even in countries where homeschooling is restricted or prohibited for local citizens (such as Germany, which has effectively outlawed homeschooling), U.S. military families retain the right to homeschool their children. During my own military childhood overseas, homeschooling wasn't a common option. Today, families stationed at these same types of international installations can legally homeschool because they are considered to be on U.S. soil for educational purposes.

This special status ensures educational continuity regardless of duty station, providing military families with options I wish had been available during my own international childhood spent adapting to different educational systems from Alaska to Germany. The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which all 50 states have signed, helps facilitate educational transitions, including for homeschooled students, providing an additional layer of protection for families who choose this educational path.

The Hegseth Moment: Recognition from the Highest Levels

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clearly understands the educational challenges facing military families. His recent directive ordering a comprehensive review of DOD support for military homeschooling families represents something remarkable—genuine acknowledgment of parental rights in education and the unique needs of homeschooling families.

In his May 15 memo, Hegseth noted that "homeschooling offers an individualized approach for students and highlights the significant role parents play in the educational process." This isn't just policy speak—it reflects his deeper educational philosophy shaped by his own analysis of American education.

Hegseth has been a vocal critic of public school education, advocating for more Christian-based teaching. In his book "Battle for the American Mind: Uprooting a Century of Miseducation," he argues that the country's public schools are failing to educate students and lack "virtue and excellence," according to Nexstar Media reporting. His support for homeschooling isn't political calculation—it's principled conviction about what constitutes quality education.

This background makes his DOD directive even more significant. When someone who has studied educational failure at the institutional level directs support for family-centered education, it carries tremendous weight with military families who have been pioneering this approach for decades.

President Trump's January 29 executive order on "Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families" and Secretary Hegseth's follow-up action deserve genuine appreciation. The May 15 review calls for officials to examine "current support for homeschooling military-connected families, as well as best practices, including the feasibility of providing facilities or access to other resources for those students," according to Nexstar Media.

Hegseth emphasized that ensuring military families receive strong educational support "maintains morale and readiness, reinforcing the overall stability and effectiveness of our military communities." This recognition that educational choice strengthens military families—not just individual students—shows sophisticated understanding of how family stability impacts military effectiveness.

Natalie Mack's response to this development was particularly insightful: "We want to be respected as a vital part... of the military educational landscape, and so it's really important to make sure that... they receive the resources and support that they are potentially seeking." This represents the kind of measured advocacy that has made military homeschooling successful—seeking recognition and support while maintaining independence.

The Independence Imperative: Why We Reject Government Funding

While we celebrate this recognition of homeschooling families from Secretary Hegseth and President Trump, The Old Schoolhouse® must be absolutely clear about one crucial distinction: we do not endorse Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) or any form of state-funded education assistance for homeschoolers.

For over two decades, since 2001, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine has championed one fundamental principle: independent homeschooling works best when families maintain complete control over their educational choices. When government funding enters the equation—whether through ESAs, vouchers, or other mechanisms—strings inevitably follow. What begins as assistance often becomes oversight, and oversight can quickly become control.

Having grown up in a military family where we moved every two to three years from installation to installation—experiencing everything from Alaskan winters to international schools, from base housing to our off-base home in Washington—I understand deeply the value of consistency and family control over education. The beauty of homeschooling lies in its freedom:

• Freedom to choose curriculum that aligns with your family's values

• Freedom to adapt teaching methods to each child's learning style

• Freedom to incorporate faith naturally throughout learning

• Freedom to spend more time on subjects that challenge your child and move quickly through areas of strength

• Freedom to maintain educational continuity regardless of geographic location

This independence is worth protecting, even when—perhaps especially when—well-meaning assistance is offered. We can appreciate the recognition of homeschooling's value while maintaining our unwavering commitment to educational independence.

Military families, more than any other group, understand the importance of mission autonomy and the dangers of mission creep. Just as military operations succeed best with clear objectives and minimal outside interference, homeschooling succeeds best when families maintain complete control over their educational mission.

SchoolhouseTeachers.com: The Complete Solution for Military Families

The most common concern we hear from military families is affordability. "Homeschooling is too expensive, especially with multiple children and frequent moves." This is where SchoolhouseTeachers.com, developed and owned by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, provides a revolutionary solution specifically designed for military life.

For 15 years, ST has offered what no other educational platform can match: a complete, family-based membership covering every subject from preschool through 12th grade for just $269.97 per year—regardless of how many children are in your family. This pricing model is particularly beneficial for military families, who often have multiple children and face the financial challenges of frequent relocations.

Our platform has recently undergone significant infrastructure upgrades, with the most exciting addition being the Education Plan Builder template. This powerful tool allows families to create official PDFs of their education plans each year to satisfy local or state compliance regulations. Located in the Records Center of the platform, this feature transforms what is often the most stressful aspect of homeschooling—documentation and compliance—into a straightforward, user-friendly process. And members get it FREE.

For military families who must navigate different state requirements as they relocate, this tool is invaluable. The Records Center also includes:

• Comprehensive Portfolio Builder for documenting learning through organized record-keeping

• Sample Letters of Intent that can be customized for your state's requirements

• Attendance records and grade tracking

• Professional transcript generation for high school students

• Certificate generators for course completion

Beyond compliance tools, consider what our curriculum options include across all grade levels:

Core Academic Subjects:

• Language Arts (from phonics through advanced literature and composition)

• Mathematics (from basic counting through calculus and statistics)

• Science (including the acclaimed Red Wagon series for rigorous high school sciences)

• History and Social Studies (ancient civilizations through modern times)

• Geography (world and cultural studies)

• Foreign Languages (multiple options including Spanish, French, Latin)

• Art and Music (appreciation through hands-on creation)

Sample Course Offerings by Level:

Preschool:

• All About the Alphabet

• All About Shapes

• Preschool Playground series

• Beginning Bible stories

Elementary:

• Starting Out with First Grade Math through Steaming Ahead with Fifth Grade Math

• Ancient History for Elementary

• All About Art

• Beginning Spanish

Middle School:

• Pre-Algebra

• A Century of Art

• World History: Exploration and Colonization

• Drama and Speech fundamentals

High School:

• Red Wagon Chemistry for High School

• Red Wagon Biology for High School

• Great Books with Dr. Hake (Advanced Literature)

• World History: Modern Era

• Apologetics: Creation vs. Evolution

• Leaders in History

The Red Wagon science courses deserve special mention for military families planning rigorous high school education. Found in our "quick links" section, these full, high-quality courses include:

• Red Wagon Chemistry for High School

• Red Wagon Biology for High School

• Red Wagon Physics for High School

• Red Wagon Human Body for High School

• Red Wagon Marine Biology for High School

These courses provide college-preparatory science education taught from a biblical worldview, complete with video lessons, comprehensive laboratory experiments, and the foundational understanding that science was created by God. For military families concerned about maintaining rigorous academic standards while homeschooling, classes using the online ST platform provide the solution.

The Schoolhouse Network: Perfect for Military Installations

Here's where the story gets even more exciting for military families. The Schoolhouse Network represents the perfect fusion of independent homeschooling with military community life.

A "Schoolhouse" is essentially a homeschool co-op that meets twice weekly, typically in a local church, utilizing the ST curriculum and resources. For military families, this model is revolutionary—imagine Schoolhouses meeting at base chapels, bringing together military homeschooling families in a structured, supportive environment.

Here's how The Schoolhouse Network works:

Structure & Cost:

• No enrollment fees, no per-child fees, no per-class fees

• Only requirement: family membership to SchoolhouseTeachers.com

• Parents sign up to teach classes based on the 400+ available courses

• Those who don't feel comfortable teaching can assist with field trips, setup, or supervision

Perfect for Military Life:

• Meets twice weekly, providing structure while maintaining homeschool flexibility

• Can be established at base chapels with chaplain and leadership support

• Families can participate in multiple locations as schedules allow

• Provides instant community for families arriving at new duty stations

Beyond Academics:

• "Hey Mama Meetings" (Moms' nights out)

• "Dads & Discipleship" (monthly breakfast for fathers)

• Field trips and holiday events

• Science fairs and art galleries

• High school graduation ceremonies

• Sports days and yearbook committees

For military installations looking to support their homeschooling families, The Schoolhouse Network provides a turnkey solution. Base chaplains can partner with homeschooling families to establish Schoolhouses that meet in chapel facilities, creating instant community and educational support for families throughout their tour of duty.

Military families interested in starting a Schoolhouse at their installation—or finding existing Schoolhouses near their current or future duty station—can visit JoinSchoolhouse.com for complete information and support.

Your Family's Educational Freedom Starts Now

Here's the urgency that every military family needs to understand: SchoolhouseTeachers.com membership is currently $269.97 per year, but this price increases to $389 per year on July 1st. More importantly, families who join before the price increase lock in the $269.97 rate permanently as long as they maintain their membership.

Think about this from a military family's perspective: $269.97 for an entire year of complete curriculum for your whole family—preschool through 12th grade. That's less than many military families spend on a single child's school supplies and fees for one semester at DoDEA schools, and it provides educational continuity regardless of where your next PCS takes you.

Secretary Hegseth's recognition of homeschooling families matters because it validates what military families have known for decades: parents can and should direct their children's education. His military background brings credibility to discussions about educational freedom, and his Christian faith aligns with the values many military homeschooling families hold dear.

President Trump's broader educational freedom initiatives, combined with Hegseth's specific attention to homeschooling and advocates like Natalie Mack's tireless work, create unprecedented momentum for parental rights in education. We can appreciate this recognition while maintaining our independence from government funding and control.

The question isn't whether homeschooling is affordable for military families—it's whether you're ready to secure your family's educational independence at an unprecedented value that travels with you wherever the military takes you.

Take Action Today: Your Mission Brief

For Current Military Families:

1. Visit SchoolhouseTeachers.com and explore our course samples

2. Check out the new Education Plan Builder in the Records Center

3. Join before July 1st to lock in the $269.97 annual rate permanently

4. Connect with other military homeschooling families through our online community

For Military Families Considering Homeschooling:

1. Research your current state's homeschool laws (we provide resources for all 50 states)

2. Connect with Natalie Mack's Military Homeschoolers Association for military-specific guidance

3. Consider starting or joining a Schoolhouse Network co-op at your installation

For Military Installation Leadership:

1. Partner with base chaplains to explore establishing Schoolhouses at your installation

2. Connect with existing military homeschool support groups in your area

3. Visit JoinSchoolhouse.com to learn about supporting homeschooling military families

For Everyone: Recognize that while we celebrate governmental recognition of homeschooling families from leaders like Secretary Hegseth and advocates like Natalie Mack, our true security lies in maintaining the freedom to educate our children according to our values, at our pace, with our chosen methods. SchoolhouseTeachers.com makes this freedom both achievable and affordable for military families worldwide.

The choice for educational independence has never been clearer—or more accessible. Military families have been the pioneers of American homeschooling for over four decades. Now, with unprecedented support from military leadership and comprehensive resources like ST and The Schoolhouse Network, the future of military homeschooling has never been brighter.

Ready to explore what complete educational freedom looks like for your military family? Visit SchoolhouseTeachers.com today and discover why thousands of families have chosen independent, comprehensive, Christian homeschooling that travels wherever the military takes them.

Gena Suarez is the publisher of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine and a passionate advocate for homeschooling military families. As a military child who moved every two to three years between installations worldwide, she understands firsthand the unique educational challenges military families face and the solutions homeschooling can provide.