Homeschooling in Wisconsin.

Statute citation

Wisconsin Statutes (Wis. Stat.) § 118.15(4) (a home-based program can take the place of school attendance), § 118.165(1) (program requirements), § 115.30(3) (yearly report) and § 115.001(3g) (definition).

How homeschooling works here

A home-based private educational program is instruction given to a child by the child's parent or guardian, or by a person they choose. A program serving more than one family doesn't qualify. (Wis. Stat. § 115.001(3g))

Compulsory attendance age

Ages 6 to 18. Attendance ends at the end of the school term in which your child turns 18. File for a child who will be 6 on or before September 1. (Wis. Stat. § 118.15(1)(a); Department of Public Instruction)

Who you notify

File the PI-1206 Homeschool Enrollment Report online with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) every school year, by October 15. Your resident school district can see your report once it's submitted. (Wis. Stat. § 115.30(3))

What the report says

Your child's enrollment as of the third Friday of September, and your statement that your program meets the law's requirements below. You can update a submitted report during the school year. (§ 115.30(3); DPI)

Program requirements

Your program must be privately controlled, have private or religious-based education as its main purpose, and not be run to avoid school attendance law. (§ 118.165(1))

Required subjects

A sequentially progressive curriculum of fundamental instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and health. (Wis. Stat. § 118.165(1)(d))

Instruction hours

At least 875 hours of instruction each school year. (Wis. Stat. § 118.165(1)(c))

Testing and teacher qualifications

The homeschool statutes set no testing requirement and no teaching credential. DPI doesn't provide curriculum, materials or personal consultation.

Records

Keep your own copy of each PI-1206 you submit. DPI keeps online submissions for seven years, and you can find past forms in your HOMER account. (DPI)

Diplomas

Finishing homeschool doesn't earn a public or private school diploma, but you may issue your own. (DPI)