Wisconsin Homeschooling



Homeschooling in Wisconsin is legal. The Wisconsin homeschooling laws, as do half of the states, has very few regulations over those who homechool.

In Wisconsin vs. Yoder, (1972), the U.S. Supreme Court stated “...this case involves the fundamental interest of parents, as contrasted with that of the State, to guide the religious future and education of their children…. This primary role of the parents in the upbringing of their children is now established beyond debate as an enduring American tradition"

wisconsin homeschooling

State Requirements

  • Attendance: School attendance is required for children between the ages of 6 and 18. child cannot be admitted into the 1st grade unless he or she is 6 years old on or before September 1, 2009. If your child will turn 6 after September 1, you do not need to register the child.
  • Teacher Qualifications: None. Parents are not required to hold a teaching certificate or license.
  • ,Standardized Tests: None.
  • Required Days of Instruction: “875 hours of instruction each school year
  • Required Subjects:Reading, language arts, math, social studies, science and health.
  • Statement of Enrollment:

By October 15 each year, parents must submit a statement of enrollment (PI-1206 Home-Based Private Educational Program Registration three-part form) to the Department of Public Instruction, indicating whether the home school meets all the requirements under Wisconsin Law.

  1. Must be filed with the DPI each year you wish to enroll your children) in a home-based private educational program.
  2. If you move to a different public school district
  3. To change the number of children enrolled in the home-based program.

To access the WI. Dept. of Public Instruction website where you can fill out the Form PI-1206, Contact: Wisconsin DPI website/ Home School Division

Criteria for Wisconsin Homeschooling

  • Purpose of the program is to provide private or religious-based education
  • Privately controlled
  • 875 hours of instruction
  • provides curriculum in the Required Subjects:
  • Homeschooling is not to get away from the compulsorily attendance laws.

High School

  • How will my child receive a high school diploma?

    In Wisconsin, high school diplomas are issued by public and private schools. Homeschooling in Wisconsin does not lead to a traditional Wisconsin high school diploma. 

    • Pursue the requirements for a General Educational Development (GED) certificate and/or a High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED). 
    • Enroll in private companies correspondence courses who grant diplomas upon completion of certain requirements.
  • Is my school district required to teach my child while my child is homeschooling?

    According to s.118.145(4), Wis.Stats., "A school district is required, space permitting, to allow its resident children who are enrolled in a private school or a home-based private educational program to take up to two courses per semester at the high school. Students must satisfy the high school admission standards of the school district. Eligible students may take core and non-core courses."

    Wisconsin State High School Graduation Requirements

    • English units: 4
    • Math units: (Must include the properties, processes, and symbols of arithmetic and elements of algebra, geometry, and statistics.)
    • Social studies units: (Must include state and local government)
    • Science units: (Must include biological sciences and physical sciences)
    • P.E./Health units: (Includes 1.5 units p.e.) AND (.5 unit health)
    • Arts: 0
    • Foreign language: 0
    • Electives units: 0

    TOTAL # units: 13 units "the state superintendent encourages boards to require a minimum of 8.5 additional credits in vocational education, foreign languages, fine arts and other courses" (for a total of 21 units, or 21.5)

    Important Note: State Graduation requirements are not the best guidelines for homeschoolers to use.

    A good Guide line is College Entrance requirements for where your student would like to attend college. There are many colleges that publish requirements for homeschool graduates.

    For more information on Wisconsin homeschooling go to Home School Legal Defense Association.

    Return from Wisconsin Homeschooling to More Homeschooling Laws

    Return from Wisconsin Homeschooling to Pros-and-Cons-of-Homeschooling

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