Wisconsin · Light-touch

Homeschooling in Wisconsin

Wisconsin asks you to file a notice before you begin. Here is what goes in it, when it is due, and what happens after.

VerifiedMarch 2026

Notice of intentFile every yearBy October 15 each year. The PI-1206 Homeschool Report must be filed with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) reporting enrollment as of the third Friday in September.

Yearly assessmentNot required

Instruction time875 hours a year

RecordsYour choice

How to start homeschooling in Wisconsin

Written from Wisconsin's own rules. If a step is missing below, it is because your state does not ask for it.

Withdraw from the school your child attends now
If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, tell the school in writing that you are moving to home education. Keep a dated copy for yourself — it is the record that closes out their enrollment.
Send your notice of intent
Wisconsin asks families to file a notice before they begin. The deadline is: By October 15 each year. The PI-1206 Homeschool Report must be filed with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) reporting enrollment as of the third Friday in September. You will do this again at the start of every school year. It goes to Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
Cover the subjects the state names
Wisconsin names 6 subject areas to teach. How you teach them, in what order, and with which materials is entirely up to you.
Keep a light record as you go
Attendance, a few work samples each term, and a running list of what you covered. Wisconsin does not require you to keep records, but a simple folder of work samples makes transcripts and college applications far easier later on.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) — dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/home-based. Checked March 2026.

Your notice of intent

Who receives it: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)
When it is due: By October 15 each year. The PI-1206 Homeschool Report must be filed with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) reporting enrollment as of the third Friday in September.
How often: Every school year
Notarized?: No
Official form: dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/home-based
Ongoing reporting: Yes, once a year

Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) — dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/home-based. Checked March 2026.

Testing, portfolios and reviews

No yearly assessment

Wisconsindoes not require a standardized test or an evaluator's review. Plenty of families still keep a folder of work through the year — not because the state asks, but because it makes a transcript or a college application far easier to put together later. A note from the state: No state-mandated assessment. Families must track and be able to document 875 hours of instruction.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) — dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/home-based. Checked March 2026.

What you teach, and what you keep

Required subjects: ReadingLanguage ArtsMathematicsSocial StudiesScienceHealth
Instruction time: 875 hours a year
Who may teach: No teaching certificate, degree, or credential is required of you.
Keeping records: No retention period is set. Keeping a simple folder is still worth doing.
Legal routes: Home-Based Private Educational Program under Wis. Stat. § 118.165 — file annual PI-1206 with DPI
Umbrella / cover schools: Wisconsin Homeschooling Parents Association (WHPA) and Wisconsin Christian Home Educators Association (WCHEA) maintain umbrella program lists. Enrollment is voluntary.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) — dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/home-based. Checked March 2026.

Sports, dual enrollment and life after high school

Dual enrollment: Wisconsin's Youth Options Program allows high school students (including homeschoolers enrolled part-time in a public school) to take college courses at state expense. Full-time homeschoolers must enroll part-time to access this benefit.
Diplomas: No state diploma for Wisconsin homeschoolers. Parents issue transcripts and diplomas. Students may pursue the HSED (High School Equivalency Diploma) through the Wisconsin Technical College System.
College admissions: UW-Madison and other University of Wisconsin campuses accept homeschool applicants with ACT/SAT scores, parent-prepared transcripts, and supporting documentation. Policies vary by campus.
Support for additional needs: Wisconsin public schools have no obligation to provide special education services to homeschooled students. Schools must offer evaluations to all district children regardless of school setting, but delivery of services is not guaranteed post-withdrawal.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) — dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/home-based. Checked March 2026.

Money your family can claim in Wisconsin

No program on file yet

We do not have a verified Wisconsin education savings account, scholarship, or tax credit for homeschooling families on file. That may mean the state has none, or it may mean we have not confirmed one yet — we would rather say so than point you at something we have not checked. State programs change often, so it is worth asking Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) directly.

See the states where funding is confirmed →

Questions parents ask about Wisconsin

Is homeschooling legal in Wisconsin?

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Wisconsin. Wisconsin is considered one of the easiest states for homeschoolers — minimal regulation, no notice required, and maximum family freedom.

Do I need to file a Notice of Intent to homeschool in Wisconsin?

Yes. Wisconsin requires families to file a Notice of Intent by By October 15 each year. The PI-1206 Homeschool Report must be filed with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) reporting enrollment as of the third Friday in September.. This notice must be renewed annually.

How many instruction days are required in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin requires 875 hours a year.

What subjects are required by law in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin requires instruction in the following subjects: Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Health.

Does Wisconsin require annual assessment for homeschoolers?

No. Wisconsin does not require formal annual assessment. Families may voluntarily track progress for college application purposes.

Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Wisconsin?

No. Wisconsin does not require parents to hold a teaching certificate or any specific educational credential to homeschool their children.

Can homeschoolers participate in public school sports in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin does not have a statewide law guaranteeing homeschoolers access to public school sports. Participation may be at individual district discretion. Check with your local school district.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) — dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/home-based. Checked March 2026.

Worth knowing about Wisconsin

Wisconsin is considered low-regulation. The only hard requirements are: (1) file annual PI-1206 by October 15, (2) provide 875 hours of instruction, and (3) deliver a sequentially progressive curriculum in 6 subject areas. No assessments, no teacher credentials, no subject-by-subject approval.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) — dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/home-based. Checked March 2026.

Who to ask in Wisconsin

Regulator: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)
Official site: dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/home-based
Forms: dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/home-based

Free tools for your first year

Everything below works whether or not you ever pay us a penny. Use what helps with Wisconsin's requirements and ignore the rest.

Transcript builderBuild a clean high-school transcript with GPA and credits, ready to send to a college.Paperwork generatorFill in your details and get the letter or affidavit your state expects, already worded for it.Printable worksheetsPrint practice pages by grade and subject for the days a screen is the wrong answer.Instruction day logTick off days as you go so the count is already done when your state asks for it.State fundingSee whether your state puts education money in your hands, and how to claim it.Starting guideThe whole first year in five steps, written for someone who has never done this before.

Other states

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii All 51 →

This page was written from Wisconsin's published rules and last checked in March 2026. Laws change between checks, so confirm anything you are about to file with Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). This is information for families, not legal advice.

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