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 yearOn or before October 15 each year (Wis. Stat. § 115.30(3)), file the PI-1206 Homeschool Enrollment Report with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), reporting enrollment as of the third Friday in September. DPI says a child who will not turn six by September 1 does not need a PI-1206 for that school year.

Testing or 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: On or before October 15 each year (Wis. Stat. § 115.30(3)), file the PI-1206 Homeschool Enrollment Report with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), reporting enrollment as of the third Friday in September. DPI says a child who will not turn six by September 1 does not need a PI-1206 for that school year. 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.

Your notice of intent

Who receives it: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)
When it is due: On or before October 15 each year (Wis. Stat. § 115.30(3)), file the PI-1206 Homeschool Enrollment Report with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), reporting enrollment as of the third Friday in September. DPI says a child who will not turn six by September 1 does not need a PI-1206 for that school year.
How often: Every school year
Notarized?: No
Official form: dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/home-based
Ongoing reporting: Yes, once a year

Testing, portfolios and reviews

No testing or assessment

Wisconsin does 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: Wis. Stat. § 118.165(1) lists no testing or assessment requirement. Parents must provide at least 875 hours of instruction each school year.

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 (Wis. Stat. §§ 118.15(4) and 118.165(1)) — file the annual PI-1206 with DPI

Sports, dual enrollment and life after high school

Public school sports: Wisconsin has a law on this. Wis. Stat. § 118.133 (2015 Wisconsin Act 55) requires a school board to let a resident student in a home-based private educational program take part in interscholastic athletics and extracurricular activities on the same basis and to the same extent as district students. On request, the home program must give the board a written statement that the student meets the board's age, academic and disciplinary requirements for athletics. The district may charge the same participation fees. Questions go to the district athletic director or the WIAA.
Dual enrollment: Wisconsin's Youth Options program was eliminated by 2017 Wisconsin Act 59. The Early College Credit Program (Wis. Stat. § 118.55) covers public and private high school students; check with the college and DPI whether a home-based student is eligible. Separately, Wis. Stat. § 118.53 lets a district's school board allow a home-based student to attend up to 2 public school courses per semester if there is space.
Diplomas: DPI says homeschool students do not receive a diploma issued by a public or private high school, and parents administering a homeschool program may create a diploma on completion. For the state's HSED (High School Equivalency Diploma) or GED, check DPI's GED/HSED page for current requirements.
College admissions: College admissions requirements vary by institution. Check each college's current admissions page for its homeschool applicant requirements.
Support for additional needs: Special-education eligibility and services after withdrawal from public school depend on your circumstances and the applicable rules. Confirm with your school district or your state education agency.

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 On or before October 15 each year (Wis. Stat. § 115.30(3)), file the PI-1206 Homeschool Enrollment Report with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), reporting enrollment as of the third Friday in September. DPI says a child who will not turn six by September 1 does not need a PI-1206 for that school year.. 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 has a law on this. Wis. Stat. § 118.133 (2015 Wisconsin Act 55) requires a school board to let a resident student in a home-based private educational program take part in interscholastic athletics and extracurricular activities on the same basis and to the same extent as district students. On request, the home program must give the board a written statement that the student meets the board's age, academic and disciplinary requirements for athletics. The district may charge the same participation fees. Questions go to the district athletic director or the WIAA.

Worth knowing about Wisconsin

Under Wis. Stat. §§ 118.165(1) and 115.30(3), a home-based program files the PI-1206 with DPI on or before October 15 each year, provides at least 875 hours of instruction each school year, and offers a sequentially progressive curriculum of fundamental instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and health.

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

Tools for your first year

The free tools below work whether or not you ever pay us a penny; each tile says what it needs. Use what helps with Wisconsin's requirements and ignore the rest.

Transcript builderBuild a clean high-school transcript with GPA and credits. Free copies carry a small Koydo watermark.No account needed Starting guideThe whole first year in five steps, written for someone who has never done this before.No account needed Printable worksheetsPrint practice pages by grade and subject for the days a screen is the wrong answer. A few free pages every day.Free with a Koydo account State fundingSee whether your state puts education money in your hands, and how to claim it.Free with a Koydo account Paperwork generatorFill in your details and get the letter or affidavit your state expects, already worded for it.Needs HomeSchool Premium Instruction day logTick off days as you go so the count is already done when your state asks for it.Needs HomeSchool Premium

Other states

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

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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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: On or before October 15 each year (Wis. Stat. § 115.30(3)), file the PI-1206 Homeschool Enrollment Report with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), reporting enrollment as of the third Friday in September. DPI says a child who will not turn six by September 1 does not need a PI-1206 for that school year. 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.

Your notice of intent

Who receives it

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI)

When it is due

On or before October 15 each year (Wis. Stat. § 115.30(3)), file the PI-1206 Homeschool Enrollment Report with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), reporting enrollment as of the third Friday in September. DPI says a child who will not turn six by September 1 does not need a PI-1206 for that school year.

How often

Every school year

Notarized?

Official form

dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/home-based

Ongoing reporting

Yes, once a year

Testing, portfolios and reviews

No testing or assessment

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 (Wis. Stat. §§ 118.15(4) and 118.165(1)) — file the annual PI-1206 with DPI

Sports, dual enrollment and life after high school

Public school sports

Dual enrollment

Wisconsin's Youth Options program was eliminated by 2017 Wisconsin Act 59. The Early College Credit Program (Wis. Stat. § 118.55) covers public and private high school students; check with the college and DPI whether a home-based student is eligible. Separately, Wis. Stat. § 118.53 lets a district's school board allow a home-based student to attend up to 2 public school courses per semester if there is space.

Diplomas

DPI says homeschool students do not receive a diploma issued by a public or private high school, and parents administering a homeschool program may create a diploma on completion. For the state's HSED (High School Equivalency Diploma) or GED, check DPI's GED/HSED page for current requirements.

College admissions

College admissions requirements vary by institution. Check each college's current admissions page for its homeschool applicant requirements.

Support for additional needs

Special-education eligibility and services after withdrawal from public school depend on your circumstances and the applicable rules. Confirm with your school district or your state education agency.