If you’re considering homeschooling your child in Wisconsin but feel unsure about where to start or how to meet the state’s requirements, you’re definitely not alone.
Many parents feel overwhelmed by the process at first, especially when it comes to understanding Wisconsin’s homeschooling laws and the steps needed to begin this journey successfully.
Homeschooling can be a rewarding experience, but it does involve some planning and knowing what’s expected. Luckily, Wisconsin gives homeschooling families a lot of flexibility, so you’ll have options to shape your child’s education in a way that works best for them and for you.
In this blog, we’ll break down Wisconsin’s homeschooling laws. We’ll show you exactly what you need to do to meet the state’s standards while giving you the confidence to shape your child’s education.
You’ll learn about important requirements like instructional hours, the flexibility in creating a curriculum that fits your child’s unique needs, and the freedom to skip standardized tests if you choose.
We’ll also cover how to stay on top of any required paperwork and keep your records in good order. By the end, homeschooling in Wisconsin will feel more accessible and manageable, helping you start this educational journey feeling informed and ready.
Before you begin your homeschooling journey, it’s essential to understand the laws in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Homeschooling Laws Explained
Wisconsin is a great state for homeschooling! They have laws that give parents a lot of freedom to choose how they want to teach their children. This means you have a lot of flexibility to create a homeschooling experience that fits your child's needs and your family's style.
1. Homeschooling is Allowed
Legal and Recognized: Homeschooling is completely legal in Wisconsin. It's seen as a real and official way to educate your child. You don't have to worry about breaking any laws or getting in trouble for choosing to homeschool.
The state of Wisconsin recognizes that homeschooling can be a great way for children to learn and grow.
2. Age Requirements
When to Start: In Wisconsin, children are required to start going to school or be homeschooled by the time they turn six years old. This means that if your child's sixth birthday is on September 1st, they need to either be enrolled in a public or private school or officially start homeschooling by that date.
When to Finish: Children in Wisconsin are required to continue their education until they turn eighteen or graduate from high school, whichever comes first. So, if your child graduates from your homeschool before they turn eighteen, they've met the state's requirements.
3. Instructional Hours
How Much to Teach: You need to teach your child for at least 875 hours each year. That might seem like a lot, but it's actually less than the amount of time that children spend in a traditional school setting.
Flexibility: You can choose how to spread those 875 hours of instruction throughout the year. You can follow a traditional school year calendar, with longer lessons each day and a summer break, or you can homeschool all year round with shorter lessons more often.
You can even take breaks during the year for vacations or special events. It's up to you to create a schedule that works best for your family and your child's learning style.
Overall, Wisconsin has homeschooling laws that give families a lot of freedom and flexibility to create the best learning experience for their children.
Once you’re familiar with the homeschooling laws, the next step is filing the required PI-1206 form.
Filing the PI-1206 Form in Wisconsin for Homeschooling
One of the important things you'll need to do when you start homeschooling in Wisconsin is to file a form called the PI-1206. This form lets the state know that you're officially homeschooling your child. Don't worry, it's a pretty simple process!
Here's what you need to know about the PI-1206 form:
1. What is the PI-1206 Form?
Official Form: The PI-1206 form is an important document that you need to fill out if you're homeschooling in Wisconsin. It's like an official announcement to the state that you're homeschooling your child. It's how you let them know that you're taking responsibility for your child's education.
Homeschool as a Private School: When you file this form, you're basically saying that your homeschool is a "home-based private educational program." This means that your home is like a small private school, and you're the teacher!
2. When and How to File
Deadline: You need to file the PI-1206 form every year by October 15th. It's best to file it after the third Friday in September, just to make sure you have all the correct information about your child's age and enrollment.
Online System: You can file the form online using a special system called HOMER. This makes it really easy and convenient to submit the form. You don't have to print it out or mail it in!
3. What to Include in the Form
Number of Students: You need to tell the state how many children you're homeschooling. Make sure to include all the children in your family who are between 6 and 18 years old as of the third Friday in September. This helps the state keep track of how many children are being homeschooled.
Following the Rules: You also need to say in the form that your homeschool is following all the homeschooling laws in Wisconsin. This means that you're in charge of your child's education and that you're not running a public school.
It's a way of confirming that you understand the laws and are committed to providing your child with a good education.
4. Keeping Records
Make a Copy: It's always a good idea to keep a copy of any important documents, and the PI-1206 form is no exception! Even though the state keeps a copy of the form, it's helpful to have your own copy for your records. You can print it out or save a digital copy on your computer.
5. Updating the Form
Changes: If anything changes in your homeschooling situation, you need to update your PI-1206 form. This could include things like moving to a different address, adding another child to your homeschool, or even if your child goes back to public school. It's important to keep your information up-to-date with the state.
By following these steps, you can make sure you're homeschooling legally in Wisconsin and that your child's education is recognized by the state.
Now that you’ve taken care of the legal basics, let’s look at the specific instructional requirements.
Instructional Requirements for Homeschooling in Wisconsin
Even though Wisconsin gives you a lot of freedom in how you homeschool, there are a few things you need to make sure you're teaching. This helps ensure that your child is getting a good education and learning the important things they need to know.
1. Important Subjects
Learning the Basics: Wisconsin wants to make sure that homeschoolers are learning important things. You need to teach your child reading, writing, grammar, math, science, social studies (like history and geography), and health.
Building a Strong Foundation: These subjects help your child learn the basics and get ready for more advanced learning later on.
2. Creating a Curriculum
Freedom to Choose: You get to decide how you want to teach these subjects! You can use textbooks, workbooks, online programs, or even create your own lessons. You can also choose how much time you want to spend on each subject.
Making it Fun: You can make learning more exciting by including different kinds of activities, like field trips, educational games, and even practical tasks like cooking or fixing things around the house. These activities can help your child learn and grow in different ways.
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1. A Balanced Curriculum for All Core Subjects
With AEC, you’ll cover all essential subjects with ease. We provide interconnected lessons that allow subjects like science, math, history, and the arts to blend naturally. This approach ensures your child develops a well-rounded understanding in a seamless, engaging way.
2. Flexibility to Make Learning Your Own
Enjoy the freedom to tailor lessons to fit your family’s schedule and your child’s interests. AEC is structured yet flexible, meaning you can use the materials provided or add personal touches, like field trips or hands-on activities, to make learning come alive.
3. Hands-On Learning Resources and Support
We know that experiential learning can make a big impact, so AEC includes practical tasks and interactive resources, from printable materials to video guides. Our program supports you in making learning both effective and fun, with guidance available every step of the way.
4. Screen-Free, Kid-Centered Learning
Our curriculum prioritizes hands-on experiences, keeping screens to a minimum for young learners. We understand that children learn best through doing, which is why AEC emphasizes active learning that builds critical thinking, creativity, and confidence.
5. Transparent Progress Tracking
With TSHA, it’s easy to keep track of your child’s progress. Our Transparent Classroom tool is designed for clear record-keeping, helping you see growth and stay organized throughout the school year.
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3. Personalized Learning
The Best Fit for Your Child: Homeschooling in Wisconsin lets you create a learning experience that fits your child perfectly. You can choose a curriculum that matches their learning style and interests, and you can teach them in a way that helps them understand and succeed.
A Well-Rounded Education: By teaching the required subjects and including fun and engaging activities, you can give your child a well-rounded education. That's just as good as what they would get in a public or private school.
Aside from instructional hours, you may have questions regarding the qualifications you need as a homeschooling parent.
Parental Qualifications for Homeschooling in Wisconsin
You might be wondering if you need to be a teacher to homeschool your child in Wisconsin. The good news is that you don't! Let's take a look at what it takes to be a homeschooling parent in Wisconsin.
1. No Teaching Qualifications Required
You Don't Need a Degree: In Wisconsin, you don't need to be a certified teacher or have a college degree to homeschool your child. This means that any parent can homeschool as long as they're committed to providing their child with a good education.
Why This is Good: This gives families a lot of freedom to create a homeschooling experience that works for them. You can be directly involved in your child's education and make sure they're learning in a way that makes sense to them.
2. Choosing Your Curriculum
Freedom to Choose: You have the freedom to choose any curriculum you want for your homeschool. You can use textbooks, online programs, or even create your own lessons. You can also choose the subjects you want to teach and how much time you want to spend on each one.
Important Subjects: Even though you have a lot of freedom, it's important to make sure your child is learning the important subjects, like reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and health.
Making it Fun: You can use different teaching methods to make learning more engaging for your child. This might include things like hands-on activities, experiments, games, or field trips.
3. Other Things to Keep in Mind
Extra Subjects: You can also teach your child other subjects that they're interested in, like art, music, or physical education.
Structured Programs: If you want a more structured approach, you can choose an accredited homeschooling program. This can be helpful if your child wants to go to college.
Keeping Records: Wisconsin doesn't require you to keep detailed records of your homeschooling, but it's still a good idea to do so. This can help you track your child's progress and be prepared if they ever need to show proof of their education.
Finding Support: You can find more information and support for homeschooling in Wisconsin by talking to other homeschooling families or looking at online resources.
Homeschooling in Wisconsin gives you a lot of flexibility and freedom to create a personalized education for your child. By understanding the laws and requirements, you can make sure your child is getting a great education while enjoying the benefits of homeschooling.
Keeping accurate records is an important part of homeschooling in Wisconsin.
Tracking Attendance and Maintaining Records to Homeschool in Wisconsin
Even though Wisconsin doesn't have a lot of rules about keeping records for your homeschool, it's still a good idea to keep track of your child's learning! It can help you see how much they've learned and grown, and it can be useful if they ever want to go back to public school or apply for college.
1. Tracking Attendance
Instructional Hours: In Wisconsin, you need to make sure your child is learning for at least 875 hours each year. This is to make sure they're getting a good education.
How to Track: You can keep track of these hours in a notebook, a planner, or even a calendar. Just write down the dates and how long your child spends learning each day.
Keep It Simple with Transparent Classroom
With Transparent Classroom from The School House Anywhere, tracking your homeschool
progress is easy and organized. Here’s how it can help:
1. Effortlessly Record Attendance and Hours
Transparent Classroom provides a user-friendly platform where you can log your child’s attendance and instructional hours with just a few clicks. This makes it easy to stay compliant with Wisconsin’s homeschool requirements without the hassle.
2. Track Learning Progress
Beyond just attendance, you can also use Transparent Classroom to record academic achievements, lesson completions, and milestones. This gives you a clear picture of your child’s growth throughout the year.
3. Stay Organized and On Track
With built-in tools to keep records accessible and organized, Transparent Classroom helps you stay focused on your child’s learning journey. Plus, having everything in one place makes it simple to review progress whenever you need.
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What Counts as Instruction: Lots of things can count as instruction time, like reading together, doing science experiments, working on math problems, or even going on field trips.
2. Keeping Other Records
Not Required, But Helpful: Wisconsin doesn't require you to keep detailed records of your homeschooling. However, it's still a good idea! It can help you see how much your child is learning and be prepared for anything they might need in the future.
What to Keep: You can keep a portfolio of your child's work, including things like worksheets, projects, and test scores. You can also keep track of their grades and the subjects they've studied.
Creating a Transcript: If your child plans to go to college, you can create a transcript that lists all the courses they've taken and the grades they earned. This can help them get into college and might even help them get scholarships.
3. Why Keep Records?
Showing Progress: Keeping good records helps you see how much your child is learning and growing.
Future Opportunities: It can also help your child in the future, especially if they want to go to college or get a job. It shows that they've received a good education and can be helpful for things like applying for scholarships or financial aid.
Homeschooling doesn’t mean your child has to miss out on resources or activities!
Resources and Extracurricular Opportunities for Homeschoolers in Wisconsin
Homeschooling doesn't have to mean missing out on fun activities and learning opportunities! In Wisconsin, homeschoolers have access to some great resources and can even participate in things like sports and clubs at their local public school.
1. Joining Public School Activities
Extracurricular Fun: If you're homeschooling in Wisconsin, your child can join things like the soccer team, the drama club, or other activities at their local public school. This can be a great way for them to make friends, learn new things, and have fun.
Meeting the Requirements: To join these activities, your child needs to meet the same rules as the other kids who go to that school, like having good grades and living in the area. You'll also need to send a letter from your homeschool to the school board, confirming that your child meets their standards.
No Disputes: Once you send that letter, the school board can't say no or make up extra rules just for homeschoolers.
2. Taking Classes at Public School
Part-Time Enrollment: Homeschoolers in Wisconsin can also take some classes at their local public school. This can be helpful if there's a class your child wants to take that you can't teach them at home, or if they need to use special equipment or resources that the school has.
How it Works: Your child can take up to two classes at a public school each semester, as long as there's space available in those classes.
Flexibility: You can even have your child take one class at one school and another class at a different school, if that works better for your family.
3. Saving Money and Finding Resources
No State Funding: Wisconsin doesn't give homeschooling families any money directly, but there are still ways to save money and find resources.
Scholarships and Grants: You can look for scholarships or grants from private organizations that can help you pay for homeschooling expenses.
Homeschool Co-ops: Joining a homeschool co-op can be a great way to share resources and learn from other families. You can share books, materials, and even teaching responsibilities.
Community Resources: Don't forget about your local library! Libraries have lots of free books and resources that can be helpful for homeschooling. You can also check with your community center or parks and recreation department to see if they have any programs or activities for homeschoolers.
Join a Supportive Community Network with TSHA
Homeschooling doesn’t have to be a solo journey! At The School House Anywhere, our community network is here to provide you with support, resources, and inspiration.
1. Connect with Other Homeschool Families
Through TSHA's community network, you can meet other homeschooling families, share ideas, and exchange tips on homeschooling in Wisconsin. This is a great way to stay motivated and find advice from parents who understand your journey.
2. Access Shared Resources and Learning Tools
From curriculum materials to activity suggestions, our network offers a wide range of shared resources. Being part of the TSHA community means you’re never alone in finding new and affordable ways to support your child's learning.
3. Get Expert Guidance and Support
Our network includes experienced educators and homeschool parents who are ready to help you every step of the way. You can get practical tips, ask questions, and participate in community discussions to make your homeschool experience even better.
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Finally, while testing isn’t mandatory, many families find it useful.
Optional Testing and Assessment Flexibility for Homeschoolers in Wisconsin
One of the great things about homeschooling in Wisconsin is that you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to testing and assessment. You get to decide how you want to check your child's progress and make sure they're learning and growing.
1. No Required Tests
Flexibility for Families: Wisconsin doesn't require homeschoolers to take any standardized tests. This means you don't have to worry about your child taking big tests like the ones given in public schools.
Personalized Assessment: You can choose how you want to check your child's progress. You can use tests, quizzes, projects, or even just watch how they're learning and growing each day.
2. Optional Tests
If You Want to Test: If you do want to give your child a standardized test, there are a few different ones you can choose from.
Examples:
The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) covers lots of different subjects, like reading, math, and science.
The Stanford Achievement Test (SAT-10) is another test that covers a wide range of subjects.
The Terranova test can help you see your child's strengths and weaknesses in different areas.
Finding Tests: You might be able to have your child take a test through your local school district, but they might charge you a fee. You can also find private companies that offer testing services.
3. Special Education
No Services from the School: If your child has special needs, the school district doesn't have to provide special education services for homeschoolers.
Private Evaluations: You can find private companies that can do evaluations and help you figure out how to best support your child's learning needs.
4. Homeschooling and Test Scores
Interesting Fact: Studies have shown that homeschoolers often do better on standardized tests than students in public schools, even though they might spend less money on educational materials. This shows that homeschooling can be a very effective way to learn!
Overall, Wisconsin gives homeschooling families a lot of flexibility when it comes to testing and assessment. You can choose the methods that work best for your child and their learning style.
Wrapping Up
Homeschooling in Wisconsin gives you a wonderful chance to shape an education that fits your child’s unique needs. While there are some legal steps to follow, these rules are in place to help you feel confident and empowered as they guide your child’s learning journey.
With support from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and local homeschooling groups, you have access to resources that make homeschooling manageable and rewarding.
By visiting the DPI’s website, joining local groups, and exploring resources like the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), you can find helpful guidance on choosing curriculum, keeping records, and understanding legal requirements.
Thanks to these resources, you can approach homeschooling with a sense of support and community, creating a positive and personalized educational experience. With the right tools in hand, you and your children can look forward to a fulfilling and enjoyable journey in homeschooling.
Ready to Start Your Homeschooling Journey with The School House Anywhere?
The School House Anywhere (TSHA) offers the American Emergent Curriculum (AEC), designed to inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity in children. Our approach combines structured learning with real-world experiences, making homeschooling flexible, engaging, and effective.
Here’s How TSHA Can Help You:
Personalized Learning Plans
Each child is unique, and our curriculum reflects that. With AEC, you can tailor subjects, activities, and projects to match your child’s interests and strengths.
Comprehensive Curriculum Support
From core subjects to creative arts and nature studies, AEC covers a broad range of learning areas. You’ll have access to quality materials that support hands-on learning.
Easy Record-Keeping Tools
Track attendance, instructional hours, and progress effortlessly with our tools, keeping your homeschooling journey organized and stress-free.
Join a Supportive Community
Connect with other homeschooling families in our TSHA network. Share experiences, ask questions, and enjoy the support of a like-minded community.
Get Started with TSHA Today!
Ready to see what AEC and TSHA can bring to your homeschooling experience? Visit The School House Anywhere and find out how our program can make homeschooling rewarding for your family.
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