Homeschooling in Wisconsin: What You Need to Know
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Wisconsin is a great state to homeschool in. You don’t have to jump through many hoops to get started and the requirements from you, as the parent educator, are fairly minimal. Homeschooling or parent-led education is very popular in the state so finding groups to socialize with, co-op with, and learn from is fairly easy.
Let’s take a look at what you’ll need to know when homeschooling in Wisconsin!
Requirements for Homeschooling in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, to homeschool your child you must file form PI-206 with the Department of Public Instruction each school year. This form must be filed on or before October 15th each year, and it must be filed online in order to be considered valid, and may not file before the third Friday in September. In addition to filing the required form, you must provide 875 hours of education to all students ages 6 to 18.
Yes, that sounds like a lot of time, but it breaks down into 5 hours a day for 175 days…and remember, learning takes place everywhere and all of that counts too, not just when you are doing “bookwork”! Wisconsin also requires that you teach your child with a sequentially-based method of instruction, basically, this just means that future learning builds on skills and concepts your child already knows.
Wisconsin does not require any special licensing or requirements to be held by the parent educators, but you are only allowed to homeschool your own children or those of whom you are legal guardians.
Testing, Record Keeping, and Parental Education Requirements
Wisconsin does not require any form of standardized testing for homeschool students, however, you can opt to test your children at any time if you so desire. There are no record-keeping requirements in Wisconsin beyond the PI-206 form that you will file yearly.
However, it is generally a good idea to keep some of their work on hand so that you and your child can see how much they have grown throughout the year, and how much progress was made. You can also use this information to help you prepare for sequential instruction for the following school year.
Wisconsin does not require any special licensing or requirements to be held by the parent educators, but you are only allowed to homeschool your own children or those that you have legal guardianship of.
Graduation from Homeschool in Wisconsin
There are no specific homeschool graduation requirements in the state. You as the parent get to decide what your requirements are, and once your student has completed them you can issue a diploma. You do need to print a hard copy of the PI-206 form for each homeschool year and keep it for your records.
If your student intends to pursue a college education, it can be helpful for you to provide them with a transcript. This transcript simply allows the admissions team to see that your student has completed studies in a variety of subjects. Your student may also choose to complete the testing for their GED (general education diploma) or HSED (high school equivalency diploma).
Resources, Support, and More
You might be wondering if there are any resources or support groups for homeschooling families in Wisconsin, and indeed there are! The Wisconsin Homeschooling Parents Association (WHPA) is an excellent resource for new and seasoned Wisconsin homeschooling families. You can find EVERYTHING you need to know about homeschooling in Wisconsin right there. They also have a Facebook page where you find events, classes, curriculum recommendations, or find answers to any specific questions that you might have.
Another excellent resource is Homeschoolers Explorers Activities and Resources Together (HEART) you can find homeschooling groups, interest groups, outings, activities, and more. You can also find additional resource groups on social media, just type in homeschool in Wisconsin, or even in your specific part of the state to find them.
So, are you ready to start homeschooling in Wisconsin yet? If so, just make sure to use the resources above, they are very helpful, and you will be all set to take charge of your children’s education from now on.
If you homeschool in Wisconsin, drop a comment below! I’d love to hear your favorite resources, field trip spots, and general advice for parents new to homeschooling in this state.
And if you’d love to have a printable resource to use to keep track of state homeschool requirements, key organizations, activities and field trip plans, and curriculum notes, grab a copy of my Curriculum & Activity Planner below (it’s free!):
Interested in learning about homeschooling in another state? Check out the Homeschooling in 50 States Series.
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- 7 Easy Ways To Maximize Your Homeschool Day
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I am an 10 year veteran of homeschooling in Wisconsin. If you’re new to homeschooling, let me know how I can help!
Just started homeschooling in WI, but there are some great FB groups out there that are willing to help out newbies like me.
We love that Wisconsin does not have a bunch of hoops to jump through for homeschoolers. We enjoy visiting state parks and climbing the big M.
I am starting my 3rd year homeschooling in WI. I like that we don’t have any reporting or testing requirements here. I joined a homeschool group my first year and it was the best thing I did. I got to meet a lot of other families in my area, and this group organizes field trips and get togethers for kids and parents. We are already planning a field trip to the planetarium and a tour of the Maribel Caves. We also have one of our kids involved in the homeschool sports program.
I love homeschooling in WI.