Wisconsin Homeschool Laws and Requirements
Aug 14, 2026Homeschooling is legal in Wisconsin as a home-based private educational program, and the paperwork is one online form a year. Parents file the PI-1206 homeschool enrollment report with the Department of Public Instruction on or before October 15. From there, Wisconsin asks for at least 875 hours of instruction across the school year in six subject areas, delivered as a sequentially progressive curriculum. No one approves your program, and no testing is required.
Last Reviewed: August 14, 2026. Reviewed by the Modern Homeschools Editorial Team. Next scheduled review: August 14, 2027.
Wisconsin Homeschool Requirements at a Glance
| Topic | What applies in Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Compulsory attendance ages | Between the ages of six and 18. A child who will not reach age six by September 1 does not need to be reported that year |
| Notification or registration | The online PI-1206 homeschool enrollment report, filed by the parent or guardian annually on or before October 15 |
| Legal pathway or homeschool definition | A home-based private educational program, meaning instruction provided to a child by the child's parent or guardian, or by a person the parent or guardian designates |
| Parent or instructor qualifications | None. There are no minimum educational requirements for parents, and no teaching certificate or license is required |
| Required subjects | Reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, and health |
| Instructional time | At least 875 hours of instruction each school year |
| Testing or evaluation | None. Wisconsin's homeschooling laws do not require any form of testing or assessment |
| Required records | Nothing is submitted beyond the annual form. Keep your own copy of each PI-1206 and records of the instruction you provide |
| Responsible government agency | The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction receives the enrollment report. Your local district handles withdrawal from public school |
The PI-1206 and the 875 Hours
Two things carry Wisconsin's requirements, and both are straightforward.
The PI-1206 is filed online with the department, not with your school district, and it must be completed every school year. Registration for the coming school year opens ahead of the deadline, and the department retains submitted forms for seven years, which is exactly why you should save your own copy each time.
The 875 hours is the instructional standard, counted across the school year rather than per day. Wisconsin does not prescribe a daily schedule, a calendar, or specific materials, so how you reach 875 hours across reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, and health is your decision. The curriculum must be sequentially progressive, meaning it builds in an orderly way rather than repeating the same ground.
How to Start Homeschooling in Wisconsin
- File the PI-1206 online. Submit it on or before October 15 for the school year, and file again each year you homeschool.
- Save your confirmation. The department keeps forms on file, but your own copy is the one you can produce on demand.
- Withdraw from public school, if enrolled. Tell the school so its enrollment records match your filing.
- Plan for 875 hours. Map the year before you begin, covering the six subject areas.
- Build a sequentially progressive plan. Materials are your choice, so long as the program moves forward in an orderly sequence.
Testing, Attendance, and Record Keeping
Wisconsin requires no testing and no assessment of homeschooled students. Nothing about your child's progress is reported to the department or your district.
There is no attendance register to submit either. The 875 hours is a standard your program meets, not a log you file, though keeping a simple record of hours and subjects is the practical way to know you have met it.
The department encourages families to maintain records of the instruction provided, since employers and institutions may later ask about a student's schooling. A file of subjects, materials, hours, and work samples covers that, and it is the same file that helps if your child enrolls in a school that applies its own placement and credit procedures.
Official Wisconsin Homeschool Resources
- Wisconsin DPI, Home-Based Private Education Program
- Wisconsin DPI, Homeschooling Frequently Asked Questions
Beginning Your Homeschool Journey?
Your First 30 Days of Homeschooling provides a practical path for establishing your priorities, planning your next steps, and creating a rhythm that works for your family.
Modern Homeschools provides educational information to help families understand and navigate homeschooling requirements. Because requirements may change, families should confirm current details with the official state sources linked within this guide.