Wisconsin Homeschool Laws

Updated for the 2024 – 2025 school year.

Below is a summary of Wisconsin Homeschool Laws to help you ensure your homeschool is compliant.

Note: The information below is not to be considered legal advice. I’m a homeschool mom with an interest in helping you, not a lawyer. I strongly recommend that you contact your state education department if you have questions specific to your circumstances.

Homeschool

Wisconsin has requirements including annual notifications, required subjects, and instruction time.

Can I Teach?

There is no requirement for you to meet in order to teach.

Do I Have to Notify the State?

Yes. You must notify the state annually before October 15th of your intent to start homeschooling.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction provides an online Homeschool Enrollment Report you can use.

Required Subjects

You must teach Wisconsin’s core subjects including:

  • Reading
  • Language Arts
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Health

The requirement states these subjects must be taught in a “sequentially progressive manner”, meaning they get harder/more complex as you go on.

How Many Days a Year do I Have to Teach?

Wisconsin requires that you provide 875 hours of instruction each year.

I strongly recommend you keep attendance in case it’s needed by the Department of Education or for something like college applications.

Compulsory Attendance Age

The compulsory attendance age is the age range in which your child must be attending school of some type.

In Wisconsin, your child must attend school if they turn 6 on or before September 1st until they turn 18.

If your child is a genius and you’re a great teacher (of course you are!) they will be excused from attending school once they graduate from high school.

Public School Sports

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association allows homeschool students to participate in its activities. You may need to provide a statement that your child meets the academic requirements necessary to compete in sports in your school district and some fees may apply.

Contact your local school for more information.

Wrapping Up

Hopefully this summary of Wisconsin Homeschool Laws gets you started on your homeschool journey with your family!

If you’re just getting started, you’re probably feeling a bit overwhelmed.

The Home Learning Kit can help!

It’s a package of handy learning tools to make your homeschool more fun and engaging, curated by yours truly. Check it out!