Wisconsin Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Wisconsin, based on Wis. Stat. 118.167. Wisconsin is classified as Low regulation.
This is the general checklist for Home-Based Private Educational Program (HBPEP), the most common of Wisconsin's 2 pathways. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.
Your compliance checklist
Do first
File your Notice of Intent
Submit to Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) — NOT the local school district. Deadline: October 15 of each school year.
Deadline: October 15 of each school year
More details
Must file Form PI-1206. Requires: program name and address, parent/guardian name, each child's name/age/DOB, school district of residence, statement that program will provide at least 875 hours of instruction, and statement that a sequentially progressive curriculum of fundamental instruction will be provided. Can be filed online or by mail. Parents beginning mid-year should file promptly.
Withdrawal letter recommended
A formal letter isn't required, but it is recommended if your child is enrolled in school. Send it to child's current school.
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
More details
Not legally required but strongly recommended to prevent truancy referrals, obtain school records, and create a paper trail. Letter should include child's name/grade/school, effective date of withdrawal, and statement that the child will be enrolled in a HBPEP pursuant to Wis. Stat. 118.167. Must also file PI-1206 with DPI.
Ongoing
Required subjects
reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, health
More details
Must provide a 'sequentially progressive curriculum of fundamental instruction' — instruction must build on previous knowledge and advance in complexity year over year. No requirement to follow state standards, use approved textbooks, or submit curriculum plans. No state review or approval of curriculum. Per Wis. Stat. 118.165(1)(a) as applicable to HBPEPs via 118.167.
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 875 hours/year.
More details
875 total annual hours. No minimum days or hours per day. Families may structure hours however they choose. Does not need to follow public school calendar. Instruction can occur evenings, weekends, year-round. While logging is not required, maintaining basic records is prudent. Per Wis. Stat. 118.165(1)(c).
Renew each year
You must renew your homeschool notice each year by October 15.
More details
The PI-1206 must be refiled each school year. Beyond that, no progress reports, evaluations, test score submissions, or curriculum updates are required.
Good news
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Filing requirements
- What to file
- simple notice
- Send to
- Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) — NOT the local school district
- Deadline
- October 15 of each school year
- How often
- annual
- Official form
- Download / access form
Must file Form PI-1206. Requires: program name and address, parent/guardian name, each child's name/age/DOB, school district of residence, statement that program will provide at least 875 hours of instruction, and statement that a sequentially progressive curriculum of fundamental instruction will be provided. Can be filed online or by mail. Parents beginning mid-year should file promptly.
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓reading
- ✓language arts
- ✓mathematics
- ✓social studies
- ✓science
- ✓health
Must provide a 'sequentially progressive curriculum of fundamental instruction' — instruction must build on previous knowledge and advance in complexity year over year. No requirement to follow state standards, use approved textbooks, or submit curriculum plans. No state review or approval of curriculum. Per Wis. Stat. 118.165(1)(a) as applicable to HBPEPs via 118.167.
Wis. Stat. 118.165(1)(a)
Instructional time
- Hours per year:
- 875
875 total annual hours. No minimum days or hours per day. Families may structure hours however they choose. Does not need to follow public school calendar. Instruction can occur evenings, weekends, year-round. While logging is not required, maintaining basic records is prudent. Per Wis. Stat. 118.165(1)(c).
Wis. Stat. 118.165(1)(c)
Reporting
- Annual renewal
- Required by October 15
The PI-1206 must be refiled each school year. Beyond that, no progress reports, evaluations, test score submissions, or curriculum updates are required.
What you don't need to worry about
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Other ways to homeschool in Wisconsin
This checklist covers Home-Based Private Educational Program (HBPEP), the most common pathway. Wisconsin offers 2 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:
- •Home-Based Private Educational Program (HBPEP)(this checklist) : You file Form PI-1206 with the Wisconsin DPI by October 15 each year, provide a sequentially progressive curriculum in six subjects, and deliver at least 875 hours of instruction. No testing, no curriculum approval, no portfolio, and no progress reports — the annual filing is your only obligation to the state.
- •Private School : You establish or enroll in a private school, which has the same subject and 875-hour requirements but is structured as an institutional school rather than a home-based program. Some families form small group private schools. This pathway is uncommon for single-family homeschooling.
Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for Wisconsin
Related guides
Get your personalized checklist
This is the general checklist for the most common pathway. The wizard customizes it for your family's specific situation, including grade, pathway, and IEP status.
Get your Wisconsin checklistRequirements sourced from Wis. Stat. 118.167. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026