Wisconsin Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Wisconsin, based on Wis. Stat. 118.165. 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
Include: hours statement, curriculum statement
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)
Ongoing
Required subjects
reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, health
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 875 hours/year.
Renew each year
You must renew your homeschool notice each year by October 15.
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
Your notice must include:
- •hours statement
- •curriculum statement
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓reading
- ✓language arts
- ✓mathematics
- ✓social studies
- ✓science
- ✓health
Wis. Stat. 118.165(1)(a)
Reporting
Varies by pathway. Home-Based Private Educational Program (HBPEP): "October 15"; Private School: null
- Annual renewal
- Required by October 15
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
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. 118.165. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026