WI · Homeschool requirements
Low regulation

Homeschooling in Wisconsin: requirements, laws & how to start

Wisconsin requires one annual online filing (form PI-1206), at least 875 hours of instruction, and a sequentially progressive curriculum in six subjects. No testing, no approval.

Homeschooling is legal and refreshingly low-friction in Wisconsin. Each school year you file one online form with the Department of Public Instruction — the PI-1206 homeschool enrollment report — and that's the entirety of your contact with the state. There is no district approval, no testing, no portfolio, and no parent qualification requirement.

The substantive requirements are clear: provide at least 875 hours of instruction per school year, and use a sequentially progressive curriculum covering reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, and health. 'Sequentially progressive' simply means the material builds forward — which any coherent curriculum does by design.

What Wisconsin requires

Notice & registration

File the PI-1206 online with the Department of Public Instruction each school year for your homeschool (one filing covers the household's program). Check DPI's current filing window; the form takes minutes.

Required subjects & hours

At least 875 hours of instruction per year across reading, language arts, math, social studies, science, and health, taught as a sequentially progressive program. You track hours yourself; nothing is submitted.

Testing & assessment

None. Wisconsin requires no standardized testing or evaluations for homeschoolers. Any benchmarking you do is private.

How to start homeschooling in Wisconsin
  1. 1

    File the PI-1206 online with DPI for the current school year.

  2. 2

    Withdraw your child from their current school in writing if enrolled, noting the homeschool filing.

  3. 3

    Set up a simple hours log — 875 hours works out to under 5 hours a day across a standard school year, and one-on-one instruction counts efficiently.

  4. 4

    Map your six required subject areas onto a weekly rhythm.

  5. 5

    Choose a curriculum that is genuinely sequential — each lesson building on the last — since that's the exact legal standard Wisconsin sets.

The record-keeping part, handled.

Whatever Wisconsin asks for — attendance, subject coverage, progress evidence, transcripts — Cullinan Academy tracks it automatically as your kids learn: verified mastery records, time-on-task, printable transcripts with GPA, and state report templates. No spreadsheet required.

Wisconsin homeschool FAQs
What is the PI-1206 and when do I file it?

It's Wisconsin's online homeschool enrollment report, filed with DPI once each school year. Check DPI's site for the current filing window for the year you're starting.

Do I have to prove my 875 hours to anyone?

No — you attest to meeting the requirement and keep your own records. A simple weekly log is plenty.

Is testing required in Wisconsin?

No. There is no testing or assessment requirement for homeschoolers.

What does 'sequentially progressive curriculum' mean?

Material that builds in a logical sequence — skills advancing over time rather than random worksheets. Any structured curriculum meets this naturally.

Can my homeschooler take classes at the local public school?

Wisconsin allows part-time public school attendance for homeschoolers in certain courses, subject to space — contact your district about current openings.

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This page is general information, not legal advice. Homeschool law changes, and districts sometimes apply it differently. Verify current requirements with your state's department of education or a local homeschool association before filing anything. Content last reviewed 2026-07.

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