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State Requirements

Homeschooling in Wisconsin

875 hrs/year Notice required

Wisconsin has moderate homeschool requirements. Families must log at least 875 hours of instruction per year, and you'll file notice with the state Department of Education.

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Wisconsin treats homeschooling as a recognized alternative to public school, with a structured path families follow each year: a filing, instructional time, and evidence the learning happened. The state's compulsory school-age band is 6-18. A child outside those ages isn't legally required to be in formal instruction at all.

The Wisconsin statute requires families to log at least 875 instructional hours per year. Families choose their own schedule. Some homeschool year-round at a gentle pace while others front-load hours during peak seasons. Field trips, co-ops, and self-directed study typically count alongside formal lessons.

The one paperwork moment each homeschool year in Wisconsin is the notice of intent filed with the state Department of Education before (or soon after) teaching starts. The state-level filing model means one consistent process regardless of where in Wisconsin a family lives.

Instruction must cover reading, language arts, math, social studies, science, and health, though families have wide latitude in how they teach each topic. In practice, Wisconsin homeschool families use Homeschool Fox to log daily activities, keep portfolios in one place, and generate the compliance reports that the state's paperwork moments call for.

At a glance

875 hours/year

Instruction time

Ages 6-18

Compulsory attendance

Notice requirements

Notice is required

You must notify the state Department of Education of your intent to homeschool.

Need a head start? Use the free Notice of Intent generator to draft a Wisconsin-ready letter.

Deeper guides: how to write a notice of intent to homeschool covers the language admins look for, and when and where to file your notice of intent covers state-by-state deadlines and recipients.

Generate your notice of intent

Withdrawing from public school

The path out of public school in Wisconsin routes through the state rather than the local district. After a written withdrawal to the current school, families file a state-level notice of intent before instruction starts at home. Homeschool Fox can draft the withdrawal letter for you. It fills in the student, district, and date fields automatically.

For the play-by-play, how to withdraw your child from public school walks through the conversation, the timing, and the paperwork. What to send the district when you pull your child covers exactly what the letter should and shouldn't say.

Assessment requirements

Assessment not required

Wisconsin does not require standardized testing or formal assessment.

Portfolio & records

Portfolio not required

While Wisconsin doesn't mandate a portfolio, keeping records is still recommended.

Required subjects

Wisconsin requires instruction in the following subjects.

reading language arts math social studies science health

Additional notes

875 hours required. PI-1206 form required annually by October 15.

Calculate your Wisconsin hours

Wisconsin requires 875 hours/year. Enter how far you've come and we'll show you the daily pace to finish on time.

Leave at 0 if you haven't started tracking yet

Enter an end date to see your targets

Prefer a full-page version? Open the standalone hours calculator.

Sources

Verified May 2026

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to notify anyone to homeschool in Wisconsin?
Yes, Wisconsin requires you to file notice of your intent to homeschool. You must notify the state Department of Education.

How many hours do I need to homeschool in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin requires a minimum of 875 hours of instruction per school year.

Does Wisconsin require testing for homeschoolers?
No, Wisconsin does not require standardized testing or formal assessments for homeschooled students. However, many families choose to use assessments voluntarily to track progress.

Do I need to keep a portfolio in Wisconsin?
No, Wisconsin does not legally require you to maintain a portfolio. However, keeping records of your homeschool activities is still highly recommended for your own reference and for potential college applications or if you ever need to demonstrate educational progress.

What subjects must I teach in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin requires instruction in the following subjects: reading, language arts, math, social studies, science, and health. Beyond these requirements, you have flexibility to add subjects that interest your family.

Nearby states

View all states

Want the cross-state comparison? Homeschool laws by state covers the legal regime in every state side by side.

What we track

Track your 875 Wisconsin hours automatically

Log activities by voice or text and Homeschool Fox rolls them up against Wisconsin's requirements automatically. Free for 14 days.

  • Hours toward 875-hour goal
  • Attendance days logged
  • Subject coverage (core & non-core)
  • Activity log (text, voice, AI-parsed)
  • Portfolios & PDF year-end reports
  • Transcripts with GPA & credits
  • Test scores & evaluations
  • Notice of intent & withdrawal letters
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