IMPORTANT: The Department of Public Instruction only keeps PI-1206 forms for 7 years. As the administrator of your homeschool, you are responsible for keeping a copy of every form PI-1206 you file. That is your proof of compliance with Wisconsin homeschooling law. If you homeschool through the high school years it is very important that you have copies of all PI-1206 forms for those years. Colleges and employers often ask for a diploma and the 4 high school years of the PI-1206. The PI-1206 is proof of your compliance with Wisconsin state homeschooling laws.
- How do Wisconsin homeschoolers receive a diploma?
- Graduation Requirements
- How does a homeschooler get a driver’s license?
- How does a Wisconsin homeschooler get into college?
- What about work permits/employment rules?
- What course work is required for high school?
- I’ve heard the state requires study of specific topics. What are the requirements for Wisconsin homeschoolers?
- Transcripts
- Can my child take technical school or college classes?
- Returning to school after homeschooling
- How to connect with teens?
- Homeschoolers in the military
- Do I have to continue filing the PI-1206 once my child turns 18?
- Will I need any of my homeschool records when I enter the workforce?
- Record Keeping
- Still have questions?
How do Wisconsin homeschoolers receive a diploma?
In Wisconsin, homeschools are on the same legal footing as public, private, and tribal schools and therefore can award diplomas the same way other schools do. There are no state mandated graduation requirements for homeschools. Each homeschool creates its own set of requirements.
As the administrator of your homeschool it is your responsibility to decide what requirements must be met for graduation. You can then award a diploma to the child that has met those requirements.
A young person with a homeschool diploma can check “Yes” on an employment application that asks, “Do you have a high school diploma?”
Additional Information:
Print and save a copy of your PI-1206 form each year. This is proof that you have been legally homeschooling. Copies of forms filed online during previous school years can be downloaded and printed from the DPI website. The Department of Public Instruction only keeps records for 7 years. Make sure you have a copy of your form for each year that you filed.
High school diplomas issued by the administrator of a Wisconsin homeschool (i.e. the student’s parent/guardian) are recognized and accepted by colleges and universities throughout the US, including all University of Wisconsin campuses, federal financial aid programs including Pell grants, student loans etc., employers, and the US military.
In Wisconsin, homeschools are on the same legal footing as public, private, and tribal schools and therefore can award diplomas the same way other schools do.
There are no state mandated graduation requirements for homeschools. Each homeschool creates its own set of requirements.
As the administrator of your home-based private educational program you set the graduation requirements for your student. You can then award a diploma to the child that has met those requirements.
WHPA recommends that you have a written copy of the graduation requirements for your homeschool, just as any school in Wisconsin does.
Print and save a copy of your PI-1206 Homeschool Report each year. This is proof that you have been legally homeschooling. Copies of forms filed during previous school years can be downloaded and printed from the DPI website. The Department of Public Instruction only keeps records for 7 years. Make sure you have a copy of your form for each year that you filed.
See also: Transcripts and Record Keeping
How does a homeschooler get a driver’s license?
Homeschoolers get driver’s licenses just like everyone else. Before age 18 Wisconsin residents must take a classroom or online driver’s education course followed by behind-the-wheel instruction. Courses may be offered through your local school district or by private driving schools in your area. Driving education is overseen by the Department of Motor Vehicles, not the Department of Public Instruction. It is not possible for a homeschooling administrator (parent/guardian) to provide the classroom portion of driver’s education that is recognized for licensing purposes.
If you choose to use an online instruction course, make sure to confirm with the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles that it is an accredited course and that the online service is authorized to issue form MV-3001 at the conclusion of the course. If students are under 18 the MV-3001 must be signed by an accredited driver’s education instructor. There are online “driver training” courses that do NOT result in having the correct credentials to take the permit test.
How does a Wisconsin homeschooler get into college?
Many Wisconsin homeschoolers have gone to colleges and universities all over the world. Homeschoolers get into college the same way conventionally-schooled people get into college. Admittedly there may be a few more hoops to jump through since college admissions offices are used to seeing the same type of student and application over and over again. Letters of recommendation, personal interviews and portfolios of work and accomplishments can augment whatever mandatory application materials are requested by colleges. Applying to college as a homeschooler may take some additional advocacy on your part. Sell yourself and your experiences as a homeschooler. Your unique educational path and experiences can be a real asset to a college campus filled with students who have pretty much all done the same things to get there.
A transcript is meant to be a summary of subjects studied, grades received, and credits earned. The purpose of a transcript is to demonstrate what a student has done as a homeschooler. Developing a transcript can be challenging. Ways of homeschooling are wide-ranging and varied, making it tricky to summarize the homeschooling experience with a quick grid or checklist.
Keep in mind, a transcript is really just a quick way to assure an employer, college admissions officer, or some other person that a student has worked on a number of general subjects. There are many ways to supplement a transcript such as a personal interview, resume, portfolio of work, etc.
A transcript can be developed in a variety of ways. It can be written based on the number of hours spent studying a subject, or what has been learned. Some homeschoolers use state guidelines to inform how they write their transcript. Many conventional schools award one semester credit for 90 hours of classwork plus homework. A transcript using this method might have 8 semesters of English, 8 semesters of science, 2 semesters of a foreign language etc.
There are many examples of transcripts online. Remember, tailor the transcript to the goal. Homeschoolers should be prepared to advocate for themselves and be ready to explain just how much work it is to be responsible for creating a personalized educational plan.
If plans include college, entry or re-entry to public school, look at the requirements or record keeping methods of the institution under consideration. Making the transcript look similar will make it easier for institutions to translate the homeschooler’s experiences into their expectations.
Testing is not required by Wisconsin law. If standardized tests are taken (PSAT, ACT, SAT, CLEP, SAT – subject tests, etc.), those scores can be listed on the transcript. Test scores do not have to be reported to the state or school district. Some colleges or universities may require standardized testing in lieu of a conventional transcript from an accredited institution.
Can my child take technical school or college classes?
Yes – Keep these things in mind:
There is no public funding for homeschoolers for technical school, college or other institution of higher learning (IHL) classes, so the tuition and fees for such classes fall to the administrator of the home-based private education program.
There is no option for dual enrollment for homeschoolers under Wisconsin law.
A minimum of 875 hours of instruction must be provided by the administrator of the home-based private education program to one family unit.
What about work permits/employment rules?
On June 21, 2017, Governor Scott Walker signed 2017 Act 11 into law. This law eliminates the requirement that minors ages 16-17 obtain a work or street trade permit.
A work permit is still required before anyone under the age of 16 is allowed to work in any job with the exception of agriculture or domestic service work.
Employers must have a work permit on file for the minor being employed before they may allow the minor to begin work.
Details on how and where to obtain a work permit are here.
State youth employment laws prohibit work during times that minors are required to be in school, except for students participating in work experience and career exploration programs operated by the school.
Homeschoolers can work during public school hours since the hours that homeschoolers are “required to be in school” are not necessarily the hours that public school students are required to be in school. Homeschools set their own hours of instruction.
NOTE: Since there are certain conditions which subject some employers to both federal and state rules, and they are required to comply with the more stringent section of the two in these cases, 14-15 year olds should work with their employer in determining which hours they may work (federal rules are more stringent regarding school hours for 14-15 year olds.).
For more information:
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Child Labor Laws
U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division – Child Labor
What course work is required for high school?
As the administrator of your homeschool you are responsible for creating the high school experience for your child. Each year, homeschooling parents must provide a at least 875 hours of instruction. They must also provide “a sequentially progressive curriculum of fundamental instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and health. This subsection does not require the program to include in its curriculum any concept, topic, or practice in conflict with the program’s religious doctrines or to exclude from its curriculum any concept, topic, or practice consistent with the program’s religious doctrines.” (Wis Stat 118.165(1)(d)) Please see information in Getting Started if you are new to homeschooling in the high school years.
If you have specific goals for the period of time after the traditional high school years (i.e. college, military, travel, entrepreneurial endeavors, a job) you can tailor your educational program to fit the next stage in life.
Homeschooling can allow teens to pursue interests and passions in greater depth than conventional schools allow. Apprenticeships, internships, and steady employment can all be a part of homeschooling in the teen years.
Some families use CLEP, AP, or SAT-subject tests to direct or structure part of their curriculum.
There are no state graduation requirements for homeschools in Wisconsin. WHPA recommends that homeschools have a written copy of their graduation requirements.
I’ve heard the state requires study of specific topics. What are the requirements for Wisconsin homeschoolers?
Public schools have specific topics of study, such as providing Lifesaving Skills instruction in 7-12th grade health courses, which must be included in their curriculum. Wisconsin homeschools do not share these mandates. Under Wis. Stat. 118.165(d), the topics Wisconsin homeschools must provide are: “reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and health.”
As the administrator of your homeschool, you are free, under the law, to decide whether to include additional topics in your home-based private educational program.
If you hear or read of an educational requirement, read the applicable Wisconsin statute to see if it includes ‘home-based private educational program.’ If it does not, you do not have to meet that requirement.
A transcript is meant to be a summary of subjects studied, grades received, and credits earned. The purpose of a transcript is to demonstrate what a student has done as a homeschooler. Developing a transcript can be challenging. Ways of homeschooling are wide-ranging and varied, making it tricky to summarize the homeschooling experience with a quick grid or checklist.
Keep in mind, a transcript is really just a quick way to assure an employer, college admissions officer, or some other person that a student has worked on a number of general subjects. There are many ways to supplement a transcript such as a personal interview, resume, portfolio of work, etc.
A transcript can be developed in a variety of ways. It can be written based on the number of hours spent studying a subject, or what has been learned. Some homeschoolers use state guidelines to inform how they write their transcript. Many conventional schools award one semester credit for 90 hours of classwork plus homework. A transcript using this method might have 8 semesters of English, 8 semesters of science, 2 semesters of a foreign language etc.
There are many examples of transcripts online. Remember, tailor the transcript to the goal. Homeschoolers should be prepared to advocate for themselves and be ready to explain just how much work it is to be responsible for creating a personalized educational plan.
If plans include college, entry or re-entry to public school, look at the requirements or record keeping methods of the institution under consideration. Making the transcript look similar will make it easier for institutions to translate the homeschooler’s experiences into their expectations.
Testing is not required by Wisconsin law. If standardized tests are taken (PSAT, ACT, SAT, CLEP, SAT – subject tests, etc.), those scores can be listed on the transcript. Test scores do not have to be reported to the state or school district. Some colleges or universities may require standardized testing in lieu of a conventional transcript from an accredited institution.
Returning to school after homeschooling
If a homeschooler wishes to enter or re-enter a conventional high school, the school may or may not accept previous homeschool work as equivalent to credits offered by the high school. If a student wants to homeschool for part of high school and then get a public high school diploma, discuss this with your local high school in advance.
Each school or district will have its own policy regarding the acceptance of credits from non-public schools.
If your child returns to conventional school (public or private) after you have filed the PI-1206 Homeschool Report for the current school year, you must go back into your PI-1206 Homeschool Report and change the number of students to zero (or the correct number minus the returning child).
How to connect with other teens?
Look for local homeschooling groups.
Get a job.
Volunteer.
Ask a teen librarian.
Take a class somewhere.
Teach a class somewhere.
Join a club.
Join a recreational sports team.
Look for meet-up groups in your area based on shared interests.
Participate in an activity you enjoy.
Following is a list of criteria for homeschoolers wishing to join the U.S. Army. Other branches of the armed forces have similar requirements.
From the U.S. Army Website:
“Home-school graduates seeking to enlist in the U.S. Army need to meet the following criteria:
Must possess a home-school diploma and submit transcripts at the time of enlistment. The course work must involve parental supervision, the transcript must reflect the normal credit hours per subject used in a traditional high school and the diploma must be issued in compliance with applicable state laws.
Take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test. The Armed Forces Qualification Test score from the ASVAB will determine enlistment eligibility.
Must take the Assessment of Individual Motivation test, which is 20-minute pencil and paper test. The AIM test score is used to obtain data and does not affect qualification for enlistment.
At a minimum, the last academic year (9 months) must be completed in a home-school environment.”
Do I have to continue filing the PI-1206 once my child turns 18?
While the laws requiring compulsory attendance only apply until your child finishes the last term after turning 18, in order to be legally homeschooling in Wisconsin, you must file a PI-1206.
If your child turns 18 prior to his/her last year of homeschooling you must file the PI-1206 to be legally homeschooling.
This is particularly important if your child wishes to go on to higher education, apprenticeship programs, or jobs requiring a high school diploma.
Having four years of completed PI-1206 forms, one for each year of high school, shows that you have complied with the state homeschooling laws of Wisconsin.
Note: If a homeschooler has not received a diploma and you haven’t filed a PI-1206 the year they are homeschooling and 18 (or older), they could be considered a drop out under Wisconsin Statute sec. 118.153(1)(b)
Will I need any of my homeschool records when I enter the workforce?
The short answer is: probably.
Similar to homeschoolers getting into college, homeschoolers entering the workforce may find they have a few extra hoops to jump through when seeking employment and demonstrating that they graduated from a home-based private education program. Similar to getting into college, applying for a job as a homeschool graduate may take some additional advocacy on your part. As with entering college, you may find you will need to sell yourself and your experiences as a homeschooler. Your unique educational choices and experiences can be a real asset to a workforce filled with other employees who may have followed a more traditional path.
What home-based private education records might an employer require? Make sure you keep the following records in a safe place:
- Your diploma issued by the administrator of your home-based private education program.
- Your PI-1206 Homeschool Reports covering your high school years. (Remember that this is your proof of enrollment in a home-based private education program. The DPI only retains copies of the PI-1206 Homeschool Reports for seven years.)
- Your final high school transcript.
All of these records provide documentation that you have graduated from a legal home-based private educational program in the state of Wisconsin and that your diploma is legitimate.
To the administrator of a home-based educational program: As the administrator of your home-based private educational program, it is your responsibility to retain these records and any other records that you deem appropriate. Consider making sure each of your students has copies of these records as well.
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Last Updated on 09/18/21
