WHPA’s Ten Principles

Get to know Wisconsin homeschool law so you clearly understand what the law requires and, perhaps more importantly, what it doesn’t require. If you don’t understand, you are likely to put yourself, your family, and others at risk. If you don’t know your rights and exercise them, you will not have them. No one else, including lawyers, will make sure your rights are respected and protected; you have to take responsibility for them. If you don’t know what the law does and does not require, you will not be able to follow some of the other principles.

Have a copy of the homeschooling statute available for reference when you need it. Don’t ask school officials or the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for information about statutes, regulations, or what is required. They often do not know, misunderstand, have been misinformed, or have purposely misconstrued what the statutes or regulations say. Be careful about information from books or websites that cover the laws in all 50 states. They sometimes provide only the text of the statutes without essential information about how they are interpreted and enforced, or interpret the law of one state through their experience with the law in another state, oftentimes ending up with an incorrect or inaccurate interpretation.

Homeschoolers who don’t comply with the law provide a golden opportunity for opponents and critics who want to increase state regulation of homeschooling to claim that more regulation of homeschooling is needed. As a result, Wisconsin’s reasonable homeschooling law could be changed. For example, file the PI-1206 Homeschool Report online at the appropriate time for your circumstances. Under Wisconsin law, homeschoolers are required to have a curriculum. Since a curriculum is basically an educational plan, even the most determined unschoolers can (and should) say “Yes” when asked if they have a curriculum.

However, do only the minimum the law requires. When people do otherwise, they voluntarily and unnecessarily increase the power and authority that public officials have over homeschoolers. They set precedents that limit their freedoms and those of other homeschoolers. Therefore, if a school official asks or tells you to do more than is required, politely refuse and explain what is and is not required. If they persist, ask them to show you the statute or regulation that gives them the authority to make such a request.

Occasionally, it may be tempting to take what seems like the easy way out and do more than the minimum by showing officials things such as our curriculum, school calendars, samples of our children’s work, or test scores, even though these are not required by statute in Wisconsin. Perhaps we are proud of our children’s accomplishments or want to educate officials about homeschooling or show them how well it works. But any action that exceeds statutes or regulations sets a precedent and is likely to increase demands officials make of us and other homeschoolers in the future. It may also increase the questions, doubts, concerns, and criticisms that officials have about our homeschooling.

Communicate with your state and federal legislators at the beginning of each new legislative session. Establish a working relationship before there is a crisis. Remember that homeschooling is not a partisan issue. We need to work with members of both parties to avoid problems when control of the Legislature changes from one party to the other. Start with an issue you and your legislator agree about, no matter how minor. Share information with them that they are most likely to find convincing given their overall perspectives. (Note: While homeschooling may sometimes seem to be in line with traditionally conservative politics, in 1984, Wisconsin’s reasonable homeschooling law was passed by a Senate and Assembly that were both controlled by Democrats, and signed by a Democratic governor.)

Do not seek or accept benefits from the government, including public funds for homeschooling, tax deductions, tax credits, vouchers, participating in public school programs, sports, or extracurricular activities, or having public school per pupil money “follow” a child (including for homeschooling expenses). It is tempting to think about benefits for children or money for more homeschooling resources, especially because most homeschooling families give up income or make other financial sacrifices so parents can spend more time with their children.

However, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Such benefits are likely to be followed by increased regulation, especially since the government is accountable for how tax dollars are spent. Even benefits that seem quite safe, like homeschoolers playing on public school sports teams, have opened the door for increased regulation of homeschooling. (Athletes who are public school students need to meet eligibility requirements. Reports from homeschoolers across the state who have chosen to play public school sports show that some schools are asking for things that are not legally required of homeschoolers, such as curriculum, grades, and health records.)

Regulation stemming from favors or benefits would undoubtedly apply to all homeschoolers, not just those accepting the benefits. Families would not have the option of refusing the benefit and avoiding the increased regulation.

It’s important for homeschoolers to resist the temptation to seek benefits or favors from the government, to refuse such benefits if they are offered, to make it clear to legislators that they do not want such benefits, and to encourage other homeschoolers to do these things as well.

Basically, remember and remind school officials and others that the law requires that young people attend school, but it does not require that they receive an education while doing so. Therefore, it is discriminatory for school officials, judges, court commissioners, and others to insist that homeschoolers meet goals, standards, and requirements which are not required under Wisconsin law.

Remember that your actions affect other homeschoolers’ freedoms.

Share these principles with other homeschoolers. Some of homeschooling’s greatest strengths come from the fact that it is a grassroots movement. It becomes even stronger as we communicate with each other, share information and experiences, support each other, and work together to maintain our freedoms. On the other hand, our freedoms are at risk when individual homeschoolers or homeschooling organizations fail to understand what Wisconsin’s homeschooling law does and does not require, do more than the minimum the law requires, blur the distinction between homeschoolers and public school students studying in their homes, try to splinter into homeschooling factions, seek homeschooling legislation and money and other favors from the government, and take cases to court when there are other ways to resolve the issues.

Joining WHPA is an excellent way to work with other homeschoolers. WHPA is strong because it includes all homeschoolers, regardless of their approach to learning, homeschooling, lifestyle, philosophy, politics, or religious beliefs. WHPA is strong because it relies on people like you knowing their rights and responsibilities. Our homeschooling freedoms depend on our working together. Renew your membership; tell others about WHPA; donate; and attend the annual conference and resource fair. Also consider joining a local homeschooling support group. If none exists in your area, start one.