Homeschool laws in Wisconsin (2026)
A plain-English overview of what Wisconsin requires of homeschool families — plus the automatic tracking Rosie’sHQ handles so you never have to build a portfolio the night before an evaluation.
Wisconsin at a glance
Verified statuteWhat the law says: Wis. Stat. § 118.165 requires 875 hours of instruction/year; no fixed day count.
Source: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
Required subjects
Wisconsin law names the following subjects as required parts of your homeschool curriculum:
- Reading
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Health
How Rosie’sHQ helps Wisconsin families
- Daily attendance in one tapLog a school day in a single tap and Rosie'sHQ keeps a running attendance record for Wisconsin — even if the state doesn’t set a fixed day count.
- Automatic hour talliesEvery lesson you log rolls up into per-subject and per-year hour totals — no spreadsheet required.
- One-click portfolio PDFTurn your logged lessons, assessments, and worksheets into an audit-ready portfolio PDF the moment an evaluator asks.
- Notice of Intent generatorGenerate a Wisconsin-specific Notice of Intent PDF pre-filled with your child’s information — ready to sign and mail.
Recommended homeschool checklist for Wisconsin
Everything a Wisconsin homeschool family should do across a typical school year, grouped so you can tick items off as you go. Every step is tailored to Wisconsin’s actual rules — low-regulation states get a shorter list; states with mandatory portfolios or standardized tests get the full sequence.
1Before the school year begins in Wisconsin
- File your Wisconsin Notice of Intent (or equivalent)
Complete the Wisconsin-specific homeschool notification form before instruction starts. Rosie’sHQ generates a pre-filled, print-ready PDF that names each child, their grade level, and the required subjects.
- Line up curriculum for every required subject in Wisconsin
Wisconsin law names 6 subjects that must appear in your homeschool: Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Health. Pick a curriculum, workbook, or living-books plan for each one, then create the subject in Rosie’sHQ so daily lessons automatically roll up under the mandated category.
- Set your target hours and days in Rosie’sHQ
Under Wisconsin rules, elementary students need at least 875 instructional hours per year. Open Settings, set Wisconsin as your state, and the compliance dashboard will show a live progress bar toward that target every time you log a lesson.
2Every school day
- Log attendance in one tap
Use Rosie’sHQ’s Quick-Log to mark the school day “present” in a single tap. The system will roll it into your Wisconsin year-to-date attendance count.
- Record each subject you teach today
For every subject you cover, log the minutes spent. Rosie’sHQ tallies them against the 875-hour Wisconsin target automatically — no spreadsheet required. Attach worksheet photos, PDFs, or audio recordings straight from the log so evaluators can see the work later.
3Every month or quarter
- Review your Wisconsin compliance dashboard
Open the Compliance tab and confirm you are on pace for the 875-hour Wisconsin target. The dashboard flags any required subject that has zero logged minutes so nothing slips through the cracks.
4At the end of the school year
- Generate the year-end PDF the state expects
Even if Wisconsin does not mandate a formal portfolio, exporting your year-end PDF is smart insurance. Rosie’sHQ produces a cover page, hour tally, and log index in one click so you always have proof of instruction on file.
- Keep records for the state-recommended retention period
Store the year-end PDF plus any raw logs for at least 2 years after graduation. Wisconsin districts and colleges occasionally request historical records; Rosie’sHQ preserves your archive so you never have to reconstruct a year from memory.
Frequently asked questions
How many days and hours must Wisconsin homeschoolers log per year?+
Wisconsin law currently requires 875 hours (elementary). Wis. Stat. § 118.165 requires 875 hours of instruction/year; no fixed day count. Rosie'sHQ tracks your daily attendance and lesson hours automatically and warns you if you’re falling behind.
What subjects must be taught to Wisconsin homeschoolers?+
Wisconsin law names the following subjects: Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Health. Rosie'sHQ maps every subject you set up to the state’s required list and flags gaps on your compliance dashboard.
How does Rosie'sHQ help Wisconsin homeschool families stay compliant?+
Rosie'sHQ logs daily attendance, tallies instructional hours by subject, generates a Notice of Intent, produces a year-end portfolio PDF, and stores every worksheet or assessment your child completes so an evaluator or state official can be answered in minutes rather than hours.