Beginning when your child turns 6 (on or before September 1) and until his or her 18th birthday, your child must be enrolled in school or in compliance with the Wisconsin homeschool law (see below).
Exceptions: If your child is enrolled in 5-year-old kindergarten, your child must continue to attend school regularly unless he or she is officially withdrawn from school.
The law says a child is exempt from compulsory attendance once he or she graduates from high school. Wisconsin's courts have not ruled on whether this would apply to a homeschooled student.
HSLDA believes that a parent-issued diploma and transcript should be sufficient to demonstrate that a child has completed a secondary education. However, even if your child is beyond compulsory school attendance age, there may be situations where you would want to continue to follow the requirements of a home education option recognized under Wisconsin law until your child graduates from high school (filing a home education notice, keeping attendance and other records, etc.). These records may be requested in some situations, such as obtaining a driver's license if your child is a minor, enlisting in the military, applying to colleges, or demonstrating eligibility for Social Security benefits. If you are a member of HSLDA and would like additional details, please contact us.
Please note: The information on this page has been reviewed by an attorney, but it should not be taken as legal advice specific to your individual situation.