CURRENT GRADE: C

Wisconsin offers private school choice programs for low-income students in participating private schools. Concerns exist regarding the state’s ability to control certain aspects of these private programs such as requiring schools, upon parent request, to exclude students for religious instruction in private religious schools. In 2024-25, approximately 58,000 students (out of an estimated 900,000 school aged children) across Wisconsin were enrolled in Choice programs. Less than 7% of children benefit from education choice laws in the state.

Homeschool laws are relatively parent friendly and athletic participation is permitted in public schools.

Compulsory education is for ages 6-18 years.

Education Options

Four Private School Choice Voucher Programs

  1. Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP)—Must reside in Milwaukee.
  2. Racine Parental Choice Program (RPCP)—Must reside in Racine.
  3. Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP)—Must reside in Wisconsin but not Milwaukee or Racine.
  4. Special Needs Scholarship Program (SNSP)—Allows a student with a disability, who meets certain eligibility requirements, to receive a state-funded scholarship to attend a participating private school.

These programs allow eligible students to attend a participating private school in grade K4-12. Parents must apply EVERY year for the programs. Eligibility is based on residency, income and age.

Requirements and Limitations:

  • Must have attended a public school in Wisconsin for the prior year or attended school in another state or were not enrolled in school (including homeschool at all for the prior year) or participated in or placed on waitlist for MPCP, RPCP, WPCP the prior year.
  • Enrollment is subject to maximum income limits depending on the program and family size. For example, for WCPC, annual income for a family of 4 cannot exceed $66,000.
  • Participating schools cannot charge more than is given them by the state for participating students. Amounts provided by the state to the private school range from $9,893-$12,731 for full time instruction per student for 2024-25.
  • Private schools that participate are required to abide by certain state laws and regulations such as:
    1. Religious schools must provide alternatives to religious activities for any student that requests it.
    2. Schools must abide by state procedures regarding suspensions or expulsions.

Income Tax Deduction for Private School Tuition

A subtraction of income for private school tuition (only for eligible private schools). Limitation is $4,000 for elementary and $10,000 for secondary.

Homeschooling Laws

Here are state laws on the topic of homeschooling:

  • Notification: Parents must notify, on a form prescribed by the district, each year a statement regarding homeschool enrollment by the 3rd Friday in Sept. Parents must indicate whether the program meets all of the requirements under the law.
  • Homeschooled students may attend up to 2 courses at a public school each semester if there is sufficient space in the classroom.
  • Under Wisconsin law, there are no minimum educational requirements for parents who provide a home-based private educational program.
  • Athletic Participation: A school board shall permit a resident pupil in a home-based program to participate in interscholastic athletics in the school district on the same basis as students enrolled in the school district.
  • Home School Legal Defense Association information on Wisconsin Homeschool Laws.

    Religious Exemptions

    The state has no formal laws related to religious exemptions.

    The First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Many argue that a religious conviction to provide a home-based education is constitutionally protected and a state religious exemption law is not a requirement to be able to homeschool on religious grounds.

    It should be noted that the U.S. Supreme Court in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) established that “Under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, a state law requiring that children attend school past eighth grade violates the parents’ constitutional right to direct the religious upbringing of their children.” (The case involved a challenge of a 16-year-old student to be exempt, so the scope was limited)

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