Wisconsin

How it works

These are vouchers: the money goes to a participating private school, not to a parent-directed account. Wisconsin has no state programme that funds homeschooling.

Programme

Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (with separate Milwaukee and Racine programmes)

Administered by

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Amount (paid to the school)

Set annually per pupil, paid to the school

For homeschoolers

Does not fund homeschooling

Who qualifies

New students need family income at or below the 2026-27 limit: about 220% of the federal poverty level for the statewide programme (for example $70,730 for a family of four) and about 300% for Milwaukee and Racine ($96,450 for four). Married parents may subtract $7,000. Students already in a Choice programme, or on last year’s waiting list for the same programme, do not have to meet the limit again. A child homeschooled for the whole of 2025-26 may apply.

How to apply

1. Confirm your child is eligible — see "Who qualifies" above. This money is awarded through a participating school, not paid into a parent's account.
2. Check this year's window. New for 2026-27: the statewide programme now has monthly open application periods, from 2-20 February through 1-14 September 2026. Those are now over for the statewide and Racine programmes. The Milwaukee programme still has periods on 1-20 October, 1-20 November and 1 December 2026 to 5 January 2027. Each school chooses which periods it accepts. Dates move every year, so confirm on the official page before you plan around them.
3. Apply through the school and gather proof of income and residency if the programme is income-limited.
4. Spending. Because the money goes to a school, curriculum purchases run through the school. Ask your school, not the state.

Official programme page: dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/choice-programs/parent-faq. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility are set by the state and change every year — always confirm there before you plan around them.

Sources

Checked 18 September 2026 against these sources:

• dpi.wi.gov/…/student-applications
• dpi.wi.gov/…/parent-faq