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Getting Started, Homeschool

Homeschool Options in Wisconsin

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Considering homeschooling? Already started, but worried you might be missing out on some of the resources available? Stick around! I have compiled — with the help of other homeschool moms — a list of some of the best homeschool options in Wisconsin, many that will pay for curriculum!

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Thank you

Firstly, thank you to my dear friends, who have been doing this homeschooling thing much longer than I have, who contributed greatly to the list I am about to present to you. If you have a community of homeschoolers in your area, TAP INTO THAT RESOURCE. Facebook groups can also be wildly supportive and full of wonderful suggestions and solutions that you might not otherwise encounter.

That said, this post is primarily to point you to the starting points for the homeschool options in Wisconsin. These include the “true” autonomous homeschool route, virtual programs, and co-ops.

I will be creating another post for curriculum options and recommendations. When completed, that will be linked here.

Good Ol’ Traditional Homeschool

This homeschool option, in Wisconsin, is the easiest process to choose from, at least in terms of application. If you would like to homeschool your children with no affiliation, association, or enrollment in any other program or district, you go to this page of the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for Wisconsin and file a PI-1206. While this may sound intimidating, it’s all online and seriously can’t get much easier. You simply create an account, enter your name, your child’s name, your district, and hit submit. Done. Congratulations! You are now homeschooling. If you for sure want to choose this route and have no interest in the other programs available, click here to at least jump down to catch the blurb about co-ops, a great supplementary option for homeschooling.

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Why do it any other way?

You may be thinking, “Why the list if that’s all there is?” Well, because that’s not all that’s out there. I know several wonderful ladies and families who choose to homeschool that route, for various reasons, but I would be remiss not to present you with at least a few of the other options to give you a bigger picture of what’s available for homeschool options in Wisconsin.

These following schools or programs vary slightly from one to another, but the basics are that rather than filling out a PI-1206, you are enrolled in their program, and they support you as you homeschool your children. This support will look different depending on the program and your own preferences. My children currently opt to take one online class a week, mostly because they enjoy the novelty of a 30 minute class through a tablet where they see their teacher and a handful of peers. They could take more, they could take less. There are no attendance requirements for them, but teachers are available if I (or they) should desire additional assistance.

Note, these schools are different than hybrid homeschool programs, which do require in-person learning at a physical campus.

Child learning virtually - not my photo

The biggest benefit of these virtual umbrella programs?

They pay for your curriculum.

Mindi: The main reason why we’ve been under an umbrella school for the last 6 years, is because (…) it saves us $5k+ every year.

Now this is where it gets tricky because not all programs are created equally. Some are income based, some are religious, some are not, some have stipend caps, some do not, some will only cover certain types of curriculum, etc. But there is SO MUCH OUT THERE. If this is a new concept to you, I highly encourage you to peruse the following list and then do some of your own research to see if there may be a good fit for your homeschooling needs. Many even pay for extra curricular classes like art, music, or sports! (My 7 year old is doing ballet and horseback riding while my 5 year old is in Jiu-Jitsu and karate! What a blessing! Never in a million years would I have thought they’d be able to partake in those activities)

How??

If you’re scratching your head thinking this “homeschool option” is too good to be true and how can that possibly work, let me explain it simply. You pay taxes. Those taxes go to the local school your child attends. Oh, you choose to homeschool? Do you get that tax money back? No no, silly. The government just keeps it. Neither you nor the local school gets it. Buuuuuuut, if you enroll in one of these “fancy schmancy” online schools, then they get your tax portion, and it is more than sufficient for them to dole out a bit on you for the curriculum, books, materials, or museum passes you’d like to use to educate your children at home. (I also have to image their overhead cost is substantially less than a traditional school. They don’t have to have a building that’s fully operational at all times, their teachers can have larger class sizes since they are meeting virtually, they don’t need to purchase any materials or curriculum for the school as a whole, no bus routes, no lunch budget, no recess or gym equipment, etc. etc.)

It’s a win win scenario. They get your tax allocation (which would be lost to you anyway), and they pay you back (a pretty generous sum, I feel) to educate your children how you see best. This also gives you the freedom to be a little more picky about the curriculum you want to use. There were definitely some packages I would have had to pass on if the payment had to come from my own pocket.

These homeschool programs also vary in what is required of the students (and parents) in terms of accountability. I have not encountered anything so far that even registered as an inconvenience, but I will let those with more experience speak more knowledgeably on that subject. (I have done one year with Wise Academy and one year with Academy of Excellence. I plan to continue with Academy of Excellence)

So, I asked my dear friends Mindi and Carli, who have been doing this far longer than I have, if I could share their perspectives on the virtual homeschool options in Wisconsin in which their families have participated.

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BVA (Bridges Virtual Academy)

This is considered an online public school. You can choose between having your children participate in live classes, recorded classes, or teaching them at home yourself, as a homeschooler would. They do require that you turn in work samples to show progress throughout the year.

Note: they cannot purchase Christian curriculum and they do require testing in some grades.

If you would like to learn more or enroll, click here. Or, if you are familiar with the general enrollment process, go straight to the DPI link here.

AOE (Academy of Excellence)

This is considered an online Christian School. You qualify based on income and how many people are in your family. This is funded through the Wisconsin Choice Program. Curriculum is completely paid for and they will purchase Christian materials. While they don’t have the typical online classes, certain teachers will offer virtual help if needed. This has more of the traditional “homeschooling” vibe, but you have to turn in work samples periodically, (weekly or quarterly, depending on the grade level). There is no testing required.

Find out more on their website, or enroll through the Wisconsin Choice Program.

VCA Virtual (Victory Christian Academy)

This is a newer Apostolic Virtual School. I (Mindi) looked into this for next year, but decided to stick with AOE. The daily schedule goes like this: Morning virtual meeting with the advisor and all the virtual students (there were only 23 students when I called). The advisor teaches the morning devotion and sees how the kids are doing. Then, they use an online program similar to K12 to complete their classes. This is all online and you don’t have the option to chose curriculum.

Check out their website for more information.

Wise Academy

Similar to BVA, Wise Academy is a virtual public charter program that cannot purchase Christian curriculum. They offer a pretty large stipend per child that includes curriculum, subscriptions, memberships, classes, and school supplies, even up to including items like office chairs and printers. There is no requirement to submit work, but students must be present for 10 minutes of online work per week and take one test at the end of the year to monitor progress.

For more information, or to enroll, go to their website.

Sign up!

Open enrollment is now through April 20th. If you’re interested in any of these homeschool options, you can open enroll in one (or all) of them and decide which one you want to commit to before next school year.

Or, of course, you can continue on as an independent homeschooler and not use an umbrella school!

Potential Downside: Sports

Keep in mind, if you choose to participate in one of the virtual programs and are therefore enrolled in that school and that district, you can no longer benefit from any enrollment advantages of your local school district. For example, local sports programs that are offered through the school district would be inaccessible as you are officially a member of a different school district.

An experienced homeschooler friend, Tiffany, explains it this way:

If you are enrolled through a virtual school, then you are no longer considered eligible within the district you live. However, if you are traditionally homeschooled and you still reside in the city of the school district you wish to participate…it’s then up to the school and the Wisconsin interscholastic athletic association to decide if you can participate. My boys are currently participating in City sports because they are not enrolled in any other school district. Prior to high school you could participate in recreation sports or YMCA sports that are age-appropriate or grade appropriate. But once you hit high school then the WIAA gets involved and that’s where it gets complicated if you’re involved in virtual schools.

Co-ops

You may also choose to participate in co-ops as one of your homeschool options if you are homeschooling in the “traditional” sense. Sometimes you can do so along with enrollment in the virtual programs and “double dip” of sorts, but we’ll touch more on that later.

Co-ops are unique opportunities to connect with the local homeschooling community in your area. Some are bigger than others, some have requirements for participation such as volunteering or teaching, and others have strict guidelines for “enrollment.” I knew one such co-op that did not allow participants who were a part of a virtual program. Only full-fledged PI-1206 members were allowed.

Co-ops can be a great addition to your chosen homeschool option. I have enjoyed outsourcing my least favorite subject — art — to someone who had a passion for it and really gave my children a memorable and educational experience, not to mention beautiful pieces that they brought home to share with the family!

The tricky thing with co-ops is you’re not really sure what you’re getting until you dip your toe in the water, and a lot of publicity comes through word of mouth since they’re primarily smaller, local groups.

My best advice is to start with a group of people that already have likeminded values and beliefs (such as a church or women’s group you are already associated with) and start asking around for recommendations! This can also assist with the familiarity and comfort within the chosen co-op. My children loved having their church friends “in class” once a week and then seeing their teachers at church service a few days later.

Or facebook can work too, sometimes.

Homeschool options - not my photo

Are you a seasoned homeschooler? Just starting out? Haven’t even given it much thought before today? Which of the homeschool options have you tried or has captured your interest?

Comment with your questions, suggestions, or experience!

2 Comments

  1. Carli says:

    Keep in mind, with public virtual schools, you can still do a Christian curriculum. The school will not pay for it, but you can purchased the curriculum on your own and then use your stipend for other school resources!

    1. Yes! Great reminder, thank you!

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