No, kindergarten is not mandatory in Wisconsin.

In 2009, Wisconsin enacted a new set of laws around kindergarten.

One part of the new laws says that a school board may not enroll a child in the first grade in a public school unless that child has completed public school kindergarten. (Wis Stat 118.33(6)(cm)(1)).

The law also requires that school boards establish policies for exempting children from the kindergarten requirement for public school first grade, and for parents to request review of a denial of exemption. (Wis Stat 118.33(6)(cm)(2)). This means every school district in Wisconsin must have an established procedure for exempting intended first graders from the kindergarten requirement. These procedures must include an automatic exemption for kids moving from a place where kindergarten is not a prerequisite for first grade, or where they already received an exemption. (Ibid). Finally, school districts must have established, written procedures for reviewing the denial of an exemption, should a parent or guardian request one. (Ibid).

However, none of this means that kindergarten is, in fact, mandatory in Wisconsin.  Wisconsin’s compulsory attendance law (WI Stat 118.15) remains unchanged, meaning that children under the age of 6 may not be compelled to attend school. This new statute has created legal confusion, including raising the question of enforceability. To date, WHPA is not aware of a single case of a child being denied admission to public school first grade under this statute.

FIf you are concerned about this law and homeschooling for kindergarten and planning to place your child in a public school for first grade, you should contact your local school and ask for their written policy concerning entrance to first grade for children who did not complete public school kindergarten. . It is required under law that each school district have such written policies in place.

If you are planning to continue homeschooling for first grade, or if you are planning to enroll your child in a private school for first grade, there are no special requirements for enrollment in a public school for any subsequent grades.

Wis Stat 118.15(1)(am)) Kindergarten Attendance

Kindergarten is not required under Wisconsin law. If you choose to enroll your child in kindergarten, your child must attend school regularly as long as they are enrolled in the school.

Read more about Wisconsin’s 2009 changes to the Kindergarten Law.