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Unexcused Absences and Truancy

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Please read the statutes carefully. Wis Stat 118.15(1), (4) and Wis Stat 118.16(5) Unexcused Absences and Truancy

If you are following Wisconsin law for homeschooling, and have properly filed the PI-1206 Homeschool Report, your child is neither absent from school with an unexcused absence nor truant.

If you are not following Wisconsin law for homeschooling, and have not properly filed the PI-1206 Homeschool Report, and your child is not enrolled in and attending another legal program of education, your child is absent from school with an unexcused absence and may eventually be subject to the truancy process.

Unexcused Absences and the Truancy Process

Under Wis Stat 118.15(1), every child between the ages of 6 and 18 must attend school (see “Compulsory Attendance”). A child who is expected at school but does not show up will be marked absent. Wis Stat 118.16(2) requires the school attendance officer to daily determine whether each absence is excused or unexcused. If your child is receiving instruction in your homeschool, the answer is: The absence is excused, under Wis Stat 118.15(4).

You are not required by law to provide notice to your school or school district of your intent to homeschool. Providing such notice is a courtesy. However, if a school is not aware that your child is homeschooled, they will retain your child in their attendance, which will lead to a school attendance officer contacting you to ask whether or not your child’s absence is an excused absence.

  • If a school attendance officer contacts you before October 15, you can inform them that your child’s absence is excused because they are receiving instruction in your homeschool. This parental notice of the intent to homeschool is sufficient for attendance purposes.
  • After October 15, the absence is excused if and only if you have properly filed the PI-1206 Homeschool Report. There is no requirement under law that you pass a copy of your PI-1206 Homeschool Report on to your school or school district; this is the statutory duty of DPI.
  • It is your responsibility under law to properly file the PI-1206 Homeschool Report on or before October 15, each year you are homeschooling.
  • If you do not properly file the PI-1206 Homeschool Report on or before October 15, or immediately before beginning to homeschool after October 15, you are not complying with Wisconsin homeschooling law, and your child’s absence may not be excused, and you and your child may be subject to the truancy process.
  • Wis Stat 118.16(2) outlines the substantial, ordered procedures schools must go through when enforcing compulsory school attendance and before enforcing the truancy statute.
  • Wis Stat 118.15(5) outlines the penalties for truancy, which may include monetary fines and imprisonment.
  • Filing a PI-1206 Homeschool Report cannot be done retroactively.
  • Learn more about homeschooling at age 6 here.
  • Learn more about homeschooling after age 18 here.
WHPA provides information about homeschooling in Wisconsin. WHPA does not provide specific legal advice to any specific individuals in the context of any specific matters. It is the responsibility of each homeschool administrator/parent or guardian to read original source material and make decisions on compliance for themselves. When you file the PI-1206 Homeschool Report with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, you take full responsibility for understanding and complying with the laws outlined on that form. WHPA does not endorse or provide curriculum suggestions or specific materials for any particular educational approach.