Homeschool benefits and savings in Fitchburg
Fitchburg recreation scholarships reduce approved program fees so you pay 25% of the cost, with aid capped at $50 per person and $150 per household each year. You must live in the City of Fitchburg or Verona Area School District and apply before registering.
Who qualifies
Lives in the eligible area
The program lists residence, not public-school enrollment, as its eligibility condition, so a homeschool family can request aid.
Shows residence and financial need
Use a current driver’s license, utility bill, apartment lease, or tax bill to show residence. The form asks for household income and allows staff to request an IRS Form 1040.
Applies before registering
An adult household member must sign a new request for each program request. The department does not accept applications for registrations already processed.
What it is worth
The city’s scholarship page lists the family share, annual funding caps, and processing period.
- Family share
- 25% of approved program cost
- Individual aid cap
- $50 per year
- Household aid cap
- $150 per year
- Processing allowance
- Two weeks before registration deadline
From applying to keeping it
- Before registration
Choose a program
Submit your request at least two weeks before its registration deadline.
- When applying
Complete the request
List your requested activities, household income, and household members, and have an adult sign the form.
- After submitting
Wait for approval
Staff review eligibility case by case and notify you by email or phone.
- Once approved
Pay your share
The application requires you to pay 25% of the requested program cost in cash.
What it helps pay for
Covered
- Approved recreation program fees
- Individual and household assistance
Awards depend on the money available in the Recreation Scholarship Fund.
Good to know
Homeschool families can apply
The city lists residence, not school enrollment, as the condition. Its child-residency wording mentions a school-registered address, so ask recreation staff which address record they accept for your homeschooled child.
Who to contact
Recreation staff review scholarship requests and answer questions about residence documentation for homeschool families.
rec@fitchburgwi.gov 608-270-4285
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Wisconsin
You must file PI-1206 with DPI each year between July 1 and October 15. For withdrawal from public or private school after October 15, submit or update it on or before the date attendance ends. Update it when changing districts or the number of enrolled children.
Wisconsin sets these rules:
- Subjects: Provide at least 875 instructional hours each year and a sequentially progressive curriculum in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, and health.
- Testing: Wisconsin does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
- Records: Keep copies of submitted PI-1206 reports; DPI retains them for seven years. Detailed instructional records are recommended, with no routine state submission required.
- Teachers: Wisconsin does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.
Read the Wisconsin homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Wisconsin
Questions parents ask
- Does the Fitchburg scholarship pay the whole fee?
- No. Approved participants contribute a quarter of the program price, and annual aid cannot exceed the individual or household caps.
- Can I apply after paying for a class?
- No. The city rejects requests for registrations that have already been processed, so submit the aid request before you register.
- Is approval automatic if we live nearby?
- No. The Recreation Director or designee reviews each request, and an award depends on available scholarship funds.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Camps and local activities give your child new interests to explore. Their discoveries can shape the examples and questions they study at home.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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