Homeschool benefits and savings in Milwaukee
Milwaukee’s Everyone Plays Youth Scholarship provides up to $100 per child per school year for eligible recreation classes. Your child must be 17 or younger, live in the city, and qualify through state or federal assistance; attending Milwaukee Public Schools is not required. Other options include college classes and scholarships.
Milwaukee Recreation Everyone Plays scholarship
Who qualifies
Lives in the city
Your child must reside in the City of Milwaukee. A parent or legal guardian must submit the application.
Is age 17 or younger
Age is measured when the scholarship application materials are received.
Documents assistance eligibility
For a homeschooled child, provide an assistance letter or an agency website screenshot confirming eligibility. Examples include FoodShare, Medicaid, Wisconsin Shares, and foster care; plastic benefit cards are not accepted.
Submits complete forms
Provide the scholarship application, eligibility verification, and program registration at least five days before the activity starts. Participation cannot begin until approval.
What it is worth
The official scholarship page lists the annual cap, expiration rules, and upcoming application dates.
- Award per child
- Up to $100 per school year
- Award year
- August 1-July 31
- Use across seasons
- Remaining funds can pay for later-season classes
- Unused award
- Expires August 1; no rollover
- Next winter application opening
- November 16, 2026, 10 a.m.
From applying to keeping it
- Before applying
Prepare proof and registration
Gather your assistance letter or agency eligibility screenshot and the required application and program registration forms.
- November 16, 2026, 10 a.m.
Apply for winter 2027
Fall 2026 applications are closed. Apply early for winter because seasonal funding typically runs out within the first 10-14 days.
- At least five days before class
Complete the application package
All required documents must reach Milwaukee Recreation before the deadline; missing documents prevent acceptance.
- After approval
Use your scholarship balance
The coordinator sends the decision by email or phone. Your remaining balance can cover eligible classes in later seasons.
- By July 31
Use remaining funds
The award expires August 1, and you must apply again each year.
What it pays for
Covered
- Eligible arts and music classes
- Eligible sports and swimming classes
- Eligible cooking and language classes
- Eligible outdoor education classes
Not covered
- Camps and Club Rec
- School-based sports and driver education
- Field trips and special events
- Separately charged supplies
- Rentals, snack bar and gift card purchases
Seasonal funding is limited and typically allocated in the first 10-14 days after scholarship applications open.
Who to contact
Recreation staff answer scholarship eligibility questions and can check your child’s remaining award balance.
414-475-8180 Scholarship application information
Wisconsin Lutheran College homeschool scholarship
Who qualifies
Was homeschooled for high school
The scholarship is for students who were homeschooled through high school, and no diploma or GED is required for admission.
Enrolls as a full-time freshman
It goes to first-time, full-time freshmen, not transfer or part-time students.
Applies after six semesters
Wisconsin Lutheran College accepts homeschool applications once your student has finished the equivalent of six semesters of high school, with rolling decisions.
Sends transcript and a reference
The transcript lists classes since ninth grade with grades and credits, and the recommendation must come from someone outside the family.
What it is worth
Amounts come from Wisconsin Lutheran College's undergraduate scholarships page and its Young Scholars page.
- Homeschooled Student Scholarship, one year
- $1,000
- Homeschooled Student Scholarship, four years
- $4,000
- Merit award, one year
- $13,000-$21,000
- Merit award, four years
- $52,000-$84,000
- Young Scholars credits per semester
- Up to 9
The Young Scholars page does not list the per-credit price, so ask admissions for the current Early College Credit Program rate before registering.
From applying to keeping it
- Grades 9-12
Try Young Scholars
Talk with the program contact, apply, and send transcripts and any ACT or SAT scores. Registration opens after July 15 for fall and after January 1 for spring.
- After six semesters
Apply for admission
Submit the application, a homeschool transcript, test scores, and a recommendation from a non-family member.
- With admission
Get merit review
Merit awards are considered automatically from your student's highest ACT or SAT score and unweighted GPA, or GPA alone for test-optional applicants.
- Each year
Keep the award
The homeschool scholarship renews annually for up to four years, and merit awards renew for students in good standing.
What it pays for
Covered
- Wisconsin Lutheran College costs as institutional aid
- Young Scholars courses at the reduced rate
Not covered
- Part-time or transfer students
- Years beyond four
Good to know
No diploma or GED is needed for admission
Wisconsin Lutheran College looks at standardized test scores and the homeschool transcript in place of a diploma or GED, and recommends at least a 21 ACT (or SAT equivalent) and a 2.7 GPA.
Ask how the two awards combine
The page lists both awards without saying whether they stack. Homeschooled students are considered for merit awards automatically, so ask the financial aid office how they combine in your student's package.
Who to contact
The admissions office answers questions about homeschool applications and scholarships; Melanie Rock, admissions counselor, handles the Young Scholars Program.
melanie.rock@wlc.edu 414-443-8800 Homeschooled students
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
- Can my homeschooled child receive the Everyone Plays scholarship?
- Yes. The program says an eligible city resident can apply even without attending Milwaukee Public Schools. Use documented state or federal assistance to establish eligibility.
- Can I apply for Everyone Plays for fall 2026 now?
- No. The official page says fall applications are closed. The next posted opening is for winter 2027 on November 16, 2026 at 10 a.m.
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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