Secular Homeschool Co-op in Wisconsin: What to Look for and How to Find One

Wisconsin's homeschool community has deep roots in faith-based education — Classical Conversations, Apologia science, Christian history curricula — and the co-op infrastructure reflects that. The Fox Valley region in particular has long-standing faith-based programs that dominate the organized co-op landscape.

If you're a secular family, this can feel like the community isn't built for you. But that's changing. The post-pandemic growth in Wisconsin homeschooling has brought in a significant wave of secular families, and the secular co-op infrastructure has expanded noticeably in urban areas and is building in mid-size cities.

Here's how to navigate the landscape.

Why Co-ops Matter

A homeschool co-op is an arrangement where multiple families share the teaching responsibility for group courses. The model varies: some co-ops are purely parent-led, where each parent teaches their area of expertise; others hire outside instructors for specific subjects. Some meet weekly, others bi-weekly.

The practical value of a good co-op:

• Lab sciences that are difficult or costly to run at home
• Foreign language instruction with other students
• Social interaction for children, which addresses the most common concern outsiders raise about homeschooling
• Peer writing workshops, debate, and speech classes that require an audience
• Performance arts — music ensembles, theater, choral groups

For Wisconsin families, the law allows enrollment in a home-based program under §118.165 while still participating in any outside enrichment activities the family chooses. Co-op participation is entirely compatible with your legal homeschool status — it doesn't change how or whether you file the PI-1206.

The Secular vs. Inclusive Distinction

A genuinely secular co-op has no religious affiliation and teaches science, history, and social studies without a doctrinal lens. These are distinct from co-ops that describe themselves as "inclusive" or "welcoming to all," which may still use faith-based curricula or require a statement of faith for participation.

If secular instruction is important to your family, ask directly before investing time in a group:

• Does the co-op use explicitly Christian or faith-based curricula for any courses?
• Is membership or participation contingent on any religious affiliation or agreement?
• How are science topics like evolution and climate science taught?
• Are the instructors parent volunteers, or are some outside hired teachers?

A co-op that can answer these clearly is one that's thought about its identity. Groups that are vague or evasive often reflect internal disagreement about the co-op's character.

Where Secular Co-ops Are Established in Wisconsin

Madison / Dane County. Madison has one of the most organized secular homeschool communities in the state. The large university-city population and progressive culture support secular educational values. There are active secular co-ops and support groups in the Madison area, and the community is well-represented on the Wisconsin Homeschooling Parents Association (WHPA) membership rolls. Search WHPA's directory or local Facebook groups focused on secular or eclectic homeschooling in Dane County.

Milwaukee metro. The Milwaukee area has the state's largest total homeschool population, which means the most co-op diversity. Wauwatosa, Brookfield, and the north shore suburbs have active homeschool communities that include secular-leaning families. The Milwaukee Public Museum, Discovery World, and Betty Brinn Children's Museum all offer homeschool enrichment programs that serve as informal community anchors for secular families.

Appleton and the Fox Valley. This region is more heavily faith-based in its organized infrastructure, but secular families exist and have informal networks. The larger the city, the more likely you'll find at least one inclusive or secular-leaning group.

Kenosha and Racine. Cross-border influence from Illinois means some Wisconsin families in this corridor participate in Illinois co-ops or online learning communities that transcend state lines.

Finding a Co-op: Practical Steps

WHPA directory. The Wisconsin Homeschooling Parents Association maintains a list of groups and co-ops. The directory is not exhaustive, but it's the most systematic public resource available.

Facebook groups. Search for Wisconsin secular homeschool, [city] homeschool, Dane County homeschool, or Milwaukee homeschool on Facebook. Most active local communities have a private group. Introduce yourself and ask about secular co-ops specifically.

HSLDA's homeschool group finder. HSLDA's group database lists co-ops nationally. Note that HSLDA is a faith-based organization — its listings lean heavily toward Christian co-ops — but secular groups sometimes appear in the database.

National Homeschool Association. The National Homeschool Association maintains a resource directory and supports homeschool families across all philosophical orientations, including secular. Their website includes tools for locating local groups.

Nextdoor and local parenting forums. For suburban and urban areas, neighborhood platforms often surface homeschool community threads. Parents in your immediate zip code may be running informal co-op-style arrangements not visible in any formal directory.

Starting a Secular Co-op if One Doesn't Exist

If you're in a mid-size Wisconsin city without an established secular co-op, starting one is more achievable than it sounds. The model doesn't require a facility or formal organization to begin.

Start with three to five families. A co-op of three to five families can offer meaningful group instruction. At five families with an average of two children each, you have ten students — enough for a viable class in most subjects.

Identify each parent's teachable subjects. Even without formal credentials, most parents can teach one or two subjects at a meaningful level. A biologist parent can run a rigorous biology class. A parent who spent years in finance can run a practical economics course. A former English teacher can offer writing workshop.

Rent or borrow space. Co-ops meet in homes, libraries (many Wisconsin libraries have free meeting room programs), community centers, or churches that rent space without requiring affiliation. You do not need a permanent facility to run a co-op.

Define your philosophy before you recruit. Write a one-paragraph mission statement that specifies your curriculum standards (secular, evidence-based science, inclusive of diverse families) before the group grows. Doing this early prevents the disagreements that fracture many co-ops in their second or third year.

Legal structure. A small informal co-op doesn't need to incorporate. If the group grows and handles money (course fees, facility rentals), consider forming an LLC or nonprofit. For most Wisconsin co-ops starting at the kitchen-table level, informal shared-cost arrangements work fine initially.

Co-op Participation and Your PI-1206

Participating in a co-op does not change your legal obligations or status as a home-based private educational program operator under §118.165. You still file the PI-1206 annually. Your child's education is your responsibility. Co-op courses count toward your 875-hour annual instruction requirement.

If you're still in the process of withdrawing from public school, the co-op question is secondary to getting the legal transition right. The Wisconsin Legal Withdrawal Blueprint covers the withdrawal and PI-1206 filing sequence. Once that's handled, you can approach the community-building piece without administrative pressure.

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