What's the Difference?
HomeSchool vs. Virtual School

What is a home-based private educational program? 

Wis. Stat. sec. 115.001(3g) states, "Home-based private educational program means a program of educational instruction provided to a child by the child's parent or guardian or by a person designated by the parent or guardian. An instructional program provided to more than one family unit does not constitute a home-based private educational program." 

This is taken from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website, found here, Sect. 1, #1

What is the difference between homeschooling and enrolling my child in an online or virtual school?

Virtual charter schools are public schools. If your child is enrolled in a virtual charter school, he/she is considered to be a public school student and you should not submit report PI-1206. If the virtual charter school is outside your child’s district of residence, you must apply for open enrollment to have your child attend. If your child is attending a virtual charter school under the open enrollment program, your school district of residence must pay for their attendance. You must register your child in your resident school district. Your resident school district must have a registration on file in order to raise money through property taxes and state aids to pay your child’s district of attendance for the open enrollment program. If your child is enrolled in a private or out-of-state online program, your child is considered to be homeschooled and you are required to submit report PI-1206. If you are unsure as to whether the virtual school in which your child will be enrolled is a Wisconsin virtual charter school, please contact the school.

This is taken from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website, found here, Sect. 1, # 23.