How to Start Homeschooling in Iowa

If you’re wondering how to start homeschooling in Iowa, it’s a good idea to do your research first. Homeschool laws vary by state, so each one’s are a little different!

Whether you’ve homeschooled before, or you just decided to make the switch to homeschooling, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to start homeschooling in Iowa with confidence!

Homeschooling in Iowa at a Glance

Iowa – The Hawkeye State

	IPI	CPI, Opt-Out Reporting	CPI, Reported with Assessment	CPI, Teacher Supervised	HSAP
Required Age	6-16	6-16	6-16	6-16	6-16
Testing	No	No	No	Required	No
Subjects	Required	No	No	No	No
Time	N/A	N/A	148 days	148 days	148 days
Graduation Requirements	Determined by parent	Determined by parent	Determined by parent	Determined by parent	Can be determined by HSAP- participating school
Special Requirements	None	Immunization required	None	Immunization required	Immunization required
Dual Enrollment Available	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Financial Resources Available	No	No	No	No	No

There are a total of five different methods for homeschooling in Iowa. The first two options allow little to no public school involvement. The last three allow more involvement and access to resources through dual enrollment.

Depending on which services you would like to access, each option has unique benefits. Be sure to read through each method carefully, as each is different. For a visual comparison, check out Homeschool Iowa’s handy infographic, which can be found here.

All options include access to driver’s education and standardized testing at your local public school, and do not require dual enrollment to access.

Option 1: Independent Private Instruction (IPI)

For your homeschool to qualify as an IPI, your homeschool must:

be unaccredited
not have more than four unrelated students
not collect tuition
provide either private or religious instruction in the five major subject areas
Comply with any inquiries requested by the superintendent

IPI is one of two options with the least public school involvement and the fewest overall restrictions. This option offers the least amount of access to public school resources, including those for students with disabilities.

Option 2: Competent Private Instruction (CPI) with Opt-Out Reporting

The CPI with opt-out reporting is very similar to the IPI option, with a few key differences.

Opt-out reporting means you do not have to report annual assessments to the local school district. There are no required subjects, and you can have more than four unrelated students. You also won’t be contacted by the superintendent. If you have any students with disabilities, you’ll need to provide your own accommodations.

CPI with opt-out reporting is another option with low public school involvement, but low resources access. These differences from the IPI plan can help make homeschool groups or co-ops more accessible.

Option 3: CPI with Reporting & Annual Assessment

Under this option, assessment reporting is required, which can take the form of standardized tests, portfolio evaluations, or an end-of-year report from the school or organization your student is concurrently enrolled in.

With this option, you do have the option for dual enrollment with a public school. With dual enrollment, students have access to public school services and activities. Students with disabilities can also retain access to accommodations provided by their public school.

This option is popular for families who want to access some public school services but who don’t want to have teacher-supervised days.

Option 4: CPI with Parent-Teacher Supervision

This option includes the benefits of Option 3, but the parent is required to select an Iowa-licensed teacher to supervise homeschool instruction. The teacher must be licensed to teach at the student’s grade level and should keep a record of all contact with your student. Supervision must occur at least twice every 45 days, and at least half of all visits must be in person.

A benefit of this option is that parents are able to choose their own supervisor, rather than being assigned one randomly by the public school. These teachers can be a valuable resource for families providing home instruction. If you don’t want to be contacted by a superintendent or participate in annual testing, this may be a good option for you.

Option 5: Home School Assistance Program (HSAP)

An HSAP is a public school program available to homeschool students. A large benefit of enrolling in an HSAP is that some curricula and materials can be provided for you. Not all districts offer HSAP services, so be sure to check with yours.

Similar to Option 4, this option also requires supervised teacher visits, but the supervising teacher will be assigned to you through your local public school. Supervised visits will need to occur at least four times every 45 days, with half of all visits in person.

HSAP enrollment may also provide students with the unique opportunity to earn a public school diploma as a homeschooler. Depending on the district, a dual enrollment student may be eligible to receive a diploma from their HSAP. Please note that enrolling in an HSAP does not mean your student is automatically a dual enrollment student. To participate in dual enrollment, you’ll need to file for that separately.

Parent Qualifications

There are no specific qualifications for parents to meet if they wish to homeschool in Iowa.

Form A

In Iowa, the Notice of Intent is known as Form A. If you are homeschooling as an IPI or an Opt-Out CPI, you are not required to send Form A.

For all other methods, you’ll need to complete and submit Form A by September 1st every year. If you are homeschooling in the middle of the year, submit Form A no later than 14 days before you begin homeschooling.

The way you complete Form A depends on which method you choose. For example, items 1-7 are mandatory for options 3-5, but if you do not wish to have public school access, you won’t need to fill out items 8-11. The purpose of Form A is to provide information about you, your child, your supervisor (where applicable), and other items, such as disability accommodations and immunization records.

Attendance

If you are homeschooling as an IPI or an Opt-Out CPI, you do not have any attendance requirements. Home instructors are able to teach for as long as they need to.

For all other methods, students are required to attend class a minimum of 148 days per school year, with 37 days per school quarter.

Homeschool Curriculum

Only the IPI option has mandated subjects to teach. All other methods allow your chosen topics to be taught, as long as you have a curriculum planned out. You can use your own homeschool curriculum or the curricula resources provided by your public school. The Iowa Academic Standards provide a closer look at the standards for your child’s grade.

The IPI option requires you to teach the following five subjects:

Reading
Language arts
Math
Science
Social studies

If you choose a CPI with assessment reporting, it’s also a good idea to teach these five subjects. While they aren’t explicitly required, these are the subjects that your child will be tested on if they take public school standardized tests.

Accredited Homeschool Programs

Choosing the best homeschool curriculum can be hard with so many options! If you want to ensure your child is getting a great education, you may be interested in an accredited homeschool curriculum! Accredited homeschool programs must meet high standards of academic quality and rigor to maintain their accreditation status. Miacademy’s online homeschool curriculum is accredited by the ACS-WASC, and can help you meet state requirements with little need for supplementation.

Testing

Only the CPI with opt-in reporting requires annual assessments. If you choose the HSAP option, your public school can require assessments as well. Assessments can involve:

Standardized testing at the local public school
A portfolio review, completed by a licensed Iowa teacher
A letter from an accredited academy or curriculum organization

Assessments must be completed by May 31st and submitted no later than August 1st. If you go the standardized testing route, testing areas will depend on your student’s grade. Students up to grade 5 test on reading, language arts, and math. Students in grades 6 test on those subjects, as well as science and social studies.

Record Keeping

Record keeping is not required for Iowa homeschoolers. However, it’s still a good idea to keep some files on hand. A homeschool portfolio is a great way to keep these important documents safe. Items that can be stored in a portfolio include:

Test scores
List of courses taken
Final grades earned
Some of your child’s best work

If you are reporting assessments, and you choose the portfolio review option, thorough record keeping is essential. We recommend keeping at least two years’ worth of records.

Transcripts

If your student is college-bound, they will likely need a high school transcript for their application. A transcript includes a list of the courses taken, credit hours, and final grades your student earns from grades 9-12. You can make your own transcripts or enroll in an online homeschool program that provides them for you.

Graduation Requirements

In Iowa, homeschooled students are not subject to public school graduation requirements. Parents are able to decide when their high schooler is ready to graduate. Parents can also award their very own homeschool diploma upon course completion.

Public schools can only reward dual enrollment students with diplomas if the student fulfills the school’s graduation requirements. Diploma availability varies by school district, so be sure to contact your local public high school to verify.

Financial Resources

Unfortunately, there are no state-funded resources available to assist with homeschool costs at this time. However, a new law that will come into effect in the 2025-26 school year may change this. In the meantime, there may be private scholarships and grants available to families homeschooling in Iowa.

Other Tips & Resources

For more information about homeschooling and how to find other homeschool groups in Iowa, check out:

HomeschoolIowa.org
Iowa Department of Education – Homeschool

If you’re wondering whether Miacademy or MiaPrep would be the best homeschool curriculum for your family, feel free to reach out to our friendly customer service team! They’ll be happy to help you find the answers you need.

The information provided is intended for research purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. To obtain accurate and comprehensive details on Iowa homeschool laws, we recommend consulting the official resources and guidelines provided by your state. Staying informed about any changes to these laws is important, so be sure to look out for any updates.

Information accurate as of: 06/28/2024. The information provided on this site is intended for research purposes only. Miaplaza is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or outdated information, or for the results yielded through use of this information.