Iowa Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Iowa, based on Iowa Code Chapter 299A (Competent Private Instruction). Iowa is classified as Moderate regulation.
This is the general checklist for CPI Option 2: Standardized Testing, the most common of Iowa's 4 pathways. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.
Your compliance checklist
Do first
File your Notice of Intent
Submit to local school district. Deadline: By September 1, or within 14 days of removing a child from public school mid-year.
Deadline: By September 1, or within 14 days of removing a child from public school mid-year
Withdrawal letter recommended
A formal letter isn't required, but it is recommended if your child is enrolled in school. Send it to school principal or superintendent.
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
Ongoing
Required subjects
English/language arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar), mathematics, science, social studies (U.S. and Iowa history, government, citizenship), health
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 148 days/year. You must track and document hours.
Show your child's progress
Standardized test — annually. Minimum: 30th percentile per subject (reading, math, language arts; adds science, social studies for grade 6+) plus six months progress or at/above grade level.
More details
Process: State DOE director or designee notified. Timeline: Additional evaluation or corrective action may be required. Consequence: Additional evaluation or corrective action; does not automatically require enrollment
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records.
Submit annual progress reports
Submit annual progress reports to school district. Annual renewal also required by September 1.
More details
Submit: standardized test results. Due: 08-01.
Good news
Education savings: Students First Education Savings Account Program
Students First Education Savings Account Program: $7,988/student (2025-2026; adjusts annually) — Students enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school only
Filing requirements
- What to file
- simple notice
- Send to
- local school district
- Deadline
- By September 1, or within 14 days of removing a child from public school mid-year
- How often
- annual
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓English/language arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar)
- ✓mathematics
- ✓science
- ✓social studies (U.S. and Iowa history, government, citizenship)
- ✓health
Varies by pathway. CPI Option 1: Licensed Teacher Supervision: ["English/language arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar)","mathematics","science","social studies (U.S. and Iowa history, government, citizenship)","health"]; CPI Option 2: Standardized Testing: ["English/language arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar)","mathematics","science","social studies (U.S. and Iowa history, government, citizenship)","health"]; Accredited Nonpublic School Enrollment: ["English/language arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar)","mathematics","science","social studies (U.S. and Iowa history, government, citizenship)","health"]; Option 4: Independent Private Instruction (IPI): ["mathematics","reading and language arts","science","social studies"]
Instructional time
Varies by pathway. CPI Option 1: Licensed Teacher Supervision: true; CPI Option 2: Standardized Testing: true; Accredited Nonpublic School Enrollment: true; Option 4: Independent Private Instruction (IPI): false
- Days per year:
- 148
Testing and assessment
Varies by pathway. CPI Option 1: Licensed Teacher Supervision: undefined; CPI Option 2: Standardized Testing: []; Accredited Nonpublic School Enrollment: undefined; Option 4: Independent Private Instruction (IPI): undefined
- Accepted types
- Standardized test
- Frequency
- annually
- Minimum score
- 30th percentile per subject (reading, math, language arts; adds science, social studies for grade 6+) plus six months progress or at/above grade level
If scores fall short:
- Process: State DOE director or designee notified
- Timeline: Additional evaluation or corrective action may be required
- Consequence: Additional evaluation or corrective action; does not automatically require enrollment
See our full assessment guide for Iowa for details.
Recordkeeping
Varies by pathway. CPI Option 1: Licensed Teacher Supervision: true; CPI Option 2: Standardized Testing: true; Accredited Nonpublic School Enrollment: true; Option 4: Independent Private Instruction (IPI): false
- ✓Attendance records
Reporting
Varies by pathway. CPI Option 1: Licensed Teacher Supervision: "08-01"; CPI Option 2: Standardized Testing: "08-01"; Accredited Nonpublic School Enrollment: "08-01"; Option 4: Independent Private Instruction (IPI): undefined
- Progress reports
- annual reports to school district
- Annual renewal
- Required by September 1
What you don't need to worry about
Education savings: Students First Education Savings Account Program
Students First Education Savings Account Program: $7,988/student (2025-2026; adjusts annually) — Students enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school only
Other ways to homeschool in Iowa
This checklist covers CPI Option 2: Standardized Testing, the most common pathway. Iowa offers 4 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:
- •CPI Option 1: Licensed Teacher Supervision : You file CPI Form A with your local school district and teach at home under the supervision of a licensed Iowa teacher. The teacher evaluates your child's progress annually instead of a standardized test. You must provide 148 days of instruction in required subjects. Good for families who prefer a professional evaluation over standardized testing.
- •CPI Option 2: Standardized Testing(this checklist) : You file CPI Form A with your local school district and teach at home with no instructor qualifications required. Your child takes an annual standardized test and must score at or above the 30th percentile in each subject. You must provide 148 days of instruction in required subjects. The most common CPI option for Iowa homeschoolers.
- •Accredited Nonpublic School Enrollment : Your child enrolls in an Iowa-accredited nonpublic school that may offer home-based instruction. This is NOT homeschooling — the student is a school student under the school's authority. The accredited school provides oversight, sets curriculum, and handles assessment and reporting. This is the only pathway eligible for Iowa's ESA program. Best for families who want structured school support and ESA funding.
- •Option 4: Independent Private Instruction (IPI) : You teach at home with almost no oversight and no reporting obligations. No notification required, no standardized testing, no teacher evaluation, no progress reports, and no instructor qualifications required. No minimum instructional days. The only obligation is to respond to a written request from the superintendent with identifying information. The least regulated option in Iowa.
Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for Iowa
Education savings available
Iowa offers Students First Education Savings Account Program. Learn about ESA programs
Get your personalized checklist
This is the general checklist for the most common pathway. The wizard customizes it for your family's specific situation, including grade, pathway, and IEP status.
Get your Iowa checklistRequirements sourced from Iowa Code Chapter 299A (Competent Private Instruction). Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026