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
More details
File CPI Form A (Report of Competent Private Instruction). Must include parent name, address, child's name, date of birth, and CPI option chosen. Filing is notification only, not a request for permission. No filing fee.
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)
More details
File CPI Form A with the school district. Send a withdrawal letter stating the child will receive instruction under Iowa Code Chapter 299A. If withdrawing mid-year, form must be filed within 14 days. No waiting period or approval needed. Use certified mail or method that creates proof of delivery.
Ongoing
Required subjects
English/language arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar), mathematics, science, social studies (U.S. and Iowa history, government, citizenship), health
More details
Per Iowa Code Section 256.11. Additional subjects may apply by grade level: physical education, music, art, and traffic safety for grades 1-6; vocational/career awareness and physical education for grades 7-8. Parents have wide discretion in selecting materials and approaches. No curriculum approval or review.
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 148 days/year. You must track and document hours.
More details
Iowa measures instructional time by days, not hours. No minimum hourly requirement per day. Instruction does not need to follow the public school calendar. Family determines its own schedule.
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
Student must take a nationally normed standardized test annually. Acceptable tests include Iowa Assessments, Stanford Achievement Test, California Achievement Test, Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills, and others. Test must be administered per publisher's guidelines. Assessment must be completed by May 31. Results must be reported to the school district by August 1 (baseline year: June 30). Threshold is 30th percentile per subject (not composite): reading, math, and language arts for all grades; science and social studies added for grade 6 and above. Child must also show six months of progress or be at/above grade level. If a child scores below the threshold, the district may require additional evaluation or corrective action. If below threshold: State DOE director or designee notified. Additional evaluation or corrective action may be required. Additional evaluation or corrective action; does not automatically require enrollment
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records.
More details
Must maintain attendance records documenting 148 days of instruction, immunization records (or valid exemption), records of instruction provided (subjects taught, general outline of activities), assessment results (test scores), and copies of CPI Form A filings.
Submit annual progress reports
Submit annual progress reports to school district. Annual renewal also required by September 1.
More details
CPI Form A filed annually with school district by September 1. Standardized test results submitted to the school district by August 1 each year (baseline year: June 30). Assessment must be completed by May 31.
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
More details
The ESA is for accredited nonpublic school tuition and related expenses only. CPI (Options 1 and 2) and IPI families are NOT eligible for the ESA unless the student is enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school. Eligible uses include tuition, textbooks, curriculum, tutoring, educational therapies, testing fees, and online programs. Families receiving ESA funds must document expenditures. Unused funds may roll over.
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
File CPI Form A (Report of Competent Private Instruction). Must include parent name, address, child's name, date of birth, and CPI option chosen. Filing is notification only, not a request for permission. No filing fee.
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓English/language arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar)
- ✓mathematics
- ✓science
- ✓social studies (U.S. and Iowa history, government, citizenship)
- ✓health
Per Iowa Code Section 256.11. Additional subjects may apply by grade level: physical education, music, art, and traffic safety for grades 1-6; vocational/career awareness and physical education for grades 7-8. Parents have wide discretion in selecting materials and approaches. No curriculum approval or review.
Instructional time
- Days per year:
- 148
Iowa measures instructional time by days, not hours. No minimum hourly requirement per day. Instruction does not need to follow the public school calendar. Family determines its own schedule.
Testing and assessment
- 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
Student must take a nationally normed standardized test annually. Acceptable tests include Iowa Assessments, Stanford Achievement Test, California Achievement Test, Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills, and others. Test must be administered per publisher's guidelines. Assessment must be completed by May 31. Results must be reported to the school district by August 1 (baseline year: June 30). Threshold is 30th percentile per subject (not composite): reading, math, and language arts for all grades; science and social studies added for grade 6 and above. Child must also show six months of progress or be at/above grade level. If a child scores below the threshold, the district may require additional evaluation or corrective action.
See our full assessment guide for Iowa for details.
Recordkeeping
- ✓Attendance records
Must maintain attendance records documenting 148 days of instruction, immunization records (or valid exemption), records of instruction provided (subjects taught, general outline of activities), assessment results (test scores), and copies of CPI Form A filings.
Reporting
- Progress reports
- annual reports to school district
- Annual renewal
- Required by September 1
CPI Form A filed annually with school district by September 1. Standardized test results submitted to the school district by August 1 each year (baseline year: June 30). Assessment must be completed by May 31.
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
Related guides
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