Iowa Homeschool Deadlines & Calendar

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

• Applies only if you choose annual evaluation and reporting, or must because you requested district services such as dual enrollment (Iowa Code 299A.3; Iowa Admin. Code 281-31.3(2), 281-31.7(5)).
• Iowa Code 299A.4(1) says each child receiving competent private instruction "shall" be evaluated annually by May 31, while 299A.3 and Iowa Admin. Code 281-31.3(2) make evaluation optional ("may") for parent-provided CPI. The Iowa DOE applies the evaluation to Option 2 "with dual enrollment or optional reporting".

Frequency

annual

See our full assessment guide for Iowa for accepted test types and scoring details.

Iowa Code 299A.2

These deadlines are for CPI Option 2: Standardized Testing. Iowa offers 4 pathways, and each may have different deadlines:

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  CPI Option 1: Licensed Teacher Supervision: Instruction is provided or supervised by a teacher holding a valid Iowa license appropriate to your child's age and grade, which can include a district or accredited nonpublic school home school assistance program. It runs at least 148 days a year, with at least 37 days each school quarter (Iowa Code 299A.1(2)(a)(1)). Unless you are in a home school assistance program, you file the competent private instruction report (Form A) with your school district by September 1 (Iowa Code 299.4). The supervising teacher provides assessments of progress. Iowa law sets no subject list for competent private instruction.
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  CPI Option 2: Standardized Testing(this page): You teach your child at home with no instructor qualifications required (Iowa Code 299A.3). Under current Iowa law, filing the competent private instruction report (Form A), the annual evaluation and reporting results are optional for parent-led instruction. They apply if you ask your district for services. Iowa sets no required subject list for this option.
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  Accredited Nonpublic School Enrollment: Your child enrolls full time in an accredited nonpublic school (Iowa Code 299.1). The school, not the family, carries the duties: it sets attendance days or hours, employs licensed teachers, provides the curriculum, assesses students and keeps records under Iowa Code 256.11 and 281 IAC chapter 12. The family files no competent private instruction report (Iowa Code 299.4). Iowa's Students First Education Savings Account program is tied to enrollment in an accredited nonpublic school (Iowa Code 257.11B).
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  Option 4: Independent Private Instruction (IPI): Independent private instruction is provided by a parent, guardian, or legal custodian, is not accredited, enrolls not more than four unrelated students, charges no tuition or other pay for instruction, and provides instruction in mathematics, reading and language arts, science, and social studies (Iowa Code 299A.1(2)(b)). You file nothing unless the district superintendent or the director of the Department of Education asks in writing for a report naming the primary instructor, location, responsible authority, and students. There is no testing and no minimum number of days.

Our wizard calculates the right deadlines for your pathway. Compare all pathways for Iowa