Iowa Homeschool Deadlines & Calendar

Initial filing deadline

September 1

Annual renewal deadline

Same deadline each year

Send to

local school district

Iowa Code 299A.2

Frequency

annual

Submit to

school district

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 accepted test types and scoring details.

Iowa Code 299A.2

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.

Iowa Code 299A.2

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

• •
  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 page): 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 calculates the right deadlines for your pathway. Compare all pathways for Iowa