Iowa Homeschool Documents & Templates

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.

Iowa Code 299A.2

First-time vs. renewal

Status

Not required, but recommended to prevent truancy concerns

Send to

school principal or superintendent

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.

Iowa Code 299A.2

Submit to

school district

Frequency

annual

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, minimum scores, and remediation details.

Iowa Code 299A.2

Frequency

annual

Submit to

school district

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

Deadline

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

• ✓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.

Iowa Code 299A.2; Iowa Code 299A.3

This page covers CPI Option 2: Standardized Testing. Iowa offers 4 different ways to homeschool, and each may require different documents:

• •
  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 helps you choose the right one and generates the correct documents. Compare all pathways for Iowa