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

Iowa Code 299A.2

First-time vs. renewal

Status

Not required, but recommended to prevent truancy concerns

Send to

school principal or superintendent

Iowa Code 299A.2

Submit to

school district

Frequency

annual

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

Iowa Code 299A.2

Deadline

September 1

Iowa Code 299A.2

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

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