How to Start Homeschooling in Iowa

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Iowa. Iowa Code 299A.1 lets a parent, guardian, or legal custodian place a child of compulsory attendance age under Competent Private Instruction (CPI) or Independent Private Instruction (IPI).

The Iowa Department of Education describes three private instruction options:

• CPI Option 1: instruction provided or supervised by a licensed practitioner (Iowa Code 299A.2). This can be a district home school assistance program, a licensed teacher you hire, or a parent who holds an appropriate Iowa teaching license.
• CPI Option 2: instruction provided by a parent, guardian, or custodian without a current Iowa teaching license (Iowa Code 299A.3).
• Independent Private Instruction (IPI): defined in Iowa Code 299A.1(2)(b).

Under Option 2 and IPI, no teaching license is needed.

Under Iowa Code 299.1A, a child who is at least 6 and under 16 by September 15 is of compulsory attendance age. If a child enrolled in a school district or accredited nonpublic school turns 16 on or after September 15, the child stays of compulsory age until the end of that school calendar.

A 5-year-old is not of compulsory attendance age, with one exception: a child who is 5 by September 15 and enrolled in a public school district counts as compulsory age unless you notify the district in writing that you are removing the child from enrollment (Iowa Code 299.1A(2)).

Here is how to start homeschooling in Iowa. None of these options requires anyone's approval.

Step 1: Pick your option. CPI Option 1 pairs your child with a licensed teacher who provides or supervises instruction. CPI Option 2 lets you teach yourself, with filing and evaluation optional unless you request district services. IPI has the fewest requirements. You can choose a different option in a later school year.

Step 2: File, if your option requires it.

• Option 1: File Form A, the CPI report, with your school district by September 1 each school year (Iowa Code 299.4). If you are in a district or accredited nonpublic school home school assistance program, the program files its own report instead.
• Option 2: Filing Form A is optional. It becomes required if you ask the district or area education agency for services such as dual enrollment, a home school assistance program, open enrollment, special education, or instructional materials (Iowa Admin. Code 281-31.7(5)). If you file, it is due September 1.
• IPI: No filing. You provide a report only if the district superintendent or the director of the Department of Education requests one in writing.

Step 3: First-time Form A filers. If you are filing Form A for the first time, also give the district evidence of the immunizations required under Iowa Code 139A.8 and, for an elementary-age child, a blood lead test (Iowa Code 299.4).

Step 4: Start teaching. Option 1 requires at least 148 days of instruction each school year, with at least 37 days each quarter. For Option 2, the Department of Education lists the same 148 days as part of CPI, so following it is the cautious choice. IPI has no day requirement. You choose the curriculum, schedule, and materials.

CPI Option 1: At least 148 days during the school year, with at least 37 days each school quarter (Iowa Code 299A.1(2)(a)(1)). There is no hours-per-day requirement.

CPI Option 2: The statute defines parent-provided CPI without a day count, but the Iowa Department of Education lists 148 days as part of CPI generally. Following the 148-day, 37-days-per-quarter schedule is the cautious choice.

IPI: No minimum number of days or hours.

What applies depends on your option.

CPI Option 1: No annual standardized test applies (Iowa Code 299A.2). The supervising licensed teacher provides formal and informal assessments of progress to you and your child (Iowa Admin. Code 281-31.3(1)(c)).

CPI Option 2: The annual evaluation is optional unless you request district services such as dual enrollment. If it applies:

• Your child is evaluated by May 31 using a test from the Department of Education's approved list, or you submit a portfolio reviewed by a licensed Iowa teacher approved by the superintendent (Iowa Code 299A.4).
• Results go to your school district of residence and the Department of Education by August 1 (Iowa Code 299A.3(3)).
• Adequate progress on a test means scoring above the 30th percentile in reading, mathematics, and language arts (plus science and social studies for grade 6 and above), and either six months' progress from the previous evaluation or performance at or above grade level for age.
• If progress is not adequate, your child must attend an accredited public or nonpublic school at the start of the next school year, unless before then a retest or portfolio report shows adequate progress or a remediation plan is approved. An approved plan can let instruction continue for up to one year (Iowa Code 299A.6, 299A.7).

A school district or area education agency will administer the evaluation at no cost if you ask.

IPI: No testing, evaluation, or reporting.

Iowa's options, side by side:

CPI Option 1 (licensed practitioner). A licensed teacher provides or supervises instruction. Form A by September 1 unless you are in a home school assistance program. 148 days, 37 per quarter. Teacher assessments instead of a standardized test.

CPI Option 2 (parent-provided). You teach. Form A, the annual evaluation, and results reporting are optional unless you request district services such as dual enrollment or special education. 148 days is the cautious standard.

Independent Private Instruction. Instruction in mathematics, reading and language arts, science, and social studies. No filing unless requested in writing, no testing, no day count. IPI students may use only an approved driver education course, annual achievement testing, and district-to-community college concurrent enrollment from the district (Iowa Admin. Code 281-31.7(6)).

Accredited nonpublic school. Enrolling your child full time in an accredited nonpublic school is a separate route that meets compulsory attendance through the school (Iowa Code 299.1). The school carries the duties: it sets attendance days or hours, employs licensed teachers, provides the curriculum, gives assessments and keeps records under Iowa's accreditation standards (Iowa Code 256.11; 281 IAC chapter 12). You file no Form A, and state law gives you no testing, record or portfolio duty.

District services and dual enrollment. If you want dual enrollment, special education services, a home school assistance program, open enrollment, or instructional materials from your district, choose CPI (Option 1 or Option 2). Under Option 2, requesting these services means filing Form A and completing the annual evaluation (Iowa Admin. Code 281-31.7(5)). Contact your school district to set them up.

Diplomas. The Department of Education says the decision to issue a diploma to a student in private instruction is up to the resident district, and suggests contacting your resident high school's administrators during eighth grade. 2026 legislation (House File 2754) added new provisions on homeschool diplomas and transcripts; check the Department of Education's 2026 homeschool technical assistance for the current rules.

The ESA is tied to accredited schools. Iowa's Students First Education Savings Account program (Iowa Code 257.11B) is for students enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school. Confirm current eligibility with the Iowa Department of Education.

Helpful resources. The Iowa Department of Education publishes a Private Instruction Handbook, Form A, and a summary of CPI timelines on its homeschooling page.

Connect with Iowa homeschoolers. The Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators (NICHE) at the-niche.org is one statewide support organization, and local co-ops can help you find community.