NewsNew: talk to your tutor out loud and get instant feedback on every answer.

Homeschooling in Iowa

Homeschool rules in Iowa, in plain English

Iowa families may homeschool in one of two legal ways. Under competent private instruction (CPI), the family files a Form A with the local school district, teaches at least 148 days a year, and shows yearly progress through a test or evaluation. Under independent private instruction (IPI), the family files no forms and teaches the required subjects. Check which path fits before your child reaches compulsory attendance age.

See another state

This explains each state's homeschool rules in plain English, from the state's own published sources. It isn't legal advice, and we aren't lawyers. Laws change and every family is different, so check with your state, your school district or a lawyer before you rely on it.

How much it asks
Detailed: notices plus tests or reviews
School age
6 through 16
Time
148 days a year

Option 1

Competent private instruction (CPI) with a licensed practitioner

Families who want a licensed teacher to provide or supervise instruction, such as through the resident district's home school assistance program, a privately hired licensed teacher, or a licensed parent.

  1. Before you startWho teaches

    Choose the licensed practitioner

    The practitioner must hold a valid Iowa license appropriate to the child's age and grade. Options named by the Iowa Department of Education include the district's home school assistance program, a privately hired licensed teacher, or a licensed parent.

  2. OngoingTime

    Provide daily instruction

    Instruction must be given on a daily basis for at least 148 days in the school year, with attendance for at least 37 days in each school quarter. The instruction must produce adequate progress.

  3. Every yearTesting

    Complete the annual achievement evaluation

    The child must have an annual achievement evaluation. Check the Department's current instructions for the test or evaluation options and for who reports the results.

Option 2

Competent private instruction (CPI) taught by a parent

Parents who will teach their own children and want to meet the state's CPI standard by filing a report and showing yearly progress.

  1. Before you start or as the law requiresPaperwork

    File Form A with the district

    Complete and send Form A, the report form for competent private instruction, to the resident school district in a timely manner. Confirm the exact deadline with the district or the Department of Education.

  2. OngoingTime

    Provide daily instruction

    Instruction must be given on a daily basis for at least 148 days in the school year, with attendance for at least 37 days in each school quarter.

  3. Every yearTesting

    Show adequate progress each year

    Show yearly adequate progress through a state-approved nationally normed test or another assessment approved by the Department. Confirm the test, the due date and where to send results.

Option 3

Independent private instruction (IPI)

Families who want to teach at home without the CPI filing, testing and attendance requirements.

  1. OngoingWhat to teach

    Teach the required subjects

    Provide instruction in math, reading and language arts, science, and social studies, using a course of study or plan. The law does not set a number of days or hours for IPI.

  2. OngoingRecords

    Keep your own records

    The Department of Education states that IPI families do not file forms or send curriculum or progress proof to the district unless the district or the Department asks in writing.

Subjects to teach

  • Math
  • Reading and language arts
  • Science
  • Social studies

Tests and reviews

CPI families must show adequate progress each year through an annual achievement evaluation. IPI families have no state test requirement. Confirm the test options and due dates in the Department's current guidance.

About time

For CPI, the law sets at least 148 days of daily instruction per school year, with at least 37 days attended in each school quarter. No day or hour count is set for IPI.

Also good to know

  • Compulsory attendance age is a child who has reached age six and is under sixteen by September 15. A child who turns sixteen on or after September 15 stays of compulsory age until the end of the school calendar.
  • The district may ask IPI families in writing for information, and the superintendent or the head of the Department may send that request.
  • Families who want dual enrollment, district programs, or the home school assistance program may need to file Form A, according to the Iowa Administrative Code.

What we couldn’t confirm

  • The exact Form A filing deadline. Secondary sites give dates, but I could not confirm them from an official source.
  • The annual evaluation due date, reported as May 1 by a secondary site, which I could not confirm.
  • Which tests are approved and who must receive the results.
  • How long families must keep records and what records to keep.
  • Returning to public school, special education services, and part-time enrollment.
  • Exact wording of the IPI subject list; I relied on an official Department handbook excerpt and a secondary summary.

From Iowa’s own sources

Last checked against these sources on November 7, 2026. We check every state each week.

How Study Naturally helps in Iowa

Choose Iowa in your dashboard and these steps sit on your home page, next to each child's work and progress.

  • Set each child’s lessons, in the subjects you teach
  • A patient tutor teaches every child at their own level
  • A learning record counts days and time against what the state asks
  • Print it, save it as a PDF, or download a spreadsheet for your files

Homeschooling in Iowa

A patient tutor for every child, and the records to show for it

Set each child's lessons, let them learn at their own level, and print days, time and subjects whenever your state asks. Try the tutor yourself free for 14 days, no card needed.

Questions? hello@studynaturally.com