Iowa Homeschooling Laws

Requirements and Laws on Homeschooling in Iowa

The law in Iowa mandates all children between 7 and 15 years of age to receive compulsory education, either in public school or a homeschool. Parents make the decision as to which option is best for their child. In Iowa, homeschooling has few regulations that must be observed. The options of homeschooling include:

1. Independent Private Instruction (IPI)

Below are requirements under this option:

· The local superintendentmay request through writing for a report with the particulars of the homeschool including the number of students, their names, the address of the homeschool, the name of the instructor as well as the authority for independent instruction.

· With prior notice from the parent, the student shall sit for a standardized test provided by the district at no cost. No annual evaluation is forced on students.

· Include math, science, social studies, reading and language art as part of the subjects to be taught.

· The student shall not participate in extracurricular activities or have dual-enrollment under IPI.

· There is no time limit set to give instruction or teach a subject in a year.

Some of the programs homeschoolers may access from public schools include:

· Free testing

· Undertake a driver education program

· Attend community college classes offered by the local school

IPI homeschoolers are denied access to other programs available for other homeschoolers such as:

· Dual enrollment for classes or access to participate in extracurricular activities

· Driver education taught by parent/guardian

· Post high school classes, enrollment college classes

· Open enrollment to other public schools

2. Competent Private Instruction, with opt-out Reporting

The requirements include:

· Have 148 days of instruction every year and 37 days every schoolquarter.

· The instruction may be given by:

I. A licensed practitioner

Under this option:

i. Immunization evidence shall be required

ii. Form A shall be submitted before 1^st September to the school district.

iii. A record of the progress made by the student

Students are allowed to participate in extracurricular activities including athletics and special education. Dual enrollment is also allowed.

II. A person not licensed

Under this option:

i. Form A may be submitted before 1st September to the school district.

ii. Students are allowed to participate in extracurricular activities including athletics and special education.

iii. Dual enrollment is also allowed upon submission of annual results and form A

This method allows homeschoolers to participate in:

· Post high school classes and enrollment college classes.

· A free test offered at the local school

· A driver education provided in the public school

3. Competent Private Instruction, with Opt-In Reporting

Form A must be submitted before 1^st September of every homeschool year. For students starting homeschool program in the middle of the year, the form must be submitted within 14 days of beginning the homeschool program, at least partially completed but must be fully completed and submitted within 30 days. The form shall include information regarding the child’s age and immunization records. The following information is required:

· The amount of time in days the instruction will be given. 148 being the minimum.

· The course books used

· The identification of the child; that is name and age.

· The subjects taught, time spent learning and the plan used to give instruction.

i. The child must be evaluated before 1^st May and have the results submitted to the school by 30^th June. The evaluation is for children in grade 5 and below which shall include language arts, math and reading.

ii. For grade 6 and above the assessment shall be for the following subjects: math, language arts, science and social studies.

iii. When the child turns 7, an assessment has to be filed by 15^th September of that year and submitted to the local school. For children older than 7, the evaluation shall be submitted after the 1^st homeschool year.

With this option, parents are allowed to teach their child driver education (provided there were not under IPI during the previous year). Homeschoolers are denied some programs such as:

· Post high school classes and enrollment college classes.

· Open enrollment to other public schools

· Dual enrollment for classes or access to participate in extracurricular activities

For the homeschooler to access these programs, he/she is required to fill Form A and be enrolled in dual schooling before the deadline or meet the qualifications provided in option 3, 4 or be part of the home school assistance program. Undertaking either of the above options changes the option the student is considered to be homeschooled under.

4. Competent private Instruction with Teacher of your choice

• The teacher has to be licensed in Iowa
• A parent with a teaching license from Iowa state can act as the teacher
• A parent has to submit Form A in 14 days of beginning the homeschool program

Students are allowed to take part in dual enrollment; the application has to reach the school before 15^th September to have the child granted access to classes and extracurricular activities

5. Competent Private Instruction with Homeschool Assistance Program (HSAP)

• Submit Form A before 1^stSeptember of every year
• HSAP is a program offered in public schools but a student in this program is not considered a public school student
• Parents starting the homeschool program in the course of the school year shall submit a partially completed Form A within 14 days of starting the program and have it fully completed within 30 days.