Homeschooling in Iowa: How To Homeschool While Following State Laws

by Rita Onyx

This is meant to be a summary and NOT legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.

Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular. Just in the last years alone, homeschooling rose up by 700%. What was once seen as old-fashioned and outdated is now a modern way to educate the next generation.

There are many benefits to homeschooling; it gives parents freedom in choosing the curriculums and subjects their children learn. Remote learning also ensures their children are kept safe, away from potential dangers like bullying or viruses in public schools. It’s a win-win situation.

Thinking of homeschooling your children too? Then follow this quick guide on how to homeschool your children if you live in Iowa. Know the Iowa homeschool state laws and regulations in your state so you can homeschool properly.

Quick Facts:

• There are 5 ways to homeschool

1. Independent Private Instruction (IPI)
2. Private instruction
3. Supervising teacher
4. Annual assessment
5. Home School Assistance Program (HSAP)

• Children between 6-16 of age must be in school

• You DO NOT need to notify your local school district if you choose to homeschool with:

a) Independent private instruction

b) Private instruction

• You DO need to notify your local school district if you choose to homeschool with:

a) Supervising teacher

b) Annual assessment

c) Home School Assistance Program

• There are NO teacher qualifications if you choose to homeschool with a Supervising teacher

• You DO need to be a certified teacher if you choose to homeschool with:

a) Independent private instruction

b) Private instruction

c) Annual assessment

d) Home School Assistance Program

• There are NO state mandated subjects UNLESS you are homeschooled with Independent private instruction

• There are NO required assessments or testing UNLESS you are homeschooled with the Home School Assistance Program

• There are NO immunization requirements when you are homeschooled with:

a) Independent private instruction

b) Private instruction

• There ARE immunization requirements when you are homeschooled with:

a) Supervising teacher

b) Annual assessment

c) Home School Assistance Program

How to Homeschool with Independent Private Instruction

• Must include the required subjects of:

a) Math

b) Reading

c) Language Arts

d) Science

e) Social Studies

• Keep a record of the primary instructor which is usually the parent, name and address of the person responsible for the independent private instruction, and names of children enrolled

• You do not need to file the record but if the Iowa Department of Education requests this information you must give it to them

• Understand which programs you are legally allowed to still access in the public school system which include:

a) Driver’s education through the public school

b) Free testing

c) Community college classes

• Programs which you are not allowed to still access are:

a) Parent-taught driver education

b) Dual enrollment in the local public school

c) Open enrollment in other public school districts

d) Post-secondary enrollment college classes

How to Homeschool with Private Instruction

• Provide instruction in a nonpublic school setting (i.e. home, library, etc)

• Instruction must be for at least 148 days per year and 37 days per quarter

• Understand which programs you are legally allowed to still access in the public school system which include:

a) Driver’s education through the public school

b) Free testing

c) Community college classes

d) Parent-taught driver education

• Programs which you are not allowed to still access are:

a) Dual enrollment in the local public school

b) Open enrollment in other public school districts

c) Post-secondary enrollment college classes

How to Homeschool with a Supervising Teacher

• File Form A by September 1^st of each school year

• Provide the following information on the File Form A:

a) Name of the child or children

b) Age

c) Number of days of instruction which should be at least 148 days

d) Curriculum used

e) Subjects covered

f) Lesson plans

g) Schedule

h) Proof of immunizations or medical or religious exemption for children homeschooled for the first time

• Optional: You may request for your Form A to be kept private

• Hire an Iowa-certified teacher to supervise with one or more of the following licenses:

a) Elementary classroom license: May supervise for students in grades K–6.

b) Middle school license: May supervise for students in grades 5–8.

c) Secondary license: May supervise for students in grades 5–8.

d) Secondary classroom license: May supervise for students in grades 7–12.

e) Substitute license: May supervise for students in any grade.

f) Substitute authorization: May supervise for students in grades K–12.

• A parent with an applicable license can be his or her own supervising teacher.

• The supervising teacher must do the following:

a) Be in contact with your child/student twice every 45 days of instruction and one of the sessions must be face-to-face

b) Keep a record of assessment

• Understand which programs you are legally allowed to still access in the public school system which include:

a) Driver’s education through the public school

b) Free testing

c) Community college classes

d) Parent-taught driver education

• AND if you submit a request for dual enrollment by September 15^th you can also access:

a) public school classes

b) extracurricular activities

c) Post-secondary enrollment college classes

How to Homeschool with an Annual Assessment

• File Form A by September 1^st of each school year

• Provide the following information on the File Form A:

i) Name of the child or children

j) Age

k) Number of days of instruction which should be at least 148 days

l) Curriculum used

m) Subjects covered

n) Lesson plans

o) Schedule

p) Proof of immunizations or medical or religious exemption for children homeschooled for the first time

• Optional: You may request for your Form A to be kept private

• Submit annual assessments to the local school district starting the year your child turns 7yrs old by September 15^th

• If your child is older when they begin homeschooling you must start submitting annual assessments the first year they start

• Then each year’s assessments need to be conducted by May 1^st and submitted to the local school district by June 30^th

• The yearly assessment for K-5 must include:

a) Reading

b) Language arts

c) Math

• For grades 6-12 the yearly assessment must include:

a) Reading

b) Language arts

c) Math

d) Social studies

e) Science

• The following options may be used for assessment:

a) Report Card

b) Review by a teacher

c) Standardized test

• Understand which programs you are legally allowed to still access in the public school system which include:

a) Driver’s education through the public school

b) Free testing

c) Community college classes

d) Parent-taught driver education if the student was under any option other than independent private instruction the previous year

• AND if you submit a request for dual enrollment by September 15^th you can also access:

a) public school classes

b) extracurricular activities

c) post-secondary enrollment college classes

How to Homeschool with the Home School Assistance Program (HSAP)

• File Form A by September 1^st of each school year but only fill in items 1,3, and 5

• Proof of immunizations or medical or religious exemption for children homeschooled for the first time

• Optional: You may request for your Form A to be kept private

• Comply with any additional requirements that the local school district may impose for HSAP participants

• Understand which programs you are legally allowed to still access in the public school system which include:

a) Driver’s education through the public school

b) Free testing

c) Community college classes

d) Parent-taught driver education if the student was under any option other than independent private instruction the previous year

AND if you submit a request for dual enrollment by September 15^th you can also access:

a) public school classes

b) extracurricular activities

c) post-secondary enrollment college classes

Helpful links:

https://educateiowa.gov/pk-12/options-educational-choice/competent-private-instruction-home-schooling

https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/non-public-education/regulation-map/iowa.html

Know the Law & Rules

Contact Information–State and Federal Departments of Education

• Iowa Department of Education
  Grimes State Office Building
  400 East 14th St
  Des Moines, IA 50319-0146
  Phone: (515) 281-5294
  Fax: (515) 242-5988
  Website: https://www.educateiowa.gov/

• U.S. Department of Education, Iowa

This is meant to be a summary and NOT legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.