Free, plain-language homeschool rules for all 50 states, DC and Australia. Every page is checked against official government sources and watched for law changes.

United States · Homeschool rules

Homeschooling in Iowa

What the law asks of you, in plain language, with links to the official sources so you can check every line.

Low requirements Notice required Last verified May 26, 2026

At a glance

Notice

Required

Curriculum

See details

Testing

See details

Teacher

See details

Overview

Homeschooling in Iowa is governed by Iowa Code section 299A. Iowa offers two pathways — Competent Private Instruction for parents with teaching credentials and Independent Private Instruction for all other families. Most families use the IPI pathway which requires annual notification but no standardized testing.

Telling the authorities

Notice is required

Who: Local school district superintendent

When: By September 1 each year

How to do it

Submit a Competent Private Instruction (CPI) or Independent Private Instruction (IPI) report to your local school district by September 1 each year. Iowa offers two pathways depending on parent qualifications.

Requirements

Curriculum
Must provide instruction in English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and health.
Testing
Annual assessment required for CPI pathway. Options include standardized test or portfolio assessment. IPI pathway has no testing requirement.
Record keeping
Must maintain records of instruction. Assessment results retained for CPI pathway families.
Teacher
CPI pathway requires parent to hold a teaching licence or work under supervision of a licensed teacher. IPI pathway has no qualification requirement but has slightly more reporting requirements.

Recent changes

Iowa offers two compliance pathways giving families flexibility based on parent qualifications. Most families without a teaching licence use the IPI pathway which has no testing requirement.

Still have a question about Iowa?

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General information, not legal advice. Always confirm with your school district or education department.