Iowa Department of Education — Homeschooling
The main official state resource for Iowa private-instruction options, legal requirements, forms, deadlines, public-school access, legislative changes, and state contacts.

Iowa Private Instruction Handbook
A detailed guide to Competent Private Instruction, Independent Private Instruction, Form A, Home School Assistance Programs, assessments, dual enrollment, special education, driver education, and other family responsibilities. Read it together with the 2026 legislative update because some older IPI provisions have changed.

Iowa Private Instruction Options Flowchart
A visual comparison designed to help families identify the private-instruction pathway that best matches the amount of school-district involvement and support they want.

2026 Iowa Homeschool Legislative Update
Official guidance explaining the 2026 changes to Independent Private Instruction, recognition of parent-issued diplomas and transcripts, and parental authority to verify homeschool information.

Iowa Public School District Directory
Find the resident school district responsible for Form A, dual enrollment, Home School Assistance Programs, testing requests, driver education, and other local services.

HSLDA — Iowa Homeschool Laws
An independent overview of Iowa homeschool pathways, compulsory-attendance requirements, reporting choices, public-school access, and special-education considerations.

Iowa Code Chapter 299 — Compulsory Education
The official chapter governing compulsory attendance, private-instruction compliance, reporting, truancy, and related education responsibilities.

Iowa Code § 299.1A — Compulsory-Attendance Age
Defines which Iowa children are subject to compulsory education, including special rules for enrolled five-year-olds and children who turn 16 during the school year.

Iowa Code § 299A.1 — CPI and IPI Definitions
Defines Competent Private Instruction and Independent Private Instruction. Read this section with the 2026 legislative update reflecting the removal of older IPI student-number and tuition restrictions.

Iowa Code § 299A.2 — CPI by a Licensed Practitioner
Covers Competent Private Instruction provided or supervised by an appropriately licensed Iowa teacher, including participation in an available Home School Assistance Program.

Iowa Code § 299A.3 — CPI Provided by a Parent
Covers Competent Private Instruction provided by a parent, guardian, or legal custodian who does not hold a current Iowa teaching license.

Iowa Code § 299A.8 — Dual Enrollment
Allows qualifying CPI students to register with their public school for academic courses, programs, and extracurricular activities on the same basis as enrolled public-school students.

Iowa Code § 299A.9 — Students Requiring Special Education
Addresses evaluation and special-education provisions for eligible students receiving Competent Private Instruction.

HF 2754 Homeschool Technical Assistance
Explains the current IPI criteria and Iowa’s recognition of parent-issued diplomas, final transcripts, completion records, enrollment verification, grades, and other educational documentation.

How to Comply with Iowa Homeschool Law
A current plain-language comparison of Iowa’s private-instruction choices and the forms, assessments, and district interaction associated with each option.

Iowa Tuition and Textbook Tax Credit
Eligible Iowa taxpayers with a dependent receiving lawful private instruction may claim a nonrefundable credit equal to 25% of the first $2,000 in qualifying expenses, for a maximum credit of $500 per dependent.

Qualifying Homeschool Expenses
Review current guidance covering eligible instructional materials, textbooks, certain supplies, lesson expenses, extracurricular fees, driver education, instrument rental, field trips, and excluded purchases. Families should retain an itemized record of expenses.

Home School Assistance Programs
A resident school district may offer a publicly funded HSAP that provides licensed-teacher supervision, instructional assistance, materials, and family support. Participation is free, but availability and program requirements vary by district.

Iowa Senior Year Plus
Eligible high-school homeschool students may access concurrent-enrollment and other college-credit opportunities through their resident public-school district. Families should register through the district so qualifying course tuition is properly funded.

Public-School Dual Enrollment
Qualifying CPI students may request access to public-school academics, extracurricular activities, and other programs. Ordinary school fees may still apply when the same fee is charged to regularly enrolled students.

No-Cost Standardized Testing for CPI Students
A family using a qualifying CPI pathway may make a timely request for the resident district to provide an approved standardized assessment at no cost. Requirements differ for IPI students.

Iowa Students First Education Savings Accounts
For 2026–2027, the ESA award is $8,148, but the student must attend an Iowa-accredited nonpublic school full time. This is not a general curriculum or expense account for families continuing independent CPI or IPI.

HSLDA Compassion Curriculum Grant
A privately funded national grant that may help qualifying HSLDA member families experiencing significant financial hardship with curriculum and other homeschool expenses.

Iowa Department of Education — Online Learning
The state’s central resource for approved online public and nonpublic schools, online charter schools, private content providers, virtual-learning guidance, and Iowa e-Learning Central.

Approved Iowa Online Schools
Review the current state list of approved online public and nonpublic schools. Enrollment requirements, geographic availability, grades served, and school status vary by provider.

Approved Iowa Online Charter Schools
Find state-authorized online charter-school options. A student enrolled in an online public charter school is a public-school student rather than an independently homeschooled student.

Iowa e-Learning Central
An online exchange of learning content and resources. Students receiving Competent Private Instruction may request available courses or instructional units through their resident school district.

Iowa Public-School Open Enrollment
Official information about applying to attend a public-school district outside the district of residence, including applications involving approved online public schools.

Using Online Curriculum for Private Instruction
Iowa families may select private online courses, correspondence programs, or digital curriculum as part of their parent-directed homeschool. The Iowa Department of Education does not require or recommend one specific curriculum.

Online Concurrent-Enrollment Courses
Eligible students in grades 9–12 may have access to online college-credit courses through agreements between their resident district and an Iowa community college.

Iowa Form A — Competent Private Instruction Report
The official form for families using CPI Option 1 or CPI Option 2 with dual enrollment or optional reporting. Students seeking HSAP participation complete the required portions specified by the program.

CPI Timelines and Procedures
A one-page official schedule covering Form A, dual-enrollment requests, HSAP deadlines, annual evaluations, and submission of assessment results.

Private Instruction Options Flowchart
Compare Iowa’s reporting and nonreporting pathways, licensed-teacher options, district interaction, dual enrollment, and available support.

Withdrawal and Notification Guidance
Iowa does not require routine Form A filing under every pathway. However, families withdrawing an enrolled student are encouraged to give the school written notice identifying the last day of attendance and the selected private-instruction status to prevent truancy confusion.

Additional Iowa Homeschool Forms
Optional family forms for IPI responses, privacy protection, withdrawal documentation, dual enrollment, attendance, and other recordkeeping purposes.

Find Your Iowa School District
Locate district contact information for Form A, HSAP availability, dual enrollment, testing, special education, driver education, concurrent enrollment, or withdrawal questions.

Iowa School District Maps
Use official statewide and individual district maps to identify the public-school district serving a family’s residence.

Iowa Private Instruction Contacts
Find current Iowa Department of Education staff names, email addresses, and telephone numbers for official questions about CPI, IPI, forms, or legislative changes.

Homeschool Iowa
A statewide organization providing Iowa homeschool information, legislative advocacy, educational events, family resources, forms, regional support, and community connections.

Homeschool Iowa Getting-Started Toolkit
Practical assistance for understanding Iowa law, choosing a private-instruction option, withdrawing a student, selecting curriculum, keeping records, and connecting with support.

Iowa Homeschool Options
A family-friendly comparison of IPI, CPI reporting and nonreporting choices, licensed-teacher supervision, HSAP participation, and dual enrollment.

Homeschool Iowa Forms and Resources
Download optional and required-use resources for CPI, IPI, withdrawal, dual enrollment, privacy protection, attendance, and homeschool records.

Iowa Homeschool Support Groups
Find local support groups, co-ops, community programs, and regional connections serving homeschool families throughout Iowa.

Iowa Homeschool Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about Iowa law, forms, assessments, curriculum, public-school services, high school, diplomas, and other common family questions.

HSLDA Iowa
Current state-law information, withdrawal guidance, public-school access resources, special-education information, recordkeeping guidance, and legal assistance for members.