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Iowa Homeschool Requirements Moderate regulation
What Iowa requires from homeschool families — notification, subjects, hours, testing, and portfolio rules — with links to the current law. This is the same state data FolioKid uses to build your portfolio template.
- Annual assessment: varies by the instruction option used — Iowa Code §§ 299A.3–299A.4 make filing and evaluation permissive for parent-provided Competent Private Instruction; confirm your option with your district
Iowa has several legal options. Independent Private Instruction (IPI) requires no filing (a report only on written request). Parent-provided Competent Private Instruction (CPI) may file the district report and complete an annual evaluation by May 31 (test or portfolio review) — Iowa Code § 299A.3 words these as permissive. The 148-day minimum applies to the licensed-practitioner-supervised CPI route (§ 299A.1(2)(a)(1)).
Records you must keep in Iowa
What you keep in Iowa depends on the instruction option you choose — but a good work record covers you under any of them, and makes the annual evaluation simple if you use it:
- Work samples organized by subject (the core areas are reading/language arts, math, science, and social studies)
- Evidence of adequate progress in reading, math, and language arts, plus science and social studies at grade 6 and up
- Your annual evaluation results if you use parent-provided Competent Private Instruction — a standardized test or a portfolio review (completed by May 31)
- A copy of the district report if you file one for CPI (Independent Private Instruction requires no filing)
- An attendance / instruction record (the 148-day minimum applies only to the licensed-practitioner-supervised CPI route)
Your Iowa filing timeline
- At the start (CPI, if you file)Parent-provided Competent Private Instruction may file the district report; Independent Private Instruction requires no filing.
- All year longCollect work samples and keep an instruction record as you go.
- By May 31 (CPI evaluation route)Complete the annual evaluation — a standardized test or a portfolio review — if you use that option.
- On written request (IPI)Provide a report only if the school or state asks for one in writing.
How FolioKid helps with Iowa's requirements
You do the teaching; FolioKid keeps a record that works for whichever Iowa option you use:
- Snap photos of work as it happens — FolioKid tags each entry by subject across reading/language arts, math, science, and social studies.
- Track instruction as you go — the 148-day minimum applies only to the licensed-practitioner-supervised route, so a running record keeps you covered under any option.
- If you use the CPI evaluation route, build a portfolio review or record test scores ahead of the May 31 evaluation.
- Export an Iowa-formatted portfolio PDF — or send an evaluator or your district a read-only share link (no account needed, expires in 30 days).
Free: the Iowa Homeschool Records Checklist
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Official Iowa sources
- 📜 Iowa Code § 299A — the statute itself
- 🏛️ Iowa Dept. of Education — Homeschooling
- 🔎 HSLDA — Iowa homeschool law summary
Iowa homeschool FAQ
What law governs homeschooling in Iowa?
Homeschooling in Iowa is governed by Iowa Code § 299A. Iowa has several legal options. Independent Private Instruction (IPI) requires no filing (a report only on written request). Parent-provided Competent Private Instruction (CPI) may file the district report and complete an annual evaluation by May 31 (test or portfolio review) — Iowa Code § 299A.3 words these as permissive. The 148-day minimum applies to the licensed-practitioner-supervised CPI route (§ 299A.1(2)(a)(1)). Always verify current requirements with your state department of education.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in Iowa?
Iowa does not specify required subjects in its homeschool law, though parents are responsible for providing instruction as defined by Iowa Code § 299A.
Does Iowa require testing or a portfolio evaluation?
No — Iowa does not require standardized testing or a portfolio evaluation, but keeping a portfolio of your child's work is still the simplest way to document progress.
Keeping records for Iowa? Snap photos of your kids' work and FolioKid organizes them into a year-end portfolio PDF — formatted around Iowa's requirements.
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