Iowa Homeschool Laws and Funding (2026-27)

What Iowa’s law requires

The law that allows it: Iowa Code 299A.1 lets a parent place a child of compulsory attendance age under competent private instruction (CPI) or independent private instruction (IPI).

“may place the child under competent private instruction or independent private instruction in accordance with this chapter” Iowa Code 2026, chapter 299A, private instruction (Iowa Legislature PDF printed December 2025)
Telling the state or district: Families using CPI Option 1, CPI Option 2 with dual enrollment, or CPI with optional reporting file Form A with their school district.

“A parent, guardian or legal custodian who would like to enroll their child/children in CPI Option #1, including HSAP participation, CPI Option #2 with dual enrollment or CPI optional reporting must file Form A” Iowa Department of Education, Private Instruction Handbook (August 2026)

A parent who chooses CPI Option 2 with no reporting is using what the department calls the Private Instruction Exemption.

“A parent, guardian or custodian who chooses CPI Option #2 with no reporting is utilizing the Private Instruction Exemption.” Iowa Department of Education, Private Instruction Handbook (August 2026)

Choosing the Private Instruction Exemption means giving up dual enrollment for academics, activities and special education services.

“When a family chooses this option, they relinquish the ability to dual enroll for academics, activities or special education services.” Iowa Department of Education, Private Instruction Handbook (August 2026)

Families using IPI do not file Form A.

“Families homeschooling using IPI do not file Form A with the district.” Iowa Department of Education, Private Instruction Handbook (August 2026)

Under IPI, the family must give a report naming the primary instructor, location, responsible authority and students if the superintendent or the state education director asks in writing.

“Provides, upon written request from the superintendent of the school district in which the independent private instruction is provided, or from the director of the department of education, a report identifying the primary instructor” Iowa Department of Education, Homeschooling (Private Instruction)
What and how long to teach: CPI is instruction on a daily basis for at least 148 days a school year, with at least 37 days each quarter.

“Private instruction provided on a daily basis for at least one hundred forty-eight days during a school year, to be met by attendance for at least thirty-seven days each school quarter” Iowa Code 2026, chapter 299A, private instruction (Iowa Legislature PDF printed December 2025)

IPI must teach math, reading and language arts, science and social studies in all grade levels.

“Provides students in all grade levels with instruction in mathematics, reading and language arts, science, and social studies” Iowa Department of Education, Homeschooling (Private Instruction)
Testing or evaluation: For CPI Option 2 students with optional reporting or dual enrollment, the annual progress evaluation is due by May 31.

“The deadline for the annual progress evaluation to be conducted for CPI Option #2 students with optional reporting or dual enrollment.” Iowa Department of Education, Private Instruction Handbook (August 2026)
Who may teach: CPI Option 2 lets a parent, guardian or custodian without a current Iowa teaching license provide the instruction.

“CPI supervised by a parent, guardian, or custodian (Option 2) without a current Iowa teaching license.” Iowa Department of Education, Homeschooling (Private Instruction)
Ages the law covers: Formal education is required from age 6 through age 16.

“Iowa requires that students be provided with formal education from age 6 through age 16.” Iowa Department of Education, Private Instruction Handbook (August 2026)

The state’s own page for families: Iowa Department of Education, Homeschooling (Private Instruction).

State money for homeschoolers in Iowa

Iowa Tuition and Textbook Credit (state income tax)

Parents of dependents receiving private instruction (homeschooling) can claim the Tuition and Textbook Credit. (Iowa Department of Revenue, Tuition and Textbook Credit (K-12 only))

The credit is 25% of the first $2,000 of qualifying expenses per dependent. (Iowa Department of Revenue, Tuition and Textbook Credit (K-12 only))

Eligible tuition includes tuition for competent private instruction under Iowa Code 299A.2. (Iowa Department of Revenue, Tuition and Textbook Credit (K-12 only))

Programs that do not pay homeschoolers

Iowa Students First Education Savings Account. A student homeschooled last year can apply for an ESA only if enrolled full time at an Iowa accredited nonpublic school. (Iowa Department of Education, Education Savings Accounts)

Iowa Students First ESA: amount and how to apply Private schools in Iowa

Which states pay homeschoolers, and how: Iowa next to every other state.

Questions parents ask

Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling in Iowa?

Families using CPI Option 1, CPI Option 2 with dual enrollment, or CPI with optional reporting file Form A with their school district. A parent who chooses CPI Option 2 with no reporting is using what the department calls the Private Instruction Exemption. Choosing the Private Instruction Exemption means giving up dual enrollment for academics, activities and special education services. Families using IPI do not file Form A. Under IPI, the family must give a report naming the primary instructor, location, responsible authority and students if the superintendent or the state education director asks in writing.

Do homeschoolers in Iowa have to take tests?

For CPI Option 2 students with optional reporting or dual enrollment, the annual progress evaluation is due by May 31.

Can a homeschooler in Iowa get state money?

Iowa Tuition and Textbook Credit (state income tax): Parents of dependents receiving private instruction (homeschooling) can claim the Tuition and Textbook Credit. The credit is 25% of the first $2,000 of qualifying expenses per dependent. Eligible tuition includes tuition for competent private instruction under Iowa Code 299A.2.

Every line above is our plain-English summary of the quoted text, which is copied from the official page named beside it. Laws change: the quoted page is the authority, and a lawyer or the state can answer questions about your family.

Homeschooling in Iowa: what the law requires and who pays

What Iowa’s law requires

State money for homeschoolers in Iowa

Iowa Tuition and Textbook Credit (state income tax)

Programs that do not pay homeschoolers

Questions parents ask

Homeschool law in other states