Legal Options for Homeschooling in Iowa
Important Note: Homeschooling is not the same as an online school. The Ames Community School District does not offer an online school.
Options With Reporting and Public School Services
- All 3 options require Form A to be filed by September 1
- All 3 options allow students to dual-enroll for up to 75% of schooling
CPI Option 1 with HSAP
- Requires 4 contacts with HSAP teacher per quarter (2 of which are face-to-face)
CPI Option 1 with Privately Retained Teacher
- Requires 2 contacts with teacher per quarter (one of which is face-to-face)
CPI Option 2 with Annual Assessment
- Annual Assessments results must be reported by June 30
Options With No Reporting and No Public School Services
- Both options do not allow students access to dual-enrollment, special education services, or Senior Year Plus options (However, concurrent enrollment at DMACC can be accessed)
- No initial reporting is required
IPI
- Has no legally defined number of days
- Instruction must include Reading, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Math every year
- Allows instruction of up to 4 unrelated students
CPI Option 2 With Opt-Out
- Parents must provide at least 148 days of instruction per school year
- No required subjects
- Iowa Code does not address instruction of unrelated students
For more information about homeschooling, contact:
