IA

How to Start Homeschooling in Iowa (2026)

Iowa Code chapter 299A provides for competent private instruction, by a licensed practitioner or by a parent, guardian, or legal custodian, and for independent private instruction, with dual enrollment available to a child receiving competent private instruction. The Students First Education Savings Account program makes funding available for eligible students to attend accredited nonpublic schools.

Legal framework

Iowa Code chapter 299A allows the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a child of compulsory attendance age to place the child under competent private instruction or independent private instruction. Each child receiving competent private instruction is evaluated annually by May 31, using a nationally recognized standardized achievement evaluation or other assessment tool developed or recognized by the department of education and chosen by the parent (Section 299A.4). If a parent of a child receiving competent private instruction submits a request, the child is also registered in a public school for dual enrollment purposes (Section 299A.8).