WHAT & WHO
IS HOMESCHOOL IOWA?

Homeschool Iowa

Homeschool Iowa exists to equip and encourage Iowa homeschooling families and to promote and protect home education in our state.

Founded in 1992 as NICHE, we are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization managed almost exclusively by volunteers. 

Homeschool Iowa membership, resources, and events are offered to all homeschooling families in Iowa and the surrounding area.

Our Mission Goals:
Equip

• Sponsor the annual Homeschool Iowa Conference

• Provide the annual Homeschool Iowa Graduation ceremony

• Offer Homeschool Iowa Regional Representative and Special Needs Advisor services

• Provide tools, forms, and other needed resources for Iowa homeschoolers


Encourage

Communicate with the homeschool community through email, legislative updates, and social media

Supply social media platforms for Iowa homeschooling families

Respond to inquiries and requests for information about homeschooling in Iowa


Promote

Educate the public on the laws and merits of parent-directed home education

Provide our up-to-date, informative website

Attend local events to present information on homeschooling

• Answer media inquiries concerning home education


Protect

Monitor and guide state and national legislation affecting homeschooling

Defend the right to homeschool

• Advocate for the least restrictive laws and policies for homeschooling in Iowa

Host the annual Homeschool Iowa Capitol Day


Our Philosophy

  • We believe parents have the God-given right and responsibility to raise their children.
  • We believe Christ-centered home education develops the full potential of the next generation.
  • We believe that children should have an education that fits their needs and giftings.
  • We believe that parents who receive encouragement, support, and protection are best able to educate their children.

WE PROVIDE

  • Homeschool guidance, 
    but we do not enroll students
  • Iowa law & rule information
    but we're not a legal defense provider
  • Referrals to support groups 
    but we're not a replacement for local groups
  • Referrals to licensed teachers
    but we do not provide direct instruction

Meet Our New Executive Director

Homeschool Iowa Executive Director Aaron Neely

Homeschool Iowa is pleased to announce our new Executive Director, Aaron Neely!

Aaron married his wife Sarah in 2001. Today they live on a small homestead in southern Iowa with their four children. They are active in their local church and homeschool support group and are committed to K-12 home education for their family. 
 
After working in the corporate food industry, Aaron founded VWG, LLC in 2015, a company that specializes in importing and distributing food ingredients internationally. He is also a 20-year retired member of the Iowa National Guard, finishing with the rank of captain, and is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. 

A Message from Aaron


As dedicated K-12 homeschool parents for many years, my wife and I are looking forward to the opportunity to give back to a community that we have become a part of and grown to love. It is my intention to be a servant leader to our volunteers and put the needs of homeschooling Iowa families as the top daily priority.

I ask all of you to pray for me and for our organization, just as Zechariah prayed, that God would "enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days." Luke 1:67-75


MEET THE BOARD

Homeschool Iowa Board of Directors

From left to right: Jill Oppman, George Blom, Kim Blom, Dr. Joe O'Tool, Angie O'Tool, Joe Bailey, Elizabeth Bailey, Nick Reddin, Dana Reddin, Jeremy Vos, and Jodi Vos

Read more about our Homeschool Iowa Board members in our "Meet the Board" blog post.

Our Homeschool Iowa board members sign a statement of faith,
but acceptance of a faith statement is not required of the general membership.

The History of Homeschool Iowa (NICHE)


Homeschool Iowa (NICHE) 20th Anniversary

Statement of faith

The directors and officers of Homeschool Iowa (NICHE) believe:

  • The Bible to be the inspired, infallible, divinely preserved Word of God, the supreme and final authority for all faith and life.
  • That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  • In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood on the cross, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, and His imminent bodily return in power and glory.
  • That man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin and is therefore lost, and only those who put their faith in Jesus Christ alone, not trusting in any personal works whatsoever, can be saved.
  • That salvation is the free gift of God brought to the sinner by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose substitutionary death on the cross paid the penalty for man’s sin.
  • That the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict mankind; indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service.
  • In the spiritual unity of believers through our common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that individual doctrinal differences which may exist, outside of the aforementioned (V:1-6), should not hinder the unity of Christian home educators.
  • In accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible as the inerrant Word of God, for all purposes of the corporation and these bylaws, “marriage” means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word “spouse” refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife.
 

PARTNER WITH US!


A one year Homeschool Iowa membership starts at $50.

Get Your Calendar Year Membership Now!