REQUIREMENTS
- Initial reporting required
If your child is of compulsory school attendance age (6-16), you'll need to file, in duplicate, a CPI Report Form A (available in the Tool Kit below) with your resident school district by September 1 at the beginning of each school year.
If you start homeschooling during the school year, the form is to be at least partially completed and filed within 14 days, and fully completed and filed within 30 calendar days, of removing the child from an Iowa accredited school or moving to Iowa.
If you are using CPI Option 1 through enrollment in a public school HSAP, your CPI Form A must have, at minimum, Items 1, 3 and 5 completed -- but please note that school districts can condition HSAP participation upon the entire form being completed. - Visits with supervising teacher required
CPI Option 1 includes requirements for supervising teacher visits.HSAP supervising teachers are assigned by the public school and must meet with the student and parent at least four times every 45 days of instruction (one out of every two visits must be face-to-face).
The supervising teacher must have a valid Iowa teaching certificate or practitioner license appropriate to the grade level of the student. This can include an Iowa substitute teaching license, but not an Iowa substitute authorization.
See FAQ sections below for details about supervising teachers duties and qualifications.
PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCESS AVAILABILITY
- Access is available to dual enrollment
Public school services, activities, classes, or Senior Year Plus options are available
MORE INFORMATION - Access available for Parent-Taught Driver Education
Parents using any CPI option may provide Parent-Taught Driver Education.
MORE INFORMATION
SCHOOL DAY ATTENDANCE AND SCHOOL SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS
- Instructional days specified by law
Parents using any CPI option must provide instruction for at least 148 days per school year,
with at least 37 days per quarter, but there is no legally-defined mechanism for verification. - School subject requirements dependent upon individual HSAP regulations
Iowa law and rules allow each HSAP to set its own rules and regulations
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
- Parents may homeschool students with special educational needs.
While using CPI Option 1, public school and/or AEA services are available through dual enrollment, if desired.
Or parents can provide for their children’s special needs privately.
Even though I was talking to myself, I’m not crazy.
I'm a homeschool mom,
and that was just a parent-teacher conference.
Competent Private Instruction Report [Form A]
Purpose:
The Competent Private Instruction Report is published annually by the Department of Education for use by parents providing CPI with reporting.
The DE released a new non-dated CPI Form A on August 9, 2022. The Homeschool Iowa Advocacy Team notified the DE that the form contained errors, such as marking fields as required without basis in law or rule. Ten days later, the DE published a revised form, available below. The form still has some areas of concern, but most of the serious errors have been corrected. Please read the notice in the Plan of Instruction section to the right before completing the CPI Form A.
If you're a Homeschool Iowa member, you can access a fillable (type-in) version of this form via the Member Portal.
Purpose:
Homeschool Iowa provides to our members this step-by-step guide to assist parents in completing a Competent Private Instruction Report (Form A). If you're a current Homeschool Iowa member, find it on the Member Portal above. Not a member? Join today!
If you are using CPI Option 1 through enrollment in a public school HSAP, the Iowa Administrative Rules state that your CPI Form A must have, at minimum, Items 1, 3 and 5 completed -- but please note that school districts can condition HSAP participation upon the entire form being completed. Also note that the new CPI Form A has a new numbering system that now inaccurately reflect the items referred to above.
Purpose:
These forms, designed by the Home School Legal Defense Association and Homeschool Iowa, have been submitted and accepted for decades to comply with the requirement on the CPI Form A for an "outline of the courses of study, including subjects covered, lesson plans, and time spent on the areas of study – and the titles and authors or publishers of the texts to be used." Chapter 31.2(1)(a) report items 5 & 6.
On the new CPI Form A, you may write in "See attached" in the table provided in Item #5 and attach the completed Plan of Instruction form.
Choose the form style that works best with the curriculum you are using.
If you use separate materials for each subject area, you'll probably choose the lined form.
If you use a unit study approach, the unlined form will likely be your choice.
Note: If you're a Homeschool Iowa member, you can access a fillable (type-in) versions of these forms via the Member Portal.
Purpose:
This document must be filed with your CPI form if you intend to use the exemption for immunizations.
Note: If you're a Homeschool Iowa member, you can access a fillable (type-in) version of this form via the Member Portal.
Purpose:
This optional form is recommended to protect your family's privacy. It informs school officials that you want protections afforded by federal and state laws and that you do not want any information concerning your enrolled child -- including directory information -- to be released to anyone without your prior consent.
Note: If you're a Homeschool Iowa member, you can access a fillable (type-in) version of this form via the Member Portal.
Purpose:
This form may be used by a parent when filing the Competent Private Instruction (CPI) Form A.
Ask the school district official receiving your CPI Form to sign the receipt, and retain this receipt with your homeschool records.
Note: If you're a Homeschool Iowa member, you can access a fillable (type-in) version of this form via the Member Portal.
2020 - 2021 Private Instruction Handbook
Purpose:
This Department of Education publication is published annually to provide information
for parents and school district officials on private instruction, including Competent Private Instruction (CPI) and Independent Private Instruction (IPI).
NOTE: The 2022-2023 Private Instruction Handbook is not yet available from the Department of Education.
The Homeschool Iowa Legal Summary
Purpose:
A brief summary of the legal requirements and options for home educators in Iowa.
The Homeschool IOWA Resource Guide
Purpose:
Homeschool Iowa members have access to this helpful two-page guide listing homeschool curricula, materials, periodicals, catalog companies, and other resources. Website links are included. Not a member? Join now!
© 2019 Homeschool Iowa - Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators (NICHE)