HOME SCHOOL (PRIVATE INSTRUCTION)
Families may choose to educate their children at home instead of sending them to a traditional public or nonpublic school. This is called homeschooling. Families choose to home school for a variety of reasons. That is why the state of Iowa allows several educational options for home schooling:
- Full-time home school with the support of a certified teacher (Competent Private Instruction)
- Full-time home school without the support of a certified teacher (Competent Private Instruction or Independent Private Instruction)
- Part-time home school with part-time enrollment in a school district (Competent Private Instruction)
- Attendance at a non-accredited school (Competent Private Instruction)
Home schooling with the support of a certified teacher.
Home instruction is supervised by a teacher hired by the family or provided by a district’s Home School Assistance Program (HSAP).
Home schooling without the support of a certified teacher.
The family provides the total educational program with no interaction with a public school or certified teacher.
Part-time home school with part-time enrollment in a school district.
The student completes some instruction at home and participates in a public school for some instruction or extra-curricular activities.
Attendance at a non-accredited school.
A student attends a school that does not meet accreditation standards.
The Iowa Department of Education cannot issue diplomas, and the district of residence may not be compelled to issue a diploma. This is a local decision. Families desiring a district diploma for their children are urged to contact their resident high school administrators during their child’s 8th-grade year to coordinate these credits. Further information can be found by clicking on the following links:
Iowa Department of Education’s Home School (Private Instruction) website
Home School Acceptable Tests for Baseline & Annual Assessment
Additional questions regarding Home Schooling may be directed to Sonya Sullivan.