How do I start homeschooling my child in Iowa?
If you are interested in homeschooling your child in Iowa but don’t know how to start, the following list may be useful.
- Know and understand the Iowa homeschool laws.
- Find a homeschool group or association. These organizations provide information about state requirements and will put you in touch with other homeschool families in places like Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, or anywhere else in IA.
- Choose a curriculum.
- Withdraw your child from public school.
- Set a daily schedule and follow it.
- Be vigilant about record keeping by carefully tracking attendance and grades.
- At the end of the curriculum, use a formal evaluation of learning or standardized assessment such as the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP).
Is homeschooling free in Iowa?
Homeschool is not free in Iowa in the sense that an effective curriculum requires the purchase of certain materials for your child’s education. The good news is that parents throughout the state - from Sioux City to Ankeny to Iowa City - can make their money go a long way by choosing options like an online math curriculum that builds all of the instruction into the lessons.
Do parents get paid to homeschool in Iowa?
Parents do not get paid to homeschool. However, in some cases, tax deductions, tax credits, or stipends may be available. Learn the homeschooling laws in Iowa to find out if any of these apply to your situation.
What are the laws for homeschooling in Iowa?
For the most recent information about the laws for homeschooling in Iowa, visit the IA department of education website. Some procedures, like keeping attendance records, test scores, and samples of completed work are a good idea whether they’re legal requirements or not.
Is Iowa a good place to homeschool?
The Hawkeye State is as good a place as any to homeschool. While certain states are considered particularly “friendly” for K12 homeschooling, such as Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Alaska, and Missouri, the number of homeschoolers is growing everywhere due in large part to the availability of great online resources.