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Feb. 13 | Bill to be heard in the House Education Committee
H.F. 2366 was introduced by Representatives Bill Gustoff and Samantha Fett on February 10 and was assigned to the House Education Committee. It is scheduled to be heard in committee on February 16.
Please contact your representative and ask them to support these improvements to Iowa homeschool law.
Summary of H.F. 2366
H.F. 2366 would make several improvements to Iowa homeschool law. This bill would:
- Remove the requirement that families provide an outline of their curriculum for students being homeschooled under competent private instruction (CPI). It also removes the immunization and blood lead test requirement, which is important because it leaves medical decisions in the hands of parents and not the state.
- Allow homeschool students under CPI to dual enroll for “any amount of instruction” at the public school for academic programs.
- Allow homeschool programs operating as an Independent Private Institution (IPI) to enroll an unlimited number of unrelated students by removing the current cap of four unrelated students. It would also allow these IPI’s to charge tuition. These changes will benefit co-ops, homeschool pods, and microschools.
- Prohibit rulemaking for IPI by the Department of Education. This is a positive change that requires the legislature and not an executive agency to make changes to the law.
- Protect diplomas issued to homeschooled students under CPI and IPI. The bill text declares that the state, an Iowa community college, or other state institution of higher education “shall treat a diploma or credential awarded for completion of a program of secondary education… the same as a high school diploma awarded by a school district or accredited nonpublic school.” This provides great protection from discrimination and helps validate homeschool diplomas.
- Allow parents themselves to verify that their student is enrolled in a CPI or IPI program, that they are receiving full-time or part-time instruction, that the grades the student has received are bona fide, and confirm “any other required educational information.” This is very important. This section of the bill affirms that the parent is the one in charge of the child’s education and not the state, local district, or other organization.
Overall, this bill proposes many improvements to the homeschool law in Iowa and affirms a parent’s God-given right to educate their child.