Spring 2019

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SPRING 2019 HOMESCHOOL IOWA 11
When I began homeschooling under the Independent
Private Instruction option in 2013, I didn’t even know
it was a brand new addition to Iowa Code 299A.1.
Our family simply transitioned from a homeschool assistance
program to IPI. We created the most enjoyable memories those
years. We traveled off-season to Washington D.C., Williamsburg,
and other historical areas. While reading at a state park we ob-
served a variety of bugs crawling around, which we immediately
sought to learn about and identify and just like that, a reading
lesson was followed up naturally with
a science activity. Good stuff.
In high school, we transitioned to
another homeschool option with “dual
enrollment” so our son could partici-
pate in a sport and take community col-
lege courses through the local school.
He completed a year of college while in
high school.
I was never politically inclined until I
learned, on the Homeschool Iowa website, the history of home-
schooling in Iowa. These laws are recent and struck me as fragile. A
single election can change our right to homeschool.
A friend told me I should lobby my legislator about home-
school laws. I went to the local forum, knees shaking, voice
cracking, and declared that homeschooling had created a path
for educational success for our family not available at the public
school and that I wanted my representative to keep it legal in
Iowa. To my surprise, he agreed with me. My knees stopped
shaking and my voice stabilized, and I kept going to forums. I
was lobbying for homeschool laws.
Fast forward eight years. I remain in regular contact with both
my senator and representative. If you don’t know your lawmaker’s
names, go to the Iowa Legislature website and follow instructions
to find their names and contact information.
Once you know who they are, write them, make a phone call,
show up at their public forums, and visit with these elected leaders.
There are no “party lines” for homeschool support. Both Democrat
and Republican lawmakers need to be educated on the benefits
and outcomes of homeschooling, otherwise a news story can
control “truth.” And we know that
homeschooling doesn’t create more
child abuse or produce less-educated
children (information found on Home-
school Iowa website).
My Representatives knowour family’s
journey because they’ve heard about it
for years. For the past three years, I’ve
sent encouraging postcards to elected
officials each week as part of my goal
to create personal relationships. I’m seeing results this year.
Thank a homeschool-supportive lawmaker with a handwrit-
ten note or email. These notes are incredibly meaningful to an
elected official. Send lawmakers who speak against homeschool
freedoms the same notes and encouragement. Lawmakers will
remember you as they receive encouraging postcards and notes
from your family throughout the year. Have older students write
letters themselves. Keep positive news about homeschooling on
our lawmakers’ desks. We are the best lobbyists to protect our
homeschool freedoms.
Developing Relationships with our Legislators
BY LAURA CARLSON
Several bills were introduced in the Legislature this
spring. Thankfully none of the bills that would have
been detrimental to our homeschool freedoms made it
out of committee. Below is a brief update on each of
those bills. More detail can be found on the“Legislative
Updates”page of our website: .
House Bills: None of these bills made it out of the
House Education Committee before the required 2019
“funnel”date and have been tabled for this year.
• HF100:The bill would have required parents utilizing
the Independent Private Instruction (IPI) option to file
the CPI Form A, including immunization records and an
outline of course of study. It also would have mandated
quarterly visits by public school officials in the homes of
all parents providing any form of non-accredited private
instruction.
• HF182: The goal of this bill was to eliminate the
changes made in 2013 to the Iowa Code, including re-
moving the IPI option and parent-taught driver education.
• HF272: Like HF100, this bill would have required
parents providing any form of private instruction,
including IPI, to submit mandatory quarterly visits by
public school officials and to file the CPI Form A, includ-
ing immunication records and an attached outline of
course of study.
Senate Bills: Only one of these bills cleared the Senate
Education Committee, and that bill was amended to the
point that it does not affect homeschooling families who
are utilizing the IPI or CPI options.
• SF28: The goal of this bill was to modify the duties of
certain state and local government entities, to modify
the school district funding formula, and to establish an
education savings grant program.
• SF224: This bill would have redefined as mandatory
the current IPI reporting, which is only required when
requested in writing by certain public school authorities.
Additionally, this bill would have required parents who
intend to place their child under IPI to meet in person
with the superintendent of their resident school district
before commencing instruction.
• SF239 (also HF448): These bills would have amended
the medical and religious immunization exemption pro-
visions in the Iowa Code.
•SF372, now SF547: Initially this bill was designed to
create education savings grants for students attending a
non-public school or homeschooling under the CPI with
reporting provisions. A companion bill was also intro-
duced in the House but did not make it out of committee
before the required 2019 funnel date. SF372 was amend-
ed by the Senate Education Committee to the current bill,
SF547, which removed all references to CPI students.
Thank you to the Homeschool Iowa Legislative Team
for your efforts on our behalf this spring! Also thank
you to all who took the time to contact your legislators
regarding issues related to our homeschool freedoms.
2019 Legislative Overview:
Both Democrat and Republican
lawmakers need to be educated
on the benefits and outcomes
of homeschooling.