American Home Schools
|
|
American Home Schools |
Iowa allows homeschoolers 4 options to legally homeschool in Iowa. The first option is to work with a supervising teacher; the parent must have 8 meetings, 4 of which must be face-to-face. The second option is provide annually the results of a test administered by a certified teacher results at the end of every school year, by a certified teacher; there is a specific group of tests that the state approves and testing cannot be done by the parent. The third option is to create a portfolio every year; the parent finds a portfolio evaluator, who must be a certified teacher, and the parent must keep samples of the child's work, and a record of activities. At the end of the year, these are reviewed by the evaluator. The final option is the homeschool assistance program and only the larger school districts offer these programs; this option is also known as dual enrollment
Click for suggested curriculum
Summary:
Teacher Supervision
Most consider this the easiest method of compliance. Find a certified
teacher, fill out your paperwork, have eight contacts with that teacher during
the school year (half of them face-to-face), and you're done.
Testing
If your child tests well,
this can be a convenient method. Fill out your paperwork, do whatever you
please most of the year. Have the child take one of the state-approved tests
and forward the results to the Dept. of Ed. by April 30, and you're done.
Portfolio
For children who do not test
well, or families who cannot easily meet with a teacher, this option is ideal.
Choose a certified teacher for portfolio evaluator. The school Superintendent
for your district has the right to veto your choice, but, for legal reasons,
this rarely happens. Keep samples of the child's work, and a record of
activities. Submit these to the evaluator by April 30. If, in the evaluator's
opinion, the child has made "adequate academic progress," you're done.