Filed April 16, 2026 in the House by
What it changes
AI summary This amendment adds new rules for private instruction, including requirements that an outline of study must include lesson plans and time spent on subjects. It also establishes that diplomas and transcripts from private instruction are legally valid for college admission, employment, and other purposes. Additionally, it gives parents the authority to sign documents to verify their child's enrollment, status, and grades in private instruction.1
Read the amendment’s wording
- Page 53, after line 13 by inserting: “DIVISION ___ PRIVATE INSTRUCTION Sec. ___. Section 299.4, subsection 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
- The parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a child who is of compulsory attendance age, who places the child under competent private instruction under section 299A.2 , not in an accredited school or a home school assistance program operated by a school district or accredited nonpublic school, shall furnish a report in duplicate on forms provided by the public school district, to the district by September 1 of the school year in which the child will be under competent private instruction. The secretary shall retain and file one copy and forward the other copy to the district’s area education agency. The report shall state the name and age of the child, the period of time during which the child has been or will be under competent private instruction for the year, an outline of the course of study , or texts that will be used, and the name and address of the instructor. The parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a child, who is placing the child under competent private instruction for the first time, shall also provide the district with evidence that the child has had the immunizations required under section 139A.8 , and, if the child is elementary school age, a blood lead test in accordance with section 135.105D . The term “outline of course of study” shall include subjects covered, lesson plans, and time spent on the areas of study. Sec. ___. Section 299A.1, subsection 2, paragraph b, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows: b. “Independent private instruction” means private instruction that meets the following criteria: (1) Is not accredited. (2) Enrolls not more than four unrelated students. -1- H 8371.4053 (2) 91 jda/jh 1/ 4 (3) Does not charge tuition, fees, or other remuneration for instruction. (4) (2) Provides private or religious-based instruction as its primary purpose. (5) (3) Provides enrolled students in all grade levels with instruction in mathematics, reading and language arts, science, and social studies. (6) (4) Provides, upon written request from the superintendent of the school district in which the independent private instruction is provided, or from the director of the department of education, a report identifying the primary instructor, location, name of the authority responsible for the independent private instruction, and the names of the students enrolled receiving the instruction, who need not be related to the primary instructor . (7) (5) Is not a nonpublic school and does not provide competent private instruction as defined in this subsection . (8) (6) Is exempt from all state statutes and administrative rules applicable to a school, a school board, or a school district, except as otherwise provided in chapter 299 and this chapter . Sec. ___. NEW SECTION . 299A.13 Recognition of private instruction diplomas, final transcripts, and other written documentation.
- A student who completes a program of secondary education under competent private instruction or independent private instruction in accordance with this chapter shall be deemed to have completed a high school education.
- The parent, guardian, legal custodian, or instructor responsible for providing the program of secondary education under competent private instruction or independent private instruction in accordance with this chapter may issue a diploma, final transcript, or other written documentation evidencing academic achievements and the completion of the program of secondary education. -2- H 8371.4053 (2) 91 jda/jh 2/ 4
- A diploma, final transcript, or other written documentation issued pursuant to subsection 2 shall be accepted under the laws of this state in the same manner as a high school diploma, final transcript, or other written documentation issued by a school district or an accredited nonpublic school for all purposes, including but not limited to all of the following: a. Admission to postsecondary education or training programs. b. Eligibility for employment. c. Qualification for occupational licensure, certification, or registrations. d. Access to state and local programs, benefits, and opportunities. e. Any other purpose under the laws of this state in which a high school diploma is a condition or a qualification.
- The state, a political subdivision of the state, or any other person shall not deny or restrict any right, privilege, or benefit available to an individual solely because the individual’s diploma, final transcript, or other written documentation was issued pursuant to subsection
- A student who completes a program of secondary education under competent private instruction or independent private instruction in accordance with this chapter shall not be required to obtain a high school equivalency diploma or other alternative credential. Sec. ___. NEW SECTION . 299A.14 Verification of enrollment. The parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a child of compulsory attendance age shall have the authority to execute any document required by law to verify any of the following:
- The placement of a child under competent private instruction or independent private instruction.
- The child’s full-time or part-time status in competent private instruction or independent private instruction.
- The grades the child has obtained in competent private -3- H 8371.4053 (2) 91 jda/jh 3/ 4 instruction or independent private instruction.
- Any other required educational information. Sec. ___. APPLICABILITY. The following applies to any diplomas, final transcripts, or other written documentation issued before, on, or after the effective date of the section of this division of this Act enacting section 299A.13: The section of this division of this Act enacting section 299A.13.”
- Page 53, line 29, after “organizations,” by inserting “private instruction,”
- By renumbering as necessary.