AEA reform in Iowa is too risky to rush in one session

Gov. Kim Reynolds’ plan to yank the state’s network of Area Education Agencies out by the roots is in limbo, and most likely dead in its current form.

Republicans who run the Iowa House, faced with broad opposition to Reynolds’ plan from educators, parents and others, have smartly pressed the pause button. Opponents have raised questions about how largely dismantling duties of AEAs will improve Iowa’s public schools. The bill failed to clear a subcommittee last week.

“I have felt compelled to work this issue because this is about our kids, and we have to get it right if we are to make changes,” said Rep. Skyler Wheeler, chair of the Education Committee in a Facebook post announcing his committee would not take up the governor’s bill. “I believe we absolutely have room to improve, and we need to continue to have those discussions. I think it’s vastly important to have all the stakeholders come together, work through this, get consensus, and move forward.”

House Speaker Pat Grassley expressed similar sentiments. But GOP leaders in the Iowa Senate say they’re still working with the governor to hammer out a plan.

What’s become clear is efforts to reform AEAs must start with all stakeholders at the table to find a path that will benefit the special education students and others the agencies currently serve.

“I can go back through my career and tell you definitively as a teacher, administrator, and as a chief that things work best when we work together,” said John Speer, director of the Grant Wood Area Education Agency in Cedar Rapids and interim director for the Mississippi Bend AEA as part of cost cutting plan.

“And that's all we've ever wanted is to be at the table to be able to discuss the issues with the people who are concerned about it, and then to improve on a daily basis,” Speer said.

Reynolds proposed allowing to keep state dollars that flow through school districts to AEAs, which would give them the freedom to create in-house services or contract with a private provider. But Speer and Nathan Wood, director of the Great Prairie AEA argue losing the economies of scale created by AEA purchasing power could cost district more for similar services.

Speer pointed to an online English research tool that costs the AEA $170,000 but would cost individual districts $1 million or more. There is an inventory of assistive devices students can use that would disappear without funding. The governor’s plan would also transfer leadership of AEAs from local boards to the Department of Education.

National assessments take by students with disabilities and used by the governor to justify drastic changes don’t tell the whole story. Iowa AEAs, for example, rank high in graduation rates for disabled students and students with Individualized Learning Programs, or IEPs, assisted by AEAs.

These and many other complex issues must be dealt with before any dramatic change is enacted. We’d like to see discussions start now with the goal of having reforms ready for the 2025 legislative session. A rush job risk doing more harm than good to families and kids.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com