Articles Tagged: Area Education Agencies

Bills on education, gender and driving among those clearing first deadline.

Special education advocates call it an ‘improvement,’ but say changes are still needed.

Some school leaders feel their districts aren’t getting enough out of abnormally-governed AEA model

Republican Rep. Skyler Wheeler of Hull, chair of the House Education Committee, made his comments in a Facebook post published the day after legislators heard from dozens of Iowans about how the bill would affect students, families and educators.

Republican Rep. David Young of Van Meter, an assistant Republican leader in the House, expressed skepticism about the bill’s future in the chamber,

While Reynolds’ original bill would have restricted AEAs to providing only special education services, under the proposed amendment the state’s nine area education agencies would be allowed to continue offering education services as well as media services to school districts who request it, if approved by the state.

About 150 people crowded into the North Liberty Public Library Sunday afternoon to attend a town hall about proposed changes to Iowa’s area education agencies. The event, hosted by Democratic State Sens. Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, and Zach Wahls, D-Coralville.

The Iowa governor wants to

Ryan Wise, former director of the Iowa Department of Education said he appreciates the “spirit” of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal but says “very rapid changes could negatively impact schools and kids.”

Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal would streamline the services offered by and overhaul the funding structure for AEAs, which provide support and expertise to schools and students.

Democratic lawmakers, saying they were left out of the talks, cast doubt on the changes.

New bill prohibits agencies that provide expertise to educators and families from offering services schools have relied on for decades.

Nine Iowa Area Education Agencies provide valuable expertise to educators and families across the state