A bill that was recently signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds tackles several aspects of public education, most notably with adjustments to the Area Education Agencies (AEAs).

Greene County School District Superintendent Brett Abbotts tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the biggest change going into next school year is splitting funding for general education and media services, with 60 percent going directly to school districts and 40 percent with the AEAs. He points out those services are about $96,000 and he believes the district can use those funds for specific programs or personnel that better fits their needs.

“We didn’t utilize the AEA a whole lot from that. However, from a special ed side of things, we really do utilize the AEA quite a bit in terms of what they provide for preschool, students either going through an IEP (Individual Education Plan) process, or for any other services they offer there.” 

District 24 Senator Jesse Green says funding for special education services will fully remain with the AEAs for the upcoming school year, while the following year, funding will be 90 percent with AEAs and ten percent with school districts. Green adds that school districts can continue with the AEAs, but will also have choices to use other services if they want to. He comments on how he felt the finalized version of the bill was for AEAs.

“At the end of the day I think it’s a good start for reform. I think some reform needed to happen. The data showed that we pay more than other states for these services, but we get about average results, according to some testing. I think just the data alone showed that we needed to have some reform with that.”   

Green notes that a task force will also be established to review services with the AEAs, along with direct oversight will now be with the Iowa Department of Education.