Governor Kim Reynolds has introduced a bill with sweeping changes to the state AEA system that will have major impacts for local school districts. The Governor is proposing a limited scope of special education for the AEAs with an option of districts opting out. Also, local control will be stripped and the AEAs will be under the Department of Education.
The House tabled the Governor's bill and now the Senate, House, and Governor are crafting new bills or amendments to the original bill. At this point, all efforts in my opinion will cause problems with equity, efficiency, and the loss of local control. I believe there will be winners and losers with large districts potentially gobbling up state resources and small rural districts being left without.
I realize most community members or parents may not be aware of the support that AEAs provide local school districts, mainly because those services are very seamless. Here is a list below of services outside of special education that local school districts benefit from:
Media Services
· Assessment Support
· Copyright Guidance
· Curriculum Support
· Curriculum Support-Career & Technical
· Curriculum Support-STEM
· Delivery Services
· Equipment Management
· Instructional Support- Media
· Interlibrary Loans
· K-12 Literacy Support
· Media Academy
· Media Services
· Paraeducator Professional Growth
· Preschool Services
· Print & Design Services
· Professional Development
· Professional Growth & Library
· School-to-Work Partnerships
· School-Community Relations
· Statewide Digital Content
· Technology - Network Supports
· Technology - Cyber Security
Educational Services
· 504 Support
· Assessment
· Career & Technical Education and Regional Planning Partnership (RPP)
· Counselor Academy
· Computer Science
· Curriculum Network
· Data Team
· Deliver Professional Development in Districts/Buildings
· Early Childhood Services
· Educational Data Management Assistance (AEA Data Team)
· ESSA Support
· Fine Arts
· Instructional Rounds Network Participation and Facilitation in Districts
· Internal and External Data Related Consultation (AEA Data Team)
· Iowa Core Curriculum
· LEA Leadership Support
· LETRS training and support
· Literacy
· Mentoring and Induction
· MTSS
· Multicultural, Gender-Fair Education
· Numeracy
· Olweus Support
· Paraeducator Training and Certification
· Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS)
· Postsecondary Readiness Supports
· Professional Development
· Professional Learning Communities
· Reading Recovery
· Science
· Social Studies
· SSIT Plans - Comprehensive School Support STEM
· Student Engagement
· Superintendent Network
· Survey and Data Support (AEA Data Team)
· Talented & Gifted (TAG)
· Teacher Leadership Compensation (TLC)
· Technology
· The Center
· Title III English Language Learners (ELLs) Training on Intervention System
· Training on Self-Assessment of MTSS Implementation (SAMI)
· Training on Universal Tier Tools (UTT)
· Youth Mental Health First Aid
Management Services
· AEA Purchasing
· Boundary Change
· Budget Preparation & School Finance
· Bus Driver Training
· Business Office
· Coats for Kids
· Collection Enhancement
· Cooperative Purchasing
· Cyber Security
· Driver Education Program
· E-Rate
· Emergency Repair Waiver Requests
· Home School Assistance Program (HSAP) Home School Testing & Records
· District use of Learning Center & Meeting Rooms
· Perkins Consortia
· School Reorganization
· Transportation Route Approval
· Youth Shelter Education Program
This is only 30% of the AEA services. The other 70% are special education service related.
The House and Senate have their own bills that have met the funnel deadline, so the discussion will continue during this session. Please be involved in this discussion.
Local legislators are Chris Cournoyer chris.cournoyer@legis.iowa.gov and Tom Determann tom.determann@legis.iowa.gov.