Reynolds takes aim at AEAs
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Gov. Kim Reynolds said this week the plans a “comprehensive review” of the state’s nine Area Education Agencies.
“Iowa’s Area Education Agencies were created 50 years ago to address the needs of students with disabilities, but over the years, they’ve significantly expanded their scope of services beyond the core mission,” Reynolds said in an email to the N’West Iowa REVIEW on Monday.
Given Reynolds record of assailing public schools to build support for giving publicly funded private school scholarships to Iowa families, her plan for altering AEAs, which serve both public and accredited private schools, should give pause to all Iowans with kids in school. It’s difficult, at this point, to know whether the Reynolds administration will make helpful adjustments to AEA operation or shutter the regional agencies.
“Still a lot of uncertainty in the state when it comes to the legislative session and what is going to be next on the agenda,” South O’Brien Superintendent Wade Riley told the REVIEW. “This may be just a rumor, but I’ve heard it multiple times that they’re looking at maybe cutting AEAs completely.”
Sen. Ken Rozenboom, R-Pella and chair of the Senate Education Committee, says rumors of closures are “not accurate,” according to reporting by The Gazette’s Grace King, Tom Barton and Erin Murphy. But Rozenboom echoes to governor’s rhetoric.
“My perception is that AEAs are administratively heavy and performance light,” Rozenboom said, pointing to proficiency gaps for students with disabilities. “We need to refocus and direct our efforts to providing education needs for the education of special needs children, which is extremely important.”
Seventy percent of AEA funding pays for services that support special education services. The agencies also provide school psychologists and mental health resources to the schools as well as literacy support services. Spending on administrative costs is capped at 5 percent.
AEAs have already consolidated from 15 regional offices to nine. They’ve also dealt with tens of millions of dollars in budget cuts. So operations have already been streamlined.
The governor’s stated goal is to improve outcomes for disabled students, which is a laudable goal. Our concern is how she gets there. Wade Riley, the South O’Brien superintendent, worries that if AEAs close or cut positions, specialists will be looking for jobs in individual school districts. But his district, he contends, can’t win a bidding war with nearby public schools.
There are also private schools now receiving taxpayer funded scholarships what may or may not currently have special education programs.
The great thing about AEAs is they allow school districts to share resources, so the burden of costly programs and technology is shared. It’s the sort of regional cooperation the state should be encouraging. Cuts would be a setback for public education.
We hope Reynolds will sustain AEAs and improve the services they offer. In any event, we’ll be watching.
(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com
Opinion content represents the viewpoint of the author or The Gazette editorial board. You can join the conversation by submitting a letter to the editor or guest column or by suggesting a topic for an editorial to editorial@thegazette.com
“Iowa’s Area Education Agencies were created 50 years ago to address the needs of students with disabilities, but over the years, they’ve significantly expanded their scope of services beyond the core mission,” Reynolds said in an email to the N’West Iowa REVIEW on Monday.
Given Reynolds record of assailing public schools to build support for giving publicly funded private school scholarships to Iowa families, her plan for altering AEAs, which serve both public and accredited private schools, should give pause to all Iowans with kids in school. It’s difficult, at this point, to know whether the Reynolds administration will make helpful adjustments to AEA operation or shutter the regional agencies.
“Still a lot of uncertainty in the state when it comes to the legislative session and what is going to be next on the agenda,” South O’Brien Superintendent Wade Riley told the REVIEW. “This may be just a rumor, but I’ve heard it multiple times that they’re looking at maybe cutting AEAs completely.”
Sen. Ken Rozenboom, R-Pella and chair of the Senate Education Committee, says rumors of closures are “not accurate,” according to reporting by The Gazette’s Grace King, Tom Barton and Erin Murphy. But Rozenboom echoes to governor’s rhetoric.
“My perception is that AEAs are administratively heavy and performance light,” Rozenboom said, pointing to proficiency gaps for students with disabilities. “We need to refocus and direct our efforts to providing education needs for the education of special needs children, which is extremely important.”
Seventy percent of AEA funding pays for services that support special education services. The agencies also provide school psychologists and mental health resources to the schools as well as literacy support services. Spending on administrative costs is capped at 5 percent.
AEAs have already consolidated from 15 regional offices to nine. They’ve also dealt with tens of millions of dollars in budget cuts. So operations have already been streamlined.
The governor’s stated goal is to improve outcomes for disabled students, which is a laudable goal. Our concern is how she gets there. Wade Riley, the South O’Brien superintendent, worries that if AEAs close or cut positions, specialists will be looking for jobs in individual school districts. But his district, he contends, can’t win a bidding war with nearby public schools.
There are also private schools now receiving taxpayer funded scholarships what may or may not currently have special education programs.
The great thing about AEAs is they allow school districts to share resources, so the burden of costly programs and technology is shared. It’s the sort of regional cooperation the state should be encouraging. Cuts would be a setback for public education.
We hope Reynolds will sustain AEAs and improve the services they offer. In any event, we’ll be watching.
(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com
Opinion content represents the viewpoint of the author or The Gazette editorial board. You can join the conversation by submitting a letter to the editor or guest column or by suggesting a topic for an editorial to editorial@thegazette.com
Still a lot of uncertainty in the state when it comes to the legislative session and what is going to be next on the agenda,” South O’Brien Superintendent Wade Riley told the REVIEW. “This may be just a rumor, but I’ve heard it multiple times that they’re looking at maybe cutting AEAs completely.”
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This is part of the plan to fund private schools and the parents who can afford to send their kids there.
Licensed staff in Iowa’s AEAs hold positions for which licensure is required by the Board of Educational Examiners and/or Department of Public Health.
33 percent of licensed employees at AEAs require certifications in health care and an advanced degree. This includes positions such as audiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists.
37 percent of licensed AEA employees require an education specialist degree. This includes positions such as school psychologists.
5 percent of licensed AEA employees require a doctoral degree, which includes positions like physical therapists and audiologists.
Licensed and leadership positions at Iowa’s AEAs require advanced degrees and extensive relevant experience beyond what might be required in a typical K-12 building.
AEA staff are often considered experts in their fields, and are compensated with salaries and benefit packages that are market-reviewed against similar positions in both education and non-education fields.
33 percent of licensed employees at AEAs require certifications in health care and an advanced degree. This includes positions such as audiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists.
37 percent of licensed AEA employees require an education specialist degree. This includes positions such as school psychologists.
5 percent of licensed AEA employees require a doctoral degree, which includes positions like physical therapists and audiologists.
Licensed and leadership positions at Iowa’s AEAs require advanced degrees and extensive relevant experience beyond what might be required in a typical K-12 building.
AEA staff are often considered experts in their fields, and are compensated with salaries and benefit packages that are market-reviewed against similar positions in both education and non-education fields.
Another brick in the wall of education by Kimmie
Iowa’s AEAs utilize a regional service model that ensures equitable, accessible services for both urban and rural districts.
AEA staff provide services to children, families, and educators in all of Iowa’s 99 counties.
Regardless of changes to the number of AEAs in the state, AEAs would still need to support the same number of school districts and the same number of students.
Most of our student services are best delivered in a face-to-face setting: increasing the geographic size of each AEA will reduce the amount of time AEA staff can spend directly supporting students.
AEA staff provide services to children, families, and educators in all of Iowa’s 99 counties.
Regardless of changes to the number of AEAs in the state, AEAs would still need to support the same number of school districts and the same number of students.
Most of our student services are best delivered in a face-to-face setting: increasing the geographic size of each AEA will reduce the amount of time AEA staff can spend directly supporting students.
This is bad news if you have a child with a speech impediment.
At this point it's just pure greed. Wealthy hog farmers; how much do they need? Good God.
At this point it's just pure greed. Wealthy hog farmers; how much do they need? Good God.
Some people love the poorly educated. Thanks for sharing this.
How DARE the governor call for a review of AEAs and their mission and effectiveness.
So she wants to make cuts to an agency that works to support kids with mental health issues right after a school shooting. Seems exactly what a vile, evil governor would do.
AEAs are already reviewed on a regular basis. What Reynolds is calling for is an excuse to cut more funding and consolidate more AEAs. Why? Because she hates public education.
Don't worry. Private schools are ready and eager to step up and provide the support that students with disabilities need.
I've tried to play devil's advocate in my mind, but I see nothing that this could benefit
It's truly evil AF. She does a great job of telling us she doesn't give a shit about kids with special needs.
It benefits her plan to torpedo public education and push Christian Nationalist education
Our governor made it very clear in her no-strings-attached giveaway to private schools that she cares nothing about transparency or accountability.
She was a special needs student for 12 years of a college degree
What better way to ensure fiscal responsibility than to kneecap the state auditor? The way the GOP is running the state of Iowa is shameless, and they only get away with it because the people who vote for them are ignorant or equally shameless. Which are you?
“My perception is that AEAs are administratively heavy and performance light,” Rozenboom said, pointing to proficiency gaps for students with disabilities. “We need to refocus and direct our efforts to providing education needs for the education of special needs children, which is extremely important.”
Rozenboom pretty much nailed it.
Rozenboom pretty much nailed it.
AEAs are absolutely necessary especially for small rural schools. This is another attack on the rural communities that tend to vote Republican. When will they open their eyes and see that the people they elect are not working in their best interests?
Actually, they are not and why should they?
Private schools have never been structured to support students with disabilities and shouldn't be saddled with the responsibility.
AEAs have already consolidated from 15 regional offices to nine. They’ve also dealt with tens of millions of dollars in budget cuts. So operations have already been streamlined.
Then why give them taxpayer money?
And AEA's are required to help private schools as well
I'm so glad I'm not raising kids in Iowa. Good lord. It just is sad to see what is happening to the University of Iowa under her reign. Is Iowa even ahead of Nebraska anymore? I think so, but they used to rank in the middle of Big 10 schools and now I think they are in the bottom 3 or 4. And it costs more to go there. What a waste.
At least the athletic program is mostly watchable.
At least the athletic program is mostly watchable.
LOL
They are giving the taxpayer money back to the taxpayer so that the taxpayer can give their children a better education.
That makes not one iota of sense.
In my opinion Sands was highly political from the start.
Of course it wouldn't to you as you are 100% against school choice for parents.
How is school choice relevant to AEA providing services to kids with needs?
Those parents are qualified to do the work.
I'm far from an expert on education. However 4 years on a school board gives me a little more credence than someone who just throws crap at the wall and sees what sticks.
I wasn't the poster who brought school vouchers into the conversation.
I believe AEA's have a place in the educational system.
I also believe it is the duty of our state government to review the AEA's and make changes when warranted.
I also believe they (AEA) are top heavy much like every Public School District in Iowa.
Iowa has a surplus you moron.
Do you support making significant cuts to the AEA budget?
