Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds released a statement yesterday (Wednesday) following the Iowa Senate Education Subcommittee’s approval of her amended Area Education Agency (AEA) reform bill. Reynolds introduced her plan to refocus the state’s AEAs during her Condition of the State address at the beginning of the year. Initially, the bill would have removed AEA services that were not directly related to special education support and addressed what the governor sees as bloat in the upper levels of the AEA. Reynolds says, “From the start, my focus has been on improving special education for Iowa’s students with disabilities. I want to thank the Senate Education subcommittee for their willingness to continue the conversation. The amendment reflects feedback from legislators, parents, teachers, and school superintendents, ensuring that AEAs can continue offering the services they do today. If schools like the services provided by their AEA, they can continue to use them. By allowing schools to control their funding, creating efficiencies in the AEA system, and increasing teacher salaries, more money will be infused into our classrooms, so every student receives the quality education they deserve.” A companion bill was tabled in the House Education Subcommittee this week, suggesting a difficult path forward in the lower chamber to make it to the governor’s desk.
