(The Center Square) – The Iowa House of Representatives passed a bill that changes how the state’s Area Education Agencies are funded amid accusations from some lawmakers that the legislation is a “power grab” and unnecessary.
AEAs oversee special education services in the state. In her Condition of the State address, Gov. Kim Reynolds said that the nine districts “operate without meaningful oversight.”
House Bill 2612 would shift state funding from the AEAs to the local school districts, which would have the flexibility to contract special education services with other providers. The bill does not affect the federal funding the AEAs receive.
The Iowa Division of Special Education would assign 13 full-time employees to oversee the AEAs and five full-time employees in each of the nine district offices “to ensure the AEA complies with all applicable federal and State laws related to special education and to review the services provided by
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