Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur and further amend a bill that establishes provisions of the duties and powers of area educational agencies in the state of Iowa.

Highlights:

• Establishes provisions of the duties and powers of area educational agencies (AEA’s) in the state of Iowa (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Amends and reduces the state special education funding model, specifying that state and property tax funding for these services will be allotted first to school districts, and then requiring the district to send them to AEA’s (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Authorizes school districts to look for other providers ot media and general education services currently offered by AEA’s beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, with the ability to continue to work with AEA’s through “fee for service” contracts (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Amends previous oversight responsibilities for certain agencies proposing the creation of the Division of Special Education within the state Department of Education, staffed by 40 employees in charge of AEA accountability and oversight duties on regions based on student population (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Amends and makes changes to a task force convened to study AEA’s and make recommendations on changes to the system prior to the next legislative session and reinstutes operational sharing (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur and further amend a bill that establishes provisions of the duties and powers of area educational agencies in the state of Iowa.

Highlights:

• Establishes provisions of the duties and powers of area educational agencies (AEA’s) in the state of Iowa (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Amends and reduces the state special education funding model, specifying that state and property tax funding for these services will be allotted first to school districts, and then requiring the district to send them to AEA’s (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Authorizes school districts to look for other providers ot media and general education services currently offered by AEA’s beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, with the ability to continue to work with AEA’s through “fee for service” contracts (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Amends previous oversight responsibilities for certain agencies proposing the creation of the Division of Special Education within the state Department of Education, staffed by 40 employees in charge of AEA accountability and oversight duties on regions based on student population (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Amends and makes changes to a task force convened to study AEA’s and make recommendations on changes to the system prior to the next legislative session and reinstutes operational sharing (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes provisions of the duties and powers of area educational agencies in the state of Iowa.

Highlights:

• Establishes provisions of the duties and powers of area educational agencies (AEA’s) in the state of Iowa (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Amends and reduces the state special education funding model, specifying that state and property tax funding for these services will be allotted first to school districts, and then requiring the district to send them to AEA’s (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Authorizes school districts to look for other providers ot media and general education services currently offered by AEA’s beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, with the ability to continue to work with AEA’s through “fee for service” contracts (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Amends previous oversight responsibilities for certain agencies proposing the creation of the Division of Special Education within the state Department of Education, staffed by 40 employees in charge of AEA accountability and oversight duties on regions based on student population (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Amends and makes changes to a task force convened to study AEA’s and make recommendations on changes to the system prior to the next legislative session and reinstutes operational sharing (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes provisions of the duties and powers of area educational agencies in the state of Iowa.

Highlights:

• Establishes provisions of the duties and powers of area educational agencies (AEA’s) in the state of Iowa (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Amends and reduces the state special education funding model, specifying that state and property tax funding for these services will be allotted first to school districts, and then requiring the district to send them to AEA’s (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Authorizes school districts to look for other providers ot media and general education services currently offered by AEA’s beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, with the ability to continue to work with AEA’s through “fee for service” contracts (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Amends previous oversight responsibilities for certain agencies proposing the creation of the Division of Special Education within the state Department of Education, staffed by 40 employees in charge of AEA accountability and oversight duties on regions based on student population (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

• Amends and makes changes to a task force convened to study AEA’s and make recommendations on changes to the system prior to the next legislative session and reinstutes operational sharing (Div. II-IV, Sec. 3-29).

Full Bill Text