Iowa Senate moves AEA bill

The Iowa Senate moved its bill to create more restrictions and oversight of the state’s Area Education Agencies, and allow school districts to contract for services elsewhere, on Monday.  Via the bill, as amended on the Senate floor, AEAs would still be allowed to provide special education, media services and education services if contracted by school districts, but would no longer be funded directly by the state. State funds would, if the bill becomes law and is phased-in, go to school districts instead. Then districts could decide annually if they still wanted the AEAs’ services or whether they want to seek a private contractor. The Department of Education also would absorb special education directors, making them state employees rather than AEAs’. AEA directors’ salaries still would be set by boards of directors, not to exceed 125% of the average salary of district supervisors the AEA serves.