The Iowa Senate has voted to give school officials the option of bypassing Area Education Agencies and providing services to students with disabilities by hiring private contractors or district staff. Senator Lynn Evans of Aurelia, a retired superintendent, is among the 28 Republicans in the senate who voted for the bill.
Iowa is the only state where state and federal funds for special education services, like speech therapy, are sent directly to Area Education Agencies. Evans says schools have never seen a bill of sale for what they’re getting from the AEA’s.
Six Republicans joined all the Democrats in the Senate in opposing the bill. Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, says Republicans who back the bill are following the governor over a cliff.
Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum of Dubuque spoke emotionally of her late daughter, Sarah, who had an intellectual disability and received AEA services.
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House Republicans passed their own plan at the end of February that calls for a study of the AEA system and maintains AEA services for students with disabilities for at least a couple of years. Governor Reynolds issued a written statement thanking the Senate for acknowledging the AEA system needs reform. She pledged to work with GOP leaders in the House and Senate to find a compromise plan.
