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Permanent LinkIowa Legislature Public Hearings
Public Hearings and times are as follows:
HF 2612 - A bill for an act relating to area education agencies, including modifying provisions related to the duties and powers of area education agencies, oversight by the department of education, funding, shared operational functions, and establishing a task force related to area education agency property and operations, and including effective date and applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 713.)
Sponsored by the Education Committee
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
5:00 PM (introductions begin)
6:00 PM (conclusion of the hearing)
RM 103, Sup. Ct. Chamber
02-19-2024
Anonymous [None]
CON
Changing any part of the AEA system may provide some benefit to urban districts, but will only hurt rural districts. There are many more rural districts than urban in Iowa that will not benefit from the current bills. Even with additional funds districts would get, rural districts will not be able to afford to provide themselves the services offered to them now by the AEA. All organizations can improve and if there are improvements that need to be made to the AEAs, a comprehensive study performed by experts from Iowa can bring thoughtful, data based change, if needed. That should be the goal of this legislative session.
02-19-2024
Jean [Schilling ]
CON
Please stop the centralization of our AEAs! We need them to be regional in all that they do and they save our schools so much!!
02-19-2024
Emily Gipe [Individual]
CON
Nothing that the state has consolidated to improve efficiencies, outcome, and transparencies has seen actual improvement. Do not let Education be another thing that the State of Iowa gets wrong.
02-19-2024
Jesse Tvrdy [AEA]
CON
"The proposed bill's potential to dismantle the services provided by AEAs is deeply concerning, particularly for rural schools in Iowa. If implemented, it will lead to increased costs, decreased quality of education, and the loss of valuable educators who are already feeling the strain of uncertainty. The lack of consultation and understanding before proposing such a bill is troubling, as it undermines the collaborative efforts needed to ensure the best outcomes for Iowa's education system. Rebuilding the infrastructure provided by AEAs, once dismantled, could take an immense amount of time and resources, further exacerbating the situation. It's crucial for lawmakers to work collaboratively with schools and AEAs to address these concerns and prevent the potential longterm damage to Iowa's education system."
02-19-2024
Julie Rinker [Self]
CON
Please vote 'no' and preserve our AEAs. Too much is at stake for Iowa students and their families.
02-19-2024
Matthew Bailey []
CON
These changes to AEAs are unwarranted and hurried. They have no merit.
02-19-2024
Julie Barwick []
CON
I am writing today in hopes that you will consider not moving forward with a bill but instead move forward with a study of what would be in the best interest of all Iowa's children. I am a Data Lead at an AEA. I support AEA and LEA staff every day with completing IEPs and IFSPs. I work with AEA and LEA administration with report data that helps them make decisions. Since January 9th, every time I have worked with a district, I think how will the districts get these supports in future years. There are so many facets of how the AEA supports school districts that are not being thought about with a rushed process. Time needs to take to think through the process. We need to make sure that we are not failing Iowa's children. We have one chance to get this right and that is by investing the time in to study every aspect.
02-19-2024
Dawn Johnson []
CON
Please stop this bill, no more amendments. I ask that you conduct a study without a bill moving forward.
02-19-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please vote no
02-19-2024
Dena Ellington []
CON
Please! No more amendments! Slow this down and commission an independent study of all aspects of Iowa's educational system (the Department of Education, AEA's, schools both public and private) before making such a monumental decision that could impact an entire generation of students. What may be easy to undo in one legislative session (the dismantling of an AEA system that is considered one of the best systems for equity of services in the nation) is not so easily put back once the damage is done. Slow down. Please, take time to make responsible, databased decisions focused on improving outcomes for Iowa's most precious resource: our children. Do this through thorough study before another amendment or bill is proposed. I am especially concerned about the shared operational functions that are being cut by this bill. Iowa ranks last in the nation, according to many reports, in youth mental health services and in patient beds. By eliminating tge shared operational function you are now taking away individual counseling services from some of our most needy students. Students whose parents can't afford private counseling. Students whose parents don't have the transportation to get them to appointments. These children can access services during their school day through shared operational function between school districts and AEA's. Additionally, without our AEA's, who are districts going to call upon for crisis services? When the shooting at Perry occurred, it was AEA who coordinated and provided crisis counseling to students and teachers. When a teacher was murdered in Fairfield 2.5 years ago, it was AEA who coordinated and provided counseling services for over a week. When a student dies by suicide or in an accident, it is our AEA's are there within minutes to start providing crisis support and counseling. What will our schools do without these services that come to them at a moment's notice at no additional cost for as long as they need it? Deaths, illnesses, and catastrophes won't stop, but the supports and services AEA''s provide will stop if this bill goes through.Please do not allow these legislative bills to move forward knowing they are taking away our students' and teachers' opportunity to access the supports they need.
02-19-2024
Alicia Moos [None ]
CON
Im opposed to this bill. I am wondering what data you have to indicate that these proposed changes to the AEA system would improve student achievement for students with disabilities. I believe that a comprehensive study is needed in order to ensure changes to the AEA will be in the best interests of students! Changes that impact children should be thoughtful and datadriven! Please take your time and do this right!!
02-19-2024
Anonymous [Iowa Voter]
CON
Stop this bill now, do not let our school children pay the price because our state government wants to cut taxes and increase our surplus.
02-19-2024
Anonymous [None]
CON
Please slow this process down. Please work with the AEAs to find the right changes that help all kids. Please be thoughtful for future generations of families who want quality education for their children.
02-19-2024
Janet Johnso []
CON
Please stop this bill, no more amendments. Please conduct a study without a bill moving forward.
02-19-2024
Kelsey Baker []
CON
I urge against the proposed legislative changes threatening the ability of Area Education Agencies (AEAs) to own property. River Hills School in Cedar Falls relies on AEAs for essential support educating students with significant disabilities. Any disruption to their ability to own property jeopardizes our mission to provide excellence in education to 30 area school districts. I implore lawmakers to listen to the concerns of Iowa's educators and families and reject this bill, ensuring the continued stability and effectiveness of our educational system.
02-19-2024
Heather Sievers [Advocates for Iowa's Children]
CON
Dear House Education Committee, I am the founder of Advocates for Iowas Children and reaching out to represent thousands of parents, educators, and schools across this state. I am also a mother of a child of rare disabilities who has been served by our AEA. My daughter has overcome many significant challenges because of the integrated, quality, timely and cost effective services she has received through our expert AEAs, so this is also personal to me.I know you must understand how the community feels and why we are begging this AEA bill to be stopped completely. Please slow down. It is our children we are fighting for, and Im sure you have experienced what it invokes within you if anyone has ever hurt or threatened the wellbeing of your child. Any hurt caused by this legislative session is something the community of parents will never forget nor forgive. We, in the state of Iowa, know reform is needed and are open to doing this the right way. We are counting on you as our legislators to help lead this state to meaningful reform, but most importantly to protect our children from harm.Both the amended House and Senate versions of the AEA reform bills are not ready to be pushed into law and will cause harm to our children. I recognize that you are likely receiving a lot of pressure from the Governors office to move this forward, but I significantly hope that you hear the voice of the community more. Bills in both the Senate and House regarding AEA reform prevent operational provider sharing, put too much control in the department of education and the director of the DE to make decisions. The DE director is not even an educator and is not qualified to make approvals or decisions compared to our experts. The bills break up an integrated and costeffective model that without it will leave children with significant delays and gaps in quality care, this includes risk to our schools that FAPE federal requirements will not be met within 60 days for start of services when a need is identified and multiple lawsuits to districts that can reach $2030,000 each! These bills have nothing written in them that will support or guarantee the goal of improving academic performance, and in fact, will likely cause ripple effects that will worsen performance and leave vulnerable children behind. Our graduation rates are approximately 85% for our children of needs under the AEA support, Up from approximately 60% in 2016 . This is well above the graduation rate for a general population in Iowa. Our AEAs can also not staff a chopped up system if there is a need identified during the school year outside of annual budget planning. Again, leaving our children without timely services and risking that schools will be rushed to meet FAPE deadlines and select a lowerquality or outofstate telehealth services that will never be as good as our integrated expert provider system (and also does not support our own Iowa's critical workforce). We are already losing therapists and qualified AEA providers through this legislative session because of the harm these proposed bills are causing. To be clear, we are not looking for improvements in the bill this legislative session, we are asking you to stop this bill and slow down, so we can take the responsible time needed to conduct a credible, thorough study to guide what reform is truly needed in advance of a bill coming into law. Im asking that you develop a bipartisan committee to STUDY FIRST. We do not need a bill to do this critical work. The risk of making mistakes on this one is far too high, and the trust our communities have in our legislation will be broken for years to come. Please carry our voice forward as these bills hit the Floor and stop these bills. We are asking you to stand up for the voice of all our children. Thank you and I am open for any dialogue you would be willing to have, Heather Sievers
02-19-2024
Maureen Lonsdale [Parent, Educator]
CON
This bill is moving too fast! We need to slow down and complete a comprehensive study with all stakeholders at the table to determine in any necessary changes. Iowa children and families are too important; we need to get this right! Please vote no to this bill!
02-19-2024
Marisa Keeney []
CON
Please vote NO on this proposed legislation. It is not in the best interest of Iowa kids. It is likely to create substantial harm and hardships particularly for students in rural areas and rural schools. Our state needs to stop making choices related to education that continue to erode the ability of our public schools to thrive and provide high quality education. We need a governor and legislators that see the value of public education and make decisions that support it. Please work towards legislation that facilitates bringing our state back to being a leader in public education instead of making decisions that aim to dismantle public education. Our children deserve better.
02-19-2024
Paula Thome []
CON
Please listen to Iowans. With so many Iowans in opposition to this bill and any current amendments, how can you in good faith ignore your constituents? If you wont get rid of this bill, can you at least slow it way down? We really need all stakeholders to have a voice and a study of the long term impact of dismantling the AEA as they are currently run. I do not believe going further with this bill will accomplish what the Governor wants. I believe in the end it will further divide and erode the achievement gap for many Iowa students especially in our rural, small districts.
02-19-2024
Sarah Ryner []
CON
AEAs are built on the economy of scale so all students have access to the services and supports they need. They currently have oversight by the Department of Education and are supported by superintendents and customer feedback.
02-19-2024
Gary Zittergruen [Retired Superintendent ]
CON
AEAs throughout Iowa are valuable partners in providing high quality services to school districts and all stakeholders in our school communities including students, parents, teachers, support staff, and administrators. Please refrain from making changes that will negatively impact the quality of educational experiences and opportunities. Thank you.
02-19-2024
Perry Bentsen [Former teacher at Bettendorf Middle School]
CON
Why is HF 2612 continuing? The public outcry by parents, school district staff, legislators and citizens has been overwhelmingly against this proposal. It is not good for students, is erroneously justified by the governor and a very thin veil to cut more money from education.The governor is proud of the Iowa budget surplus. Is more money needed to pay for private education tuition? Please stop this proposal now.
02-19-2024
Rachel Graham [Great Prairie AEA]
CON
Please stop this bill and all the amendments. Please slow it down and do a comprehensive study with all stakeholders at the table. Show that you care for our small rural schools. I am a special education consultant with Great Prairie AEA. I work with teachers to help them with student behavior. I also help determine if kids need specially designed instruction and special education supports. I could not do my job without the literacy, math, and social emotional behavior consultants that help me as well. We are a team. I also spend time in classrooms helping the teachers with behavioral interventions to support students. I help write Behavior Intervention Plans. Please think about how much is at stake and how if we dont do this right it will have devastating effects on our kids. For them, for our small schools, please take the time to really learn. Feel free to contact me directly to answer any questions. Thank you!
02-19-2024
Elizabeth Mary Luttrell []
CON
While this bill is an improvement over the initial AEA bill as well as the Senate version, it still has a long way to go. As I hear legislators discuss proposed changes it is obvious they do not fully understand the services of the AEA system, and therefore I am firmly opposed to changes without a full review and study of the current AEA system. Not only that, the data given by Governor Reynolds to justify changes has been misleading, with bar graphs drawn to show large discrepancies when in reality there is a slight difference in Iowa students' scores when compared to different states. Iowa is the only noncategorical state for identifying students with disabilities, and that can also affect this data. The amount of money quoted by Governor Reynolds on the cost of AEAs cannot be verified despite multiple requests. From an educator's perspective, nothing in the plans being proposed would help influence student achievement. Lastly, AEA staff do not provide specially designed instruction on students' IEPs and are there to provide support and direct services so to blame them for this exaggerated problem is misplaced as well. Since January 10, thousands of Iowans from both sides of the aisle have voiced concerns and united against the proposed changes. They've also shared the AMAZING ways every AEA has helped families, students, and schools all over Iowa. From every corner of the state, both rural and urban Iowans have united their voice AGAINST this change. Please honor their voices and stop this bill until a full and comprehensive review can be done.
02-19-2024
Heather Applegate [GPAEA]
CON
Please vote no on any AEA bill before a comprehensive study can be done. I have worked as a general education teacher, a special education teacher, and as a special education consultant. I cannot imagine doing any of these jobs without the support of various staff at the AEA. There is always room for improvement but let the stakeholders help guide those improvements. I will sit and talk to anyone who wants to hear what I do.
02-19-2024
Sara Schiller []
CON
As a parent, community member and school social worker I ask you to vote no on this bill and do more work to find what is best for our kids! I so appreciate the time you are allowing to listen to the points being made. Our small rural schools need the resources to assist with educating our students. The AEAs assist with so many aspects of this. I know my children have benefited along with countless others. We are a lucky state to have such a great system to work hand and hand with our schools. Please examine it more and vote no. Thank you!
02-19-2024
Sandy Wilson [Citizen Engagement]
PRO
Citizen Engagement declares IN FAVOR of HF 2612. Please advance the bill.
02-19-2024
Anonymous [Mom of eight children, aunt, grandma]
CON
I have a son who has received AEA services for 6 years. They have been instrumental in my sons IEP and 504 plan. I have had a daughter also receive speech therapy and and IEP with them. My nephew currently receives speech therapy through them. Why is this something that is being considered? The AEA needs more money and resources not the threat of being eradicated. My children and the children of Iowa need the AEA. We have a mental health crisis, access to care crisis, along with many other things that should be a priority for this legislative session.
02-19-2024
Terri Johnson []
CON
I am against the AEA Bill. Please stop the bill , no more amendments. Please conduct a study without a bill moving forward. Iowa needs its AEAs!
02-19-2024
Anita Palmer [NA]
CON
Listen to the citizens of Iowathe majority are against the changes proposed by Gov. Reynolds.
02-19-2024
Teresa Paulson [Self]
CON
Although this bill is better than the orginal bill proposed by the governor, I still would like most of it to be stopped. The only part of the bill that I agree with is a review, however it needs to be a bipartisan task force equal number chosen by each party in the legislature. This task force would conduct a thorough review of the AEAs AND the Department of Education. Making any decision as to changes how the AEAs function would be premature without a review to fully understand the relationship of the Department of Education and the Area Education Agencies. The ultimate goal is to improve student outcomes and the current bill does not address any plan as to how that will be accomplished. Please stop the bill and create the taskforce so any changes are based on known information and not information from a company that does not understand Iowa's education system. The children/youth of Iowa (and our schools) deserve the time to carefully determine what needs to be changed or improved.
02-19-2024
Mary Radloff [Iowa taxpayer]
CON
Please leave AEAs alone. Do not make cuts. AEAs are very helpful to school districts and private entities cannot take their place.
02-19-2024
Jodie Butler [None]
CON
This legislation is knee jerk based upon opinion not facts. The consultant did not engage directly with the stakeholders nor did they examine history, background or data from educational research about NAEP or AES. Policy should never be proposed unless there are significant needs or improvements that engage a broad set of individuals. Having served on the National governing board for NAEP 2000, I can attest to the positive inclusive approach Iowa has taken that other states do not when assessing all students in their sample. It requires more study and evaluation before destructive policies are implemented that will damage rural schools and communities and create hardships for more vulnerable students and their families.Why not tackle reducing the number of counties instead?
02-19-2024
Susan Olesen [Retired]
CON
I appreciate the House's effort to make the bill more palatable. Thanks to the Committee for listening to Iowans. I appreciate it.However, the information the consultant provided in the Governor's bill has been debunked. Iowans are happy with the work of the AEAs. So, rather than have a bill this year, it seems to me the wisest move would be to commission a study that includes more data, Iowans leading and providing input into the study, and a reasonable amount of time to gather information. That group will come back with recommendations regarding what services the AEA provides that work and which services need a boost. To assume the AEAs need any restructuring this year as the Governor and Senate have suggested or in the future is premature. We need to do a real study first. Thanks for your consideration.
02-19-2024
Anonymous [Smith]
CON
This program is virtually great for children of all ages so why are you tossing it. Very shameful that a governor' wants money for her busses in corporations Definitely need her replaced. Thanks
02-19-2024
Jami Miller [Great Prairie AEA ]
CON
As a former Special Education teacher, and current Special Education Consultant through Great Prairie AEA, I am reaching out tonight thanking you for taking the time to listen, and begging you to please stop this bill. While I am well aware of the feeling some have towards those of us in the AEA reaching out to "save our jobs" this is not why I reach out tonight. I reach out because as a parent I am shocked and upset that this proposed bill even exists. I reach out because I am scared. I am scared not for my job, but for the future of education and Iowa's children should this bill be passed. This bill will ruin small and rural schools financially. They will not be able to afford all of the services that they currently receive through AEA, creating a huge inequality amount districts and the quality of education children receive across the state. This bill fails to better meet the needs of districts by giving them choice, but instead takes away control from local decision makers (at one point 133 times!). This will create a system where the decision makers are not the ones on the ground with the relationships and understanding of what each unique district needs in order to thrive, among other concerns with this power being taken away. This bill removes valuable mental health services from our youth, when we already live in a state where there is a critically limited amount of mental health services. I also fear for the loss of crisis teams for our staff and student. Schools are not going to budget for a crisis that may happen only once is 25+ years. Who then will be there when a crisis does occur? How long will it take for those supports to arrive and who will be arranging those services while in the midst of the crisis? I could go on and on, but I won't. I will instead end by stating that this bill, or following amendments to the bill, were not written by those in the education field and this is painfully obvious when not only reading the bill, but talking with senators and representatives. What the AEA does, everything the AEA does, is not understood. For this reason we ask that you please stop this bill. Say no and put a stop to the proposed educational changes that will cause so much irreparable damage to the youth of Iowa. Please say no, and instead, we ask that a committee be formed where all stakeholders are around the table, and educated, meaningful changes can be made to the agencies that promote student success, not student and school failure. Thank you for your time, and for listening not only to me, but to all Iowans who oppose this bill.
02-19-2024
ellen hansen []
CON
Who does this help? Rural schools? NoChildren? NoTeachers? NoParents? NoTaxpayers? Too early to tellBusinesses that could provide some of the same products or services for a profit? YesWorking on some issues and room for improvement? Ostensibly. Governor Reynolds is well known for appointing work groups often with reports expected well into the future. Why is that not the situation here?
02-19-2024
Kris Baldwin [NA]
CON
Please vote no to this bill. Allow the AEAs to continue providing services to the children of Iowa and do not give the Dept of Education control.
02-19-2024
Steve Roberts [self]
CON
Not enough time to object to all the GOP insanity. But since that's the case, their blizzard of 3am activity may be paying off for THEM, just not Iowans.
02-19-2024
Jaqueline Giltner [Parent of 2 WDMCS kids]
CON
Please do not advance this bill, or any bill, without a comprehensive study of what the AEA provides and how it provides those services. When you cash strap districts by approving year after year budget increases that dont come close to pacing inflation, youre just asking for trouble when you allow districts to decide what services to offer. This bill hurts special ed students, the very students its proported to help.
02-19-2024
Mike Henning [Retired Education Supporter]
CON
Please leave AEA services alone!! It is well manage. Services provided are well tailored to the unique needs of the schools the support.
02-19-2024
Tami [Plein]
CON
Im a retired AEA Science Consultant. I currently provide consulting services for a nonprofit organization. The very type of service this bill is promoting. Out of state providers of educational service to districts. So I speak from experience about the cost difference between privatizing services and the cost for AEA services. When I travel out of state to a district, they have to pay my fees, which are almost double what I made as an AEA consultant AND all of my travel expenses. Meals, rental car, hotel, flights. These costs can be almost the same as my fee. So that means districts will be paying 3x what the service would cost through the AEA. Secondly, Im walking into a district without knowing their local circumstances and have no longterm relationship with them. Finally, having to ask the DE for permission to use AEA services? This is not local control and is not conducive to retaining high quality professionals to provide services. Who is going to stay in a job where their livelihood is dependent on the approval of one person in the DE. And what district has the capacity to fill out all the paperwork for every student service they need during a year?! And there is no way one person can approve every request from every district in a timely manner even with more staff. The AEAs are an efficient and cost effective system that provides personalized services to districts in their area. The report this bill is based on is flawed and I do not support this bill as a taxpayer of Des Moines county.
02-19-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I ask you to stop this bill completely and do a real study of the AEA system. We do not need a bill to do a study. This bill has been fraught with issues from the beginning with the primary focus being on dismantling the AEAs, not doing what is right for children. As a parent of four children who benefit from the full suite of AEA services and as someone who works in our rural schools, we owe it to ALL children of Iowa to do this right. Our AEA system is a wonderful support for our schools and communities and is an efficient and effective infrastructure to meet the myriad of needs that are constantly changing. Any reform that is done needs to occur WITHIN the AEA structure, not OUTSIDE of it. We still have time to get this right. For the sake of our states greatest resource, our children, please stop this bill from moving forward in any form. Thank you for your consideration!
02-19-2024
Jennifer McGregor []
CON
Please vote no. Student achievement will not be improved by increasing DE oversight positions. Student achievement is improved by smaller class sizes and teachers who are equipped with the skills and supports FROM THE AEA SYSTEM, not to mention better paid and qualified support paraprofessionals. This is where your money needs to go, not on additional DE staff. The AEA system works to provide equitable services using a model that is second to none other in the country. Please complete a comprehensive study before taking any action that limits the abilities of the AEA system to provide services to ALL students, teachers, and administrators in Iowa. The greater majority of Iowa citizens did not ask for this. And a very large majority of the population of Iowa is against this bill. Please vote no.
02-19-2024
Lynn Sheagren [Great Prairie AEA]
CON
I have worked in Early ACCESS for the past nine years. families in rural Southeast, Iowa rely on us to be able to come into their homes and help them with their childs developmental needs. Often times these families do not have transportation or the money to buy the gas for their car. They are not able to get outpatient therapies for their child because our part of the state does not have enough of these therapist and the waiting list are long. Our AEA team is in the home, assisting the family and the child. I would ask that you pause this bill and ask questions. Get information from people who have used our services. I think that most of them would tell you they wish there were more of us, in order to help their children. Thank you.
02-19-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am against this bill as I think it negatively impacts our communities and the entire state. AEAs are their to support the most vulnerable in our community from birth and play a big role in partnering with schools. I think this will disproportionally impact rural areas as it is harder to reach services in rural communities. I think this will leave schools and teachers without vital support systems. I cannot find one positive in this bill. Two of my children have used AEA services and the people we worked with helped provide light to our family during dark and hard times.
02-19-2024
Sarah Schmidt [None]
CON
I appreciate all the time and energy that legislators have put into amending the Governor's original bill and amendment. With that being said I'd like to encourage you to continue with putting together a taskforce with stakeholders to look at our AEA system and changes that may or may not be needed. Anything beyond that would contradict the purposes of the task force and ultimately make changes that may or may not be needed. I'd also encourage you to visit your local AEA to see first hand what happens in their buildings and all the expertise they have to offer.
02-19-2024
Carla Knutsen []
CON
The new AEA bill is now in the hands of the House, getting further into the process despite the legitimate concerns that all in education have been endlessly writing to our legislators about. We have pointed out the huge flaws in the Guidehouse report and still legislators are not understanding the result this legislation will have. I see no way that this current bill will have a positive impact on student achievement for our special education students. If Gov. Reynolds or the IA DE would like to explain how it helps to create a fissure into the one agency that is day in and day out there for schools across the state, I would like to hear it. In the end, AEAs won't be sustainable and you'll have professionals scattered to the wind, collecting in the bigger cities and you'll have overworked rural professionals that are spread too thin to make an impact. I invite you to stand strong and vote no when this bill comes up.
02-19-2024
Anonymous [Parent]
CON
Please vote no to this bill. I, along with many other individuals, welcome the idea of developing a task force to complete a comprehensive review of the AEAs. With that, I strongly believe this task force should be comprised of parents, rural and urban school personnel, AEA staff from various departments, and agencies, as well as any other stakeholders that would have a background in education. Your inbox, forums, conversations, and calls have been filled with data showing a comprehensive review would be best before making this change. The original intent of this bill was to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. If this bill is pushed through, the impact this will have on schools will be devastating and something that our system will likely never recover from. It will have negative consequences for all students, including students with disabilities. Lets remember what the original purpose of this bill was for and do what is best for all involved: a comprehensive review with suggestions for improvement to come next year.Please listen to the people of Iowa and complete a comprehensive review so improvements can truly be made. Thank you.
02-19-2024
Erin Vander Velde []
CON
I continue to implore legislators to look much more deeply at the education needs in Iowa through a thorough study of the current state of education for all Iowa students. Take the necessary time to get the facts and make sound decisions for improvement. Iowa's AEAs offer supports for learners, families and educators in every area of the state. Their services fulfill needs that would otherwise go unmet in many rural communities. Please end this bill and opt for an indepth evaluation in order to move forward in a positive way.
02-19-2024
Jodi Muller [Private concerned citizen ]
CON
The students of Iowa deserve well thought out plans for their education. This bill does nothing to help special education. This bill will make a tough job more complicated. AEAs provide a unique service that can not be duplicated. AEAs have oversight in place. The vast majority of Iowans do NOT want a change. If anything changes, it needs to be studied and thought out carefully. Our children deserve the best. Do the right thing and vote NO to this bill. You know its the right thing to do.
02-19-2024
Mariah Tousley []
CON
As a parent of two children who have benefited from the AEA in both general and special education capacities, I want to thank you for opening this issue up to the public for comment. Your willingness to listen to the voices of Iowans has not gone unnoticed. This bill is unnecessary, and not based in data or need. The governor cited a gap in achievement for special education students in Iowa as the reasoning for this type of legislation, but it is unclear how this bill would have any direct positive impact on outcomes for our students. Any legislation passed should have a clear, and indisputable, positive impact on education in our state. Please stop this bill, and instead focus time and attention on initiating a comprehensive study of the entire education system in our state. This study and data analysis should include Iowa's experts in the field of education and stakeholders such as parents, teachers, and students. It should not focus on targeting only one piece of our education system, like the AEAs. All children are general education students first, so we need to look at the system as a whole before we can pinpoint changes for improvement. In addition to not understanding the purpose of this bill, and holding concerns over the lack of data used to write this bill, I also have deep concerns about transferring so much power and control to the DE and initiating a feeforservice model. I fear these changes will have unintended, negative consequences on all districts, especially those in rural communities. Iowa's students and schools deserve equity of service, which means each student and school gets what they need. This is different than equality, because not every district and student need the same thing. The local control and economy of scale provided by AEAs offers this much needed equity. Please stop this bill.
02-19-2024
Corey Rogers []
CON
This bill hurts Iowas students, families, educators, and communities. Vote no on the bill. Spend a year with stakeholders collaborating to make positive improvements instead of dismantling a system for political gain.
02-19-2024
Kevin Schlomer [NA]
CON
I want to acknowledge that HF 2612 is quite an improvement over the governors original bill (HSB 542): It preserves special education services for students as we know them. It retains the availability of general educational services and media/technology services. It keeps existing flowthrough money a part of the education system, instead of disappearing for property tax relief. It creates a task force to study all aspects of the AEA system. It creates a more reasonable timeline for changes to occur.However, I hope that our threshold is not better than HSB 542, because even with improvements this legislation still seems like a political solution to an illdefined and possibly nonexistent problem (although it certainly causes many new problems of its own). Iowas AEAs are the envy of the nation for good reason they are efficient, they are comprehensive, and they work well. Its important to realize that Iowas AEAs are integrated systems. This means that its possible for special education consultants to work with general education consultants, school improvement specialists, or media/technology support without having to obtain prior approval or pay for that consultation. Breaking apart services into siloed areas will interrupt efficiency and responsiveness to needs.A feeforservice plan for general education services and media/technology is problematic because it will make it difficult to budget for AEA positions and services for schools. Many times schools engage in these services when they uncover issues through other work. Being halfway through the year and discovering a need, yet not being able to enter into agreements due to the need for Department of Education approval or having funding already spent, would be a negative effect for children and teachers.I have worked at an Area Education Agency for six years. To be honest, I didn't even realize the full extent of everything the AEA does until reform became the legislatures buzzwordand I work there! For example, I did not know that our van drivers deliver interlibrary loans. I did not know that graphic design services are half the cost of commercial production. I did not know that the technology applications our states students use would cost almost 20 times more if districts had to purchase them on their own. If I am still learning about all of the great things that AEAs doand Ive worked at one for six yearsthen Im highly doubtful that the legislature can learn everything needed to write a major overhaul in the span of weeks that does not cause lasting harm for Iowa students, families, and schools.Thats why Im asking the legislature to stop these AEA bills. Instead, move forward with only the bipartisan study group composed of legislators, parents, superintendents, school board members, general education teachers, special education teachers, AEA supervisors, AEA staff, and healthcare providers. In the work of school improvement, we take it as understood that change must be based upon (1) clear, comprehensive data sets and (2) consensus. Right now, neither of those two things exist relative to AEA legislation. Drafting and passing bills is literally putting the cart before the horse.In addition, I have concerns about the qualifications of the current Director of the Department of Education to lead anything related to Area Education Agencies or oversee them. Until very recently, Directors of the Iowa Department of Education have had the experience and credentials necessary to qualify them for this important work. I find it curious that right now, higher standards are being proposed for nearly every educator in Iowa than for this one key individual. Based on what I have seen, it is unlikely that our current Director of the Department of Education would be approved by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners as a teacher, school administrator, or athletic coach. The Iowa BOEE License Search page returns no results when her name is entered. The biography listed on the Department of Education website (https://educate.iowa.gov/about) does not mention any instructional or administrative experience in a PK12 setting.Therefore, I propose that the following qualifications for Iowa Department of Education director be included in state code:1) Licensed by Iowa Board of Educational Examiners as a teacher AND a school administrator (this requires two different licenses). Both licenses must be current and active.2) Holder of a terminal degree from an accredited postsecondary institution (example: Doctor of Philosophy PhD, Doctor of Education EdD, or equivalent). The field of study must be in education or an educationrelated field.3) Minimum of 15 years of experience as an educator in PK12 educational settings. (Up to 8 years of this experience may be obtained from teaching or leading in higher education.) A minimum of 5 years of experience must have been within the State of Iowa.4) Iowa residency for a minimum of 5 years immediately prior to the date of appointment.
02-19-2024
Lynne Campbell [personal testimony teacher, Legislative Staffer Washington DC, AEA Science Consultant, Informal Educator) , ]
CON
The AEAs are instrumental to ensure effective and equitable, teaching, and learning in both rural and urban environments. Iowa has one of the best support systems in the nation. As a teacher, I could not have done the things I did in my classroom without the support of AEA resources. Most people dont understand that media services, printing services, and delivery services are essentially crowdsourcing so that resources can be stretched. Unfortunately, as appropriations have dwindled for K12 education, AEAs, and Higher Ed, where I currently serve, it should be easy to see Why educational services have been stretched to the limit. I challenge every legislator to tour Heartland AEA in Johnston. I take my preservice teachers from the graduate class I teach at Iowa State University on a tour there every year. Their services are exemplary. Heartland has their buildings paid in full and services are at or near cost. They are a nonprofit. There is no way that an educator can match the services provided by Heartland from another business. Dustin Gean leads Heartland s logistical services also known as Van Mail. Educators use the service to have resources delivered to their classroom. Again a commercial service could not provide that same service at a reasonable cost. Dustin also partners with others entities to provide services at a fraction of the cost. I have partnered with Dustin on my Iowa DNR REAP grant to deliver Monarch eggs to approx. 300 classrooms per year in Heartland AEA and other AEAs as well. The cost to ship via UPS or USPS would be exorbitant and would make the project too costly. Dustin could elaborate on the details of the efficient and effective service he provides to schools. There simply isnt a significant problem. In fact, it is exactly the opposite. It would be prudent for every legislator to make a call to your regional AEA and the schools they serve. AEAs are an essential part of the equation. As with most companies, there could be efficiencies identified. But I will reiterate, as funding has declined over many years, so have services. Its easy to blame the system when its actually a lack of funding. I personally want my tax dollars spent to support these important systems. I have never seen a tax break make a big impact on my wallet. Perhaps it does for big business, but thats not what I want my tax dollars to support. And lastly, for those legislators who adhere to and believe in strict guidance from the Constitution, I would encourage you to think deeply about what it means to have: 1) Free and public educational system and 2) Separation of church and state. Please fully fund public education and continue to fund AEAs as an independent and vital support system for effective, teaching and learning. The regional support is essential to the success of the system. Please do the right thing!Lynne CampbellGrimes, Iowa ViaIowa State University Extension and Outreach Prairie Lakes AEA Iowa STEM Hub Central Rivers AEA (formerly AEA 267 as I knew it) Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, Washington, D.C.Woodward Granger CSD Clear Lake CSDSigourney CSD
02-19-2024
Anna Berns [Concerned Citizen]
CON
AEAs are vital to our education communities across the state. Cutting AEA budgets and the services they provide our local schools, who often cant obtain these services elsewhere in rural areas, would be devastating for students. Our local AEA is pivotal in providing necessary career exploration, technology support, special education programs, and other partnership opportunities to students across northeast Iowa. In addition, they are a great resource in further connecting community colleges and local school districts. Their impact cannot be minimized and their budget/programs should not be cut. A future without our AEAs would mean jobs lost for hardworking Iowans and opportunities taken from our students and future workers in Iowa.
02-19-2024
Anonymous [N/a]
CON
I work with kids who receive many services from the AEA. They are instrumental in providing adequate services all over the state, regardless of the size of city. They are a liaison between families and private sector services (audiology, speech therapy, etc). It allows for a central contact to make sure kids get the services they need to do well. Please keep the AEA.
02-19-2024
Amanda Larkin [Parent, voter, AEA social worker]
CON
Please stop what is commonly known as the AEA bill. Please waste no more time on amendments. Instead conduct a quality study including stakeholders in order to accurately identify any problems there may be with the current system using multiple methods and sources of data.Most of the problems that were originally cited in the proposal for this bill, we now know were backed by invalid or misleading information. Misleading: AEAs have no oversight.Each AEA goes through the state accreditation system and annual reporting to the Iowa Department of Education. There is also an annual budget approval by the department as well as the State Board of Education. Misleading: AEA administrator salaries are too high. There is a law about administrator salaries for the AEAs. They have to be at 5% or under of the total budget. AEAs meet this criteria. If everyone agrees they need to be lowered, then it might be simple to just change that 5%. And again the Department of Education approves the budgets for salaries.Misleading: Iowa spends more money per pupil for special education than other states. In the report where this was cited, many states reported zero dollars for special education funding so when you look at a national average where some are zero, none of that information is accurate.Misleading: Students and Iowa are under performing compared to other states.One test (NAEP) given to very few students was used as data to make this point. Even the NAEP website says that data should not be used for statetostate comparisons. Additionally, Iowa exits students from special education when they meet their goals and become proficient. Therefore the only students in Iowa who would be tested as special education students would not be proficient.There are more examples however, one thing that is sure. you have to have a well identified problem before you can determine what solutions are needed.Please, do a comprehensive study and identify any real problems before you continue to try to find solutions to problems that may not exist. If you disrupt a whole system, based on inaccurate information, you cannot dial that back, and there will be longterm consequences for families, children, teachers, schools, and communities.And finally, please remove the increase to teacher salaries from the AEA bill. Give the teachers what they deserve but allow them to not be worried about losing support from their AEA.Sincerely,Amanda LarkinOttumwa, IowaParent, Aunt (of children in other Iowa communities), Voter, Social Worker
02-19-2024
Susan Pickford [Great Prairie AEA]
CON
Dear House Members,I want to thank you for caring enough about education in Iowa to listen to the voices that have shared their opposition to HSB 542. Although I applaud you in making amendments to the original bill, I believe that there are still too many issues with the proposed HF 2612 that it will negatively impact education in Iowa. And I urge you to vote NO to this bill at this time. A more thorough study is needed before a bill is proposed to determine the best way to proceed with education reform in Iowa. Of particular concern in this amendment is the fee for service model it proposes which will benefit Iowas schools in metropolitan areas and will prohibit rural schools from providing services with special needs and thus deny learners in need a free and appropriate public education. A second concern is that there is not a clear plan outlined for Early ACCESS services to Iowans birth to three population with special needs. As an educational audiologist, I have worked with families who have children with hearing differences by screening for and diagnosing hearing loss as well as supporting the families and children throughout their journey of hearing (re)habilitation. I have partnered with hospitals and clinics in obtaining necessary devices for children even when families did not have the ways or the means of getting them for their child. Many of these services would be in excess of $10,000.00 each should it be a fee for service delivery. Finally, I am concerned how this amendment will take control away from the local schools and place too much control in the Department of Education. Our local schools and AEA work together with families to provide services for learners. These local entities know our learners best and as such can provide the best opportunities for educational success. Thank you for your consideration on this important issue.Sincerely,Susan Pickford
02-19-2024
Anonymous [N/A]
CON
I'd like to put my voice into the pile of those highly opposed to this bill, or any rendition of it.As a father whose son currently gets services thru the AEA for a speech delay, I can say that his improvements thru the AEA's care far exceed those thru the public school system.I understand this bill is not to eliminate the AEA's, rather redistribute their funds to the school system to choose who to hire for these services. My issue here is that these kids and their parents are entirely at the mercy of the public school system by doing this, and leaves parents no secondary source for care without the public schools hand. There's no guarantee who the public school system would use for these services. It seems the governor sends mixed messages, on the public school system. We tell parents you have the right to decide to send your kid to private education, and send your tax dollars accordingly if you don't like the public school system (which I was all for). But when it comes to how your child's disability is addressed, you must do whatever the public schools decide is best? 30 years ago, I may have had more faith in the school system. I personally prefer having an outside service, in addition to (not under) the public school system, so I have two separate entities working together to decide the best route for my child. Under this new bill, this would only happen if the school chose the AEA as their service, to which there is no guarantee, and most of these schools don't have the understanding or education to understand what is needed, or how to write an IEP for example. So how do we expect them to make the best decision on how the child will get the needed attention?I've yet to hear anyone who actually thinks this bill is a benefit. Let the schools stay focused on education, and services designed to aid the schools with staff who have been trained and educated for this purpose, do their job. With the amount of opposition I have seen and heard on this, it seems the focus is more on finding the funds to give the schools the raises the Governor promised, rather than what is actually best for these kids and families.Please reconsider this bill, and add my voice to those against this.Sincerely
02-19-2024
Marilyn Rue []
CON
I am adamantly opposed to this bill which will be devastating for rural schools, teachers students and their families.there has to be a better way forward.
02-19-2024
Jenn Kuster []
CON
Our AEA supports and services are a vital lifeline, especially to schools such as ours that aren't fortunate enough to be located near a city that has easy access to many resources and services. As a teacher, I have utilized many of these services. Consults with literacy consultants on best practices, or the OT on quick interventions I can do in my classroom, for instance. I've utilized the lending library not just to further my professional knowledge, but also to provide materials that helped bring topics and experiences to life for my students. These experiences would have been difficult, if not impossible to provide on a small school budget. From another point of view, that of a parent of a child with special needs, there have been times that supports from the AEA have been invaluable, whether it is a referral, a consult or services from OT, PT or Speech, access to testing or even just extra hands working along side us as parents, trying to put together an appropriately challenging goal or accommodation for my child but still encourage them to dream, set goals for themselves and become successful.This process isn't perfect, and there are changes that can be made, especially in the areas of transition services for students. The answer doesn't lie in further cutting services and making help and resources for students and teachers alike even more difficult to access. I would urge you to take time to examine this carefully from all angles, create a panel of stakeholders; parents, teachers, and others that are actually out there, in the trenches, to help tell you what is and is not working, rather than making drastic cuts that are not only not in the best interest of our most vulnerable children, but putting all of our schools, and especially our hardworking rural schools, in an impossible situation. Thank you.
02-19-2024
Kris [Concerned Republican Voter]
CON
Rural schools need all of the AEAs current supports. Have you heard from any teachers that want to get rid of Media Services? Out of all of the thousands of emails and phone calls have you received any that are in favor of reducing the services AEAs provide? This legislation is trying to solve a problem that doesnt exist. Teachers, school administrators, parents all want the AEAs to continue how they are currently run and funded. Keep the task force to work with ALL of the stakeholders to learn what works and what needs improvement. Please listen to all of your constituents, they do not want this bill and they will remember come November that ignored their wishes. When was the last time you received so much bipartisan opposition to a piece of legislation? No one asked for this bill and Iowans have stepped up and asked you to listen to them, not the Governor. She wont be the one casting votes for or against you in November. Please VOTE NO!!
02-19-2024
Laura McCaw []
CON
This AEA change is not needed. All input to our governor has either been mis advised and incorrect. Our Iowa AEA has been and is doing an excellent job, there are too many negative effects that will come about with the governor and her changes. Why take AEA employees and money away from the best trained employees to an unknown, unstable, uninformed, entity. If it's not broken, no need to put in an illadvised plan.
02-19-2024
Tina Halverson []
CON
Please slow down the process and conduct a thorough review of the AEA system involving stakeholders.
02-19-2024
Samantha Wilson []
CON
This bill is destructive to our AEAs and was not given proper thought before it was rolled out. Much more thought and input from all stakeholders is needed!
02-19-2024
Kellie [Martin]
CON
Please stop AEA reformBills this legislative session. Instead, set up a committee to study the AEAs to better understand the real needs while finding ways to improve education for Iowas children & communities. Fees for services will increase costs for physical, occupational & speech therapy. Evaluations by psychologists, social workers, audiologists will be astronomically expensive. The AEAs are an integrated education model which is the best way to determine needs & help proved support services. It is too complex to be replaced easily. Nothing in these bills has research based methods to improve education. Stop these bills & learn what is really needed. Thank you
02-19-2024
Rae Miller [Retired RN]
CON
First, I want to acknowledge that HF 2612 is an improvement over the governors original bill (HSB 542) because it: preserves special education services for students as they now know and receive them. keeps the availability of general educational services and media/technology services, although with a sunset possible. keeps existing flowthrough money as part of the education system, instead of disappearing for property tax relief. creates a task force to study all aspects of the AEA system. creates a more reasonable timeline for changes to occur.That being said, I hope that our threshold is not better than HSB 542, because even with improvements this legislation still seems like a political solution to an poorly defined and possibly nonexistent problem. Iowas AEAs are the envy of the nation for good reason they are efficient, they are comprehensive, and they work well. Dont throw this baby out with the bath water!The various departments of the AEA work together seamlessly, This means that its possible for special education consultants to work with general education consultants, school improvement specialists, or media/technology support without having to obtain prior approval or pay for that consultation. Breaking apart services into siloed areas will interrupt efficiency and responsiveness to needs.A feeforservice plan for general education services and media/technology will be a nightmare because it will make it difficult to budget for AEA positions and services for schools. Many times schools engage in these services when they uncover issues through other work. Being halfway through the year and discovering a need, yet not being able to enter into agreements due to the need for Department of Education approval or having funding already spent, would be a negative effect for children and teachers.Im asking the legislature to stop these AEA bills as they are written today. Instead, move forward with only the bipartisan study group composed of legislators, parents, superintendents, school board members, general education teachers, special education teachers, AEA supervisors, AEA staff, and healthcare providers. Drafting and passing bills based on inaccuracies is harmful for our children, communities, and state.I want to end my comments by expressing concern on the qualifications of the Director of Education. It seems to me the person holding this position should be an educator who is licensed or able to be licensed as a teacher and administrator in the state of Iowa at a minimum. Political appointees are just that and giving someone who knows very little about Iowas educational system the powers as proposed is another way to harm our students and schools.
02-19-2024
Linda Martin []
CON
The contributions made by our AEAs over that past 50 years gave our Iowa education system strength, flexibility and resilience. To lessen its effectiveness in any way is to go in the opposite direction. AEAs have an important role to play in our states education system, please dont undermine them!
02-19-2024
Tony Vincent []
CON
Please don't mess with something that is doing so much good for education. I have two children in K12 public schools in Iowa, and I want their teachers to continue to get all the helpful services and resources their AEA has been offering.
02-19-2024
Anonymous [Parent]
CON
Please vote no to this bill. My child would not be where he is today without the services provided by the AEA that started when he was just 18 months old and then led to a smooth transition into the school district when he turned 3, and they continued his services. I fear what this bill may do for our youngest children served by the AEA.
02-19-2024
Heidi Farquhar []
CON
I want you to think of your children you represent, your own children, grandchildren, your neighbors', friends and family's children. I urge you to consider all the children who receive education in Iowa. AEA has benefitted every child in school, special education or general education, at one point or another. From Specially Designed instruction for those who qualify for an Individual Education Plan to those students in general education who have benefitted from the teachers receiving training through the AEA and the media services. Please stop this bill from moving forward, you do not need a bill to do a comprehensive review. Create a review committee with key players at the table, parents, students, school administrators, AEA staff and department of education staff, rural and urban, and bring them to the table, tour the AEAs and truly find out what they offer and bring those suggestions to the next legislative session and move forward from there. This is too important to of a decision to make changes rashly. The changes you make will affect Iowa's education system for generations to come. We must get this right for the children of Iowa. Set politics aside and do what is right for education of Iowa's children.
02-19-2024
Julie Pasker []
CON
This AEA House File 2612 bill should ONLY be about putting together a task force of parents, teachers, students, principals, superintendents, legislators, AEA staff, and someone from the Department of Education to do a comprehensive review of the AEAs and to put together a plan to improve student learning.
02-19-2024
Anonymous [None]
CON
I am still very much against any bills to disrupt education and AEA. At this point just STOP!!! You were spending so much time, trying to fix a problem that doesnt exist!!
02-19-2024
Carrie Dodd []
CON
Please, the AEAs do NOT need to be "fixed". The thousands of phone calls, emails, and comments like these should be enough to show you that most Iowans are OPPOSED to dismantling the AEA in any way. We need the AEAs for so many things in our schools and if we take those things away, we're setting up schools, especially rural ones, for failure. Please vote NO on HF 2612!!
02-19-2024
Suzie Maas []
CON
I do not support this bill. We need to slow down and conduct a bipartisan study before making any changes to the current system. No one is against change that will benefit students; however, at this point we dont know what change is needed! The only way to make informed decisions and minimize the chance of unintended consequences is to complete the study first.
02-19-2024
Lynn Kleinmeyer []
CON
Please vote no! This is bad for Iowans & will have negative impact in multiple ways for our Iowa communities. This will hurt our schools academically and financially. Our schools are already suffering from a lack of resources (human, material & financial) and rely on the AEAs for a multitude of services to bridge the gaps. The idea of moving to a fee for services would place undue burden on our schools and diminish access to local, responsive support. This hurts our educators and, ultimately, our students will end up suffering and paying the educational price.This is also going to have an economic impact. Not only will a large number of Iowans be out of work, there are potential tax implications as schools attempt to fill gaps. I also foresee the exodus of Iowans who worry about the quality of education for their own children, as well as a number of educators leaving the state to find employment in other states more supportive of educators (both points have been brought up in multiple forums).Iowans have cried out to vote no. This is not something that embodies our values as Iowans. It does not support local control, it does not support our Iowa communities, and, most importantly, it does not support the educational system Iowa has long been celebrated for.
02-19-2024
Brenda Dietiker [Decorah]
CON
Please STOP the AEA Bill .I am writing to urge you to oppose any further amendments to the AEA bill currently under consideration as well. The Area Education Agencies (AEA) play a vital role in Iowas educational landscape, providing essential services and support to students, teachers, and communities across the state.Dedicated AEA staff are deeply concerned about the wellbeing of Iowas children and the future of our state. They work tirelessly to ensure that every student has access to a highquality education, regardless of their background or circumstances. Any attempts to dismantle or amend the current AEA system would not only undermine their efforts but also jeopardize the future success of Iowas youth.AEAs commitment to educational equity, professional development, and resource allocation is unparalleled. Any changes to the current system must be carefully considered to ensure that they do not disrupt the vital services provided by AEAs.I implore you to stand firm in protecting Iowas AEA and to reject any proposals that would undermine its effectiveness. Lets work together to ensure that every student in Iowa has access to the quality education they deserve.Again Please Stop the AEA Bill and its amendments! Thank you for your time to read and listen to all concerned.!
02-19-2024
Loreen Marra []
CON
Please vote to keep all of our Iowa students future the best that we can! Do not cut AEA! They do so much for our students!
02-19-2024
Angie Ettleman [Penn Drug Co]
CON
Please consider rural schools in your decision making. A complete dismantle of the AEA will put rural schools at a severe disadvantage. Our most vulnerable students will be the ones injured if this irrational action is made with no outside study done. Former Gov. Branstead thought privatizing Iowa Medicaid would be a great legacy for his exit, but here we are years later giving millions in compensation to Iowa hospitals that were harmed by his rash posturing. There is no way to repay the harm that could come to students that are counting on us for education and protection. Make sure there are studies done before any restructuring is done of the AEA.
02-19-2024
Tracy Thomsen [Central Rivers AEA]
CON
Stop the bills that make changes to the AEA! Do a comprehensive study. Figure out exactly what the problem is you are trying to solve and have all stakeholders work together to solve it. Thank you.
02-19-2024
Colin Beals []
CON
Please vote no. I do not see how this bill is reflective of what Iowans want or areasking for. "Parental choice" has recently been one of the ubiquitous term in Iowa'slegislature; although, I am perplexed as to how that only applies to some legislation.Parents do not want this. They have demonstrated their disapproval on social media,during legislative forums, and most importantly, in your inbox. How is this best for students? What data do you have that substantiates this bill will support students? How can you ensure rural schools will not be harmed? I will be sharing some of the questions that have been posed by the Republican Representative Jon Dunwell, whom I respect and admire for his dedication to our students and his constituents. Please consider these questions prior to voting on something that will inevitably lead to inequity we cannot even begin to fathom. Here are his questions: "We need to begin with the rural in mind. How does this help my rural districts? If larger districts leave an AEA, will it reduce services to the smaller districts?" "What specifically are the positive outcomes/benefits the proposed plan will bring to our students and staff? How will it raise test scores? Will it providemore boots on the ground, better quality of services, or easier access to services?" "What are the benefits to placing the AEAs directly underneath the Department of Education? Why is this accountability better than the existing accreditation standards? Will the regionality of the AEAs be lost?" "What are the specific servicesthat will no longer be available from the AEAs? Why shouldn't they be offered by the AEAs?" I hope you have the courage to do the right thing, even if the governor is putting you in a difficult situation. This whole bill was predicated on mistruths; however, there is one thing she said that was true: Iowans are passionate about our kids. Please demonstrate your passion for our students' success by advocating for a meaningful review or study of what will undoubtedly support our students and not haphazardly pass a bill that has no specific data or examples of how it will support out students. So much is at stake. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for listening to us once again.
02-19-2024
Mary Bennett [Seymour Public Schools]
CON
Please do not change AEA. We need this even more in rural schools.
02-19-2024
Jennifer Kingery []
CON
Thank you for your work on the Governor's bill regarding AEAs, especially for slowing down the passage of the original bill and for considering other alternatives. I am a speechlanguage pathologist in the Davenport area. I serve families and children with disabilities and communication disorders, and I have a child in the Davenport school district who will be severely impacted if this bill is passed. I am deeply concerned that school districts, AEAs, and other service providers are not prepared to handle the logistics of providing adequate services for children, given the rapidly approaching deadlines for making decisions regarding their needs.I urge you to stop this bill and any further amendments to it for now, and instead focus on studying the AEA service delivery model, student performance (through multiple measures), and the needs and concerns of local school districts over the coming year. Please take the time to collect the necessary data to make wellinformed decisions before making any changes to the AEA system. Ultimately, we need to do what is in the best interests of our children, and this bill does not do that. Thank you for keeping that in mind as you vote on this matter.
02-19-2024
Kathleen Jurgens []
CON
Our AEAs are vital to Iowas school districts. They provide so much for classrooms, students, teachers, and administrators in innumerable ways.As a retired teacher, I used AEA services thousands of times over my 34 year tenure. It would be a crime to change services to our schools.If it aint broke, dont fix it!
02-19-2024
Brenda Barnes Tousley []
CON
"As a grandparent of two children who have benefited from the AEA services (in both general and special education capacities) I appreciate the opportunity for me to make public comment. As legislators you serve the people of Iowa and it is important you are aware of the people's concerns. This bill is unnecessary, and not based in data or need. The governor cited a gap in achievement for special education students in Iowa as the reasoning for this type of legislation, yet there is no clear path to evaluate the changes or to see how how this bill would have any direct positive impact on outcomes for our students. Any legislation passed should have a clear, and indisputable, positive impact on education in our state. Please stop this bill, and instead initiate a comprehensive study of the entire education system in our state. This study and data analysis should include Iowa's experts in the field of education and stakeholders such as families, teachers, and students. It should not focus on targeting only the AEAs as they are only one piece of our education system. All children are general education students first, so we need to look at the system as a whole before we can pinpoint changes for improvement. In addition to not understanding the purpose of this bill, and my concerns over the lack of data used to write it I also have real concerns about transferring so much power and control to the DE and initiating a feeforservice model. This would effectively eliminate all checks and balances in the system. I fear these changes will have unintended, negative consequences on all districts, especially those in rural communities. Iowa's students and schools deserve equity of service, which means each student and school gets what they need. Every district and every student have unique needs. The local control and economy of scale provided by AEAs offers this much needed equity. Please stop this bill.
02-19-2024
Wendy Blake []
CON
Our state AEAs have provided school districts with critical support for many many years. Gutting them for some questionable data is unconscionable. Iowans are watching and will remember any legislators who vote to destroy another essential part of our public education system.
02-19-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am opposed to this bill. No changes should be made to the AEA this year until a thorough study is completed by an unbiased researcher who understands educational data in order to determine what, if any, problems exist with the current system. Legislation is not needed to do this. Only after a study that includes interviews with all stakeholders (AEA boards, AEA employees, rural district superintendents and principals, teachers, parents, and students) should recommendations for improvements be made. The AEA provides services from special education, media, and educational services in an integrative collaborative way. This will be lost with a fee for service model with any of those services. Furthermore, the AEAs are able to use the flow through dollars to provide high quality services, supplies, and equipment at far lower prices because of economy of scale. It is also essential that operational sharing be is not eliminated as districts can receive highly trained mental health social workers to provide direct therapy to students. This helps to fill a gap in rural areas where the waiting lists for therapy is 34 months or more. Remember, AEA staff live in rural communities and genuinely care about their students, teachers, and families. They serve from the heart. This wont happen in a fee for service model. Vote No on this bill.
02-19-2024
Ash Kading []
CON
Please vote NO on this bill. I am very opposed to this bill. Iowans are satisfied with their Area Education Agencies and the good work they do for Iowa children. Governor Reynolds is looking for a problem where no problems exist. Please don't be bullied by her distasteful past actions primarying legislators who do not agree with her poor ideas. Please represent your constituents who overwhelmingly are opposed to dismantling AEAs or otherwise handicapping AEAs or centralizing control in the Department of Education of the Area Education Agencies. If you feel you must do anything establish a task force to get input from all stakeholders about ways to improve AEAs. I'm sure that would include adequate funding and raises for educators instead of the small raises they have taken for years.
02-19-2024
Merriel Conde [None]
CON
Please vote "no" on changes to Iowa's AEAs.
02-19-2024
Bill Sitzmann []
CON
Please listen to your constituents. We are not in favor of this bill.
02-19-2024
Terri Fritcher [Mom]
CON
This bill is so wrong.You know, usually when you know nothing about a subject, you sit and listen first to the people that do...Reynolds has been on a revenge legislation for a few years. She doesn't like something and sets out to destroy it. You shouldn't be dropping policy 1 day and the next day voting on upending people's lives. Changing policies and laws should be a thoughtful progress. Take your time and study AEAs.
02-19-2024
Amy Kading []
CON
Please vote no and create a task force to include all relevant stakeholders (i.e. families, students, educators, school board members, AEAs, administrators (rural, urban, suburban).Please listen to the concerns of Iowans regarding the issues of loss of local control, reducing economies of scale and creating a fee for service structure that would be problematic for rural schools.The AEAs and local schools work collaboratively to provide vital services to our students. The AEAs meet accreditation standards and receive positive feedback from LEAs. Please listen to your constituents, rather than misrepresented data from outofstate sources, and vote no to this bill.
02-19-2024
Courtney Whittington []
CON
I can appreciate that the members of the House Education Committee have taken the opportunity to receive feedback from the many Iowans that have expressed significant concerns with the legislation introduced regarding the AEAs. There are improvements in the updated HSB 713 regarding the AEAs. However, there are still many concerns with the updated bill. I have continued to fail to see how the changes outlined in the bill plan to benefit the children of Iowa. If the goal is to improve outcomes for students it would be best to have an independent study, with appropriate representation, to study the needs of our students and the implementation of services. Completing this study and using the findings to make changes to our system, if needed, is the best possible way to learn about potential student needs and/or systems improvement.
02-19-2024
Amber Bridge []
CON
Please vote no on this bill. I am a mother of 2 young daughters and an educator. I want them to be able to have all of the resources they deserve as they are beginning elementary school, not what my school can afford for them. Please talk to schools and AEAs and parents in all areas of this state to understand what this will do to our schools before voting on this bill. This bill can not be passed.
02-19-2024
TL Smart [N/A]
CON
Because nobody has brought forth reliable evidence that special education is in acute crisis in Iowa, legislators should strip all but the task force language and leave the topic alone until 2025.
02-19-2024
Marc Groen []
CON
Stop the AEA bill. This bill will negatively impact Iowas kids with disabilities. This bill is premature. It is based on a report by an out of state interest group that never conducted a comprehensive study or included Iowa educational experts and stakeholders. In particular, the fee for service model will pose significant challenges for rural districts, who will have to compete for scarce resources and services. The current AEA model provides these services efficiently through an economy of scale.The fee for service model will also erode the quality and viability of the AEA special education services over time. It is essential that Iowa continues to support kids with disabilities with local staff members who live in our communities, not pay for service companies from outside of Iowa. This bill will cause more problems than it will solve. Stop the bill and propose a long term bipartisan study group that includes Iowa educators.
02-19-2024
Hope Johnson []
CON
No constituents are asking for the AEA system to be ripped up. Listen to the people who have told you their stories of how AEA has helped their children or their classroom over the last several decades. Its not broke dont try to fix only because the governor and her outofstate friends have asked for it. You work for the people of Iowa, not the governor. Have courage. Those representatives who vote to damage any part of the AEA against the will of the people will be held accountable this fall.
02-19-2024
Anna Crenshaw [AEA]
CON
Please, I am begging you all to stop this bill from going any further. There is no rush. Please save our state and listen to your constituents.
02-19-2024
Jessica Judkins [NA]
CON
The amended version of this bill is not in the best interest of Iowas students. It takes away local control and centralizes all power at the DE in Des Moines. The services that AEAs provide to students, teachers, and districts is vital to the success of Iowas students. Iowans want AEAs to remain intact and we dont support this bill.
02-19-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please vote to oppose this bill. As a parent of a child with special needs, I am concerned that my son wont have access to AEA audiology services. I am also concerned that my son will not have access to assistive technology needed to help him access his education or trial FM microphones that the AEA currently provides. I am concerned that my son will not have access the AEA media resources such as digital books, physical books and science kits through media services are a fee for service model. As an AEA SLP, I rely on digital books the AEA provides, the print shop to help make communication boards and other visuals to help my students communicate, and professional development from our SLP leads to provide evidence based research interventions for my students. I am concerned that my nonverbal students will not have access to trial communication apps on the iPad to help them communicate and be able to use the expertise of our amazing assistive technology consultants. With a fee for service model, accessing all of the resources for both media and general education will be harder for districts to access. Please have a bipartisan task force to complete a comprehensive study with all stakeholders involved, before passing legislation that will affect ALL Iowa children.
02-19-2024
Kara Franke [Iowan]
CON
We have heard so many concerns about the governor even bringing an AEA bill forward without cause. If the legislature wants to learn more, please, please take time to study the AEA system and ALL the services they offer our children!My own children are grown, both general education students both used AEA services for various educational materials.Please stop this bill this year. Take time for a comprehensive review.
02-19-2024
Shelley [Parent]
CON
I am advocating that this bill be STOPPED! Let's move the focus to approving a task force to study the issue and bring back a recommendation next January. This study doesn't have to be etched in a bill. This proposal is the ONE idea that we can all agree upon right now without causing any harm to "Iowa's future" Iowa's children. Please take time to review the document "Get the Facts: What You Might Hear and What You Should Know" from Iowa's Area Education Agencies and vote NO!
Attachment
02-19-2024
Jessica Roman []
CON
While I appreciate that the House has demonstrated consideration of public feedback, I oppose the passing of this bill. The origins of the bill are based on an analysis that has been discredited by three former DE directors, and no data or evidence has been provided that the actions identified in this bill will have a positive effect on student outcomes. Additionally, this bill removes local oversight and control of AEAs and gives too much power to the Dept of Education, which is already contending with compliance and performance deficiencies. DE Director Snow does not have the educational nor experience qualifications to be approved by the Iowa BOEE as a teacher, principal, superintendent, or AEA service provider. She should not have the final authority over districts' choices for PD and other educational services, especially considering the bill explicitly outlines the education and experience requirements for AEA . The piece of this bill that has potential to create meaningful change and positive outcomes is the formation of a task force that includes teachers, parents, school administrators, and legislators. This is an opportunity to truly engage in a comprehensive, robust study of AEA practices and services to determine what improvements can be made. First, do no harm. Iowa's kids deserve the best we have to offer, and the best comes with the careful consideration of valid data, experiences of veteran educators and administrators, and the insightful wisdom of parents.
02-19-2024
Jess Bogdan []
CON
The AEA serves ALL children of Iowa with equitable services. The dismantling of AEAs will not help students, educators, schools or districts in Iowa to best meet the multitide of needs for Iowa students. Protect all services that the AEA offers and end this bill.
02-19-2024
David Voves []
CON
As elected officials that are to represent your constituents, listen to the abundance of voices and vote no for this bill. Leave our AEAs intact and allow them to do the vital work they already do.
02-20-2024
Deb Linn [None]
CON
Please stop the AEA bill.No reforms!
02-20-2024
Jane Alexander []
CON
AEAs should be expanded, not cut. They are vital in helping public schools , especially rural public schools, provide adequate education for students. DO NOT CUT AEAs!
02-20-2024
Gail Kenkel []
CON
Leave our AEAs alone! They are working to serve students and staff in large and small school districts. The services they provide are priceless.
02-20-2024
Holly Long-DeWolf []
CON
Thank you for listening and this opportunity for further public input. Please do not pass this AEA bill or any version of a Senate AEA bill that comes your way this session. The stakes are too high to make changes quickly. Do commit to studying the AEAs with a bipartisan group of Iowans (only) who are knowledgeable about the AEAs, understand school districts needs, and value parent input. Do pass a bill that requires the Iowa Department of Education Director to (minimally)have an advanced degree in education, and teaching and educational leadership experience in Iowa.
02-20-2024
Amanda Wilcox []
CON
Stop the amendments and study the issue with those who have the knowledge and understanding of what the system does for kids and how to make it more efficient. Its like you are flying a plane and dismantling it in the air, deciding what pieces to take off without it crashing with people who have no idea how a plane even stays in the air making those decisions without concern about it hurting the people inside but instead about who gets the money thats saved by eliminating those pieces of the plane. Stop the bill. Form a task force with all stakeholders who have the knowledge about how the AEA system serves kids. Stop the money grab and take the time to learn and do whats best for Iowas students.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
no more cuts to public education, which this is effectively. funding private schools last year and continued lack of support for public education puts students in danger. fund more special education programs if that is concern, don't set up a system to reduce it.
02-20-2024
Donita Christensen []
CON
Please stop the AEA bill and all the amendments. Since the creation of AEAs, they have existed to provide fair, equal, costeffective services across the state. This bill will hurt rural schools and children.
02-20-2024
Bridget Castelluccio [Voter]
CON
I have read through this new AEA bill. The teacher pay needs to be a separate legislative item. This current version continues to show legislators are not taking the time to do an indepth study of the AEA services and the impact of these services. I am a Digital Learning Consultant for AEA. Here are a few things I will be doing this week. 1.I will provide learning on AI for approximately 50 teachers and it's impact on the field of education. 2. I will speak to 60+ elementary special education teachers on the accessibility tech features as well as speak about a literacy screener. 3. I will be in six different school buildings this week. Two will be doing INCLUSIVE computer science work with teachers and ALL of their students (yes, even students with IEPS). In the others I will be working specifically with educators and students who have accessibility needs do to their IEPs. One student I work with regularly is significantly visually impaired. We are working on a technology project together so he can present the importance of accessible technology to his high school teachers. Several other students cannot decode at grade level but when they have texttospeech accessible materials, they are able to comprehend at grade level and above. My role is to show them, their paraprofessionals, and all their teachers how to use these features. I will be helping several teachers design instruction based on this learning. I helped give a literacy screener to 35th graders at an elementary building which will provide data about reading comprehension to design appropriate instruction for each individual student.4. I will be meeting with three educators who are currently taking a Computer Science Integration Class I am cofacilitating.5. I will reserve approximately 10 robots from our collection to send out to buildings so students have handson coding and robot experience.6. I will be meeting with a district computer science team to go over their state required K12 implementation plan to discuss areas of growth and needs.7. I have a 3 hour workshop for a nonpublic K8 school so that they will learn about CS requirements and create a K8 computer science implementation plan.That is just a snapshot of one week. Under the current version, all of this will be a fee for service to districts. My role is just one of many who are part of the "village" that supports our educators, students, and families. This bill is not cost effective nor efficient. When we continue to underfund our public education system then challenging financial decisions need to be made. This bill will create more emotional and financial stress on the education system of Iowa. The expertise of the AEAs has taken time to build but it can be lost in just a matter of weeks. It is up to you.Take the time to not just listen but act upon the voices of Iowans. Slow down the bill. Take the time to do a thorough study with ALL stakeholders before passing legislation. Have the teacher pay a separate bill. Vote NO on this bill.
02-20-2024
Jenny Goodman []
CON
Listen to your parent and education stakeholders. These changes will hurt our students and schools. Seek more stakeholder guidance to improve our education outcomes instead of worsen them with this proposed legislation. AEAs are trusted, the current Iowa Dept of Ed leadership has no credibility or track record and is worsening both with these proposals.
02-20-2024
Kathy [Iowa citizen]
CON
I cannot fathom how anyone would think moving the bill along is in anyones best interest considering the outcry against it. Stop. Complete a solid comprehensive study and proceed from the there. That seems like the most logical next step in this whole debacle and Im am sure the AEAs have very smart, reasonable people who would be willing to be a part of the process in an objective manner.
02-20-2024
Dominic Giegerich [North Linn MS/HS]
CON
Special education services from our AEAs are top notch. The testing data used to create this false crisis is not what schools use in their school improvement processes or the development of Individualized Education Plans. The services the AEAs provide adjacent to SPED services are vital to all students and districts, especially in maintaining rural schools like North Linn.Centralizing control with the department of education takes away local control from districts and assures services will lose the efficiency and ease of service the current system has maimed for years.This bill and all its amendments are flawed and can not pass in any form. Work with educators to improve a system that serves so many students and is part of what is good about education in Iowa.
02-20-2024
Tonishia Dockstader [Iowa Citizen]
CON
Please vote NO!!!
02-20-2024
Elizabeth ONeill-Rich []
CON
Oppose AEA bills in Iowa: These proposals threaten to undermine the critical role of Area Education Agencies (AEAs) in providing essential support and services to schools across the state. By safeguarding local control, we empower communities to address their unique educational needs effectively. Maintaining the current structure helps uphold the quality of education by leveraging the expertise and resources AEAs offer, ensuring students receive the best possible learning experiences. Furthermore, preserving accountability within the education system locally is paramount to fostering transparency and trust among stakeholders. Let's stand against these bills to uphold the integrity and effectiveness of Iowa's education system.
02-20-2024
Thelma Marie O'Neill [Iowa resident ]
CON
Stop the bill about AEA. That agency provides education equally to all children in Iowa. Hearing services and physical or occational services are part of that help for children.
02-20-2024
Joe Rich []
CON
Iowans have been doing a great job letting legislators know what we dont want (the Governors proposal to gut the AEAs). Its time for Iowans to tell lawmakers what we DO want: real solutions based on real work. Legislation is not needed for an independent, bipartisan comission to study and make recommendations. Rather than dismantling essential services like the AEAs, let's push for sustainable solutions crafted through bipartisan collaboration and grounded in evidencebased practices. Establishing an independent, bipartisan commission to thoroughly examine the issue and propose informed recommendations can pave the way for genuine progress without the need for hasty legislation. Our collective voice and engagement can shape a brighter future for Iowa's education system and beyond.
02-20-2024
Brooke Dornack []
CON
AEAs create equity and efficiency of service to both public and private schools across the State. The Dept of Ed is neither equipped nor prepared to take on the broad continuum of series provided to districts. Districts cannot afford to contract services privately nor do they have the staff capacity to try to coordinate such services many are already running on bare minimum due to staff shortages. Change is welcomed, but should be done in a planned manner using VALID data to drive decisionmaking!
02-20-2024
Heather Gould [CRAEA]
CON
Please throw this bill out. Take time to listen and learn what our AEA system does. Should this bill pass, Iowa's children, families, and educators will pay the price.
02-20-2024
Stacy McCaulley [Voter]
CON
I oppose this bill as a mother of an autistic child who have used the services provided by the AEA since he was 3. He is currently in the UI REACH program at Iowa. When setting his goals for the year, test scores were not even mentioned. We as a family didnt care about test scores. We made sure he graduated, was involved and learned social skills from his peers and teachers. We were more worried about what his next step would be after high school and how to be successful and valued in society. So please dont rate the success of special education by test scores. Talk to the parents and educators. I consider my son a success story because of CCSD, Vocational Rehab and the AEA. Dont tear down a system for only political reasons. The timeframe of all of this is scary. Can things be improved? Sure. So form a committee to address the issues and start there. As a mother, school board member and Iowan Im afraid of the consequences of these actions on this bill.
02-20-2024
Valerie Giegerich []
CON
The premise of this bill was to help close the gap between the performance of special education students and that of their peers. This bill will only widen the gap and is based on data that is limited, and has been misinterpreted. Iowa's AEA system is not free of flaws and like all organizations, could always improve. AEA's are experts in analyzing data and striving for continuous improvement, utilizing processes for continuous improvement in all decision making. The chiefs of AEA's have been diligently working together to identify ways to be more efficient and have shared those thoughts with legislators, who are hearing the message. There should be shared responsibility for the education of all students between the Iowa Department of Education, AEA's, and school districts. Currently, the Department of Education does not have the resources or infrastructure to do this, let alone if this the bill is written passes. In addition, schools rely on AEA's to be experts in content in all areas that impact students with disabilities, including, literacy, math, behavior, work skills (Future Ready, Technology). Part of the reason that there is still an achievement gap between students with disabilities and their peers is that more work needs to be done with general education staff to provide scaffolds and universal design to all students, including those with disabilities. In addition, schools need systems that create safe, supportive, predictable environments where all students can thrive. Please slow this bill down to consider the unintended consequences for students.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Educator]
CON
Please take the time to slow down and study the impacts that this bill will hwbe on kids in an Iowa. Help our AEAs be better, not dismantle them!
02-20-2024
Jennifer Proctor []
CON
Please vote to study the AEAs and do your homework on what would improve services to children, families and teachers rather than quickly approve changes which will have unintended consequences.Thank you for your service and listening to ALL Iowans.A mom and teacher.
02-20-2024
Denise O'Brien [none - individual]
CON
The AEA has served Iowa students and parents well over many years. Rather than consolidate and cut programs, there should be a study bill to evaluate and improve Iowa's AEAs.
02-20-2024
Cheryl Scherr [None]
CON
This file to reduce funding to AEAs would be a disaster for families with special needs.
02-20-2024
Amber Reed []
CON
My name is Amber Reed and I am a School Improvement Consultant with AEA. I would like to thank the House of Representatives for continuing to partner and collaborate with educators on the best steps forward for our children. I am opposed to the AEA bill and would please ask that you stop this bill. We do not need legislation to have a task force and work together to come up with solutions. Once a study has been done then all involved will have a much better understanding of the 50year old system that has been serving students and families for years. The study will also help to identify unintended consequences that we dont know about at this time. Our children are too important to rush this. We must get it right! Thank you so much for your service to the state of Iowa and listening to what your constituents are saying.
02-20-2024
Tracey Till []
CON
Removal of AEA services will be devastating for many public schools, especially schools in rural areas. The AEAs provide mental health and special education services to students across Iowa. Schools will NOT be able to provide these services in the same manner. Students will suffer from these cuts.
02-20-2024
Michelle Marshall [GPAEA]
CON
Again, I ask, what problem does this bill solve? How does this better meet the needs of ALL learners in Iowa? Do what's right by our kids and don't make decisions that won't bring better outcomes to our students.
02-20-2024
Keith Halverson []
CON
This bill is not what the people of Iowa want or need. It was not created with the purpose of helping Iowa students, but with the intent of harming AEAs and making them a scapegoat. If we truly want to help improve educational opportunities for all, this needs to include the current system of AEAs. A Director of Education that is not from Iowa, not an educator, and not respected should not be solely responsible for making decisions on who gets what educational resources and who delivers them. Out of state for profit groups should not be coming into Iowa and selling education. Please stop this bill and work with all stake holders, not one or two, and make the situation better.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am against this bill. AEAs are vital to school districts and the communities they serve. Do not cut the services they offer.
02-20-2024
Jennifer Keith []
CON
The AEA serves all children of Iowa with equitable services. Protect all services that the AEA offers and end this bill.
02-20-2024
Jeri Messenger [Retired]
CON
Please stop the AEA bills from moving forward. Please proceed with a study group consisting of legislators (equal number of Democrats and Republicans with an education background), parents, school leaders and teachers, AEA supervisors and staff, former Dept of Ed directors, and medical professionals. It needs to be understood that AEAs are integrated systems and breaking apart services for fees will decrease efficiency and responsiveness to students and teachers. Moving any oversight to the DE without a thorough study of how that will affect services is irresponsible. We need to take our time and get this right. The future of Iowas public education depends on us. Thank you.
02-20-2024
Caitie McCleary [None]
CON
This proposal is cruel and reckless. Getting needed services is already difficult enough and this will only add more obstacles to the process. My kid deserves better from this state. Shame on the governor for pushing such out of touch legislation.
02-20-2024
georgianna klevar [n/a]
CON
take time to study the AEA's and then minor adjustments could be made when better information is avaialble
02-20-2024
Marcia Hughes []
CON
This legislation should not be affirmed. If implemented, it will harm Iowa children, families, and small school districts. Please vote no!
02-20-2024
Anonymous [N/a]
CON
The AEA supports critical services for Iowans from birth to adulthood.
02-20-2024
John OBannon [Public Good]
CON
This bill is truly horrible for EVERY part of the state. I live in the largest county and city and would receive greater benefit at the expense of small towns in Iowa and STILL would have my family benefit less than we currently do today. The legislature needs to tell GOv Reynolds to go find a different pet project to screw small towns and ALL people of Iowa. Esentially privatizing this organization is absolutely wrong and every professional that has been connected or is currently connected to this great government agency has spoken against it firmly. LISTEN TO US We DON'T waNT THIS! Current members should know that voters will eventually wise up to these power and money grabs and vote them out if they continue to follow Gov ReynoldsTrump policy ideas and continue to HURT all Iowans.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [None]
CON
Please vote NO on this bill. The AEAs need more money and need to continue their program. Thank you
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Parent]
CON
Please set a task force that seeks input from all stakeholders and uses real data. AEAs can use reform, but this is gutting our education system in Iowa. Pay for service model hasnt proved to work or keep cost low in other states so Im not sure why we would move away from the model that keeps cost low and provides services for our students.
02-20-2024
Linda Holvik []
CON
The changes to the AEAs are too consequential to be rushed into. Establishing a task force to study the issue in depth is the sensible approach to take, but it should be in operation and its findings considered BEFORE changes are made, rather than during or after.I am a retired special educator who worked for the AEA as a consultant in the '80s and received its services as a teacher in the late '80s through the early 2000s.
02-20-2024
Becky Canovan []
CON
These cuts and additional unnecessary oversight to the AEAs will gut the services they are able to provide. Public schools are already underfunded and AEAs provide needed relief by providing services the schools alone cannot provide. Book sets, technology, prohibitively expensive but essential learning kits are just a few of the services all students benefit from. AEAs are also the agency that help and support our most vulnerable students. Do not cut the AEAs. Do not add more oversight that will make their jobs harder. As an educator, I ask you to listen to those with the expertise on these areas telling you not to do this.
02-20-2024
Barbra Wheeler []
CON
Please do not pass any bill this year related to AEAs. There is always room for improvement but all stakeholders must be at the table. Data which is complete and value added, giving both Legislative bodies an ability to understand what AEAs do and what they do do additionally. In short the and my gravely immediate concerns are1. The loss of local control from AEAs with the control to the Department of Ed. Each and every Department of whatever the agency is a political body as they are all controlled by the Governor, all of them to the end of time. This will essentially give education a whiplash and who knows the politics, priorities and agendas down the road. This is without a doubt frightening and will do irreparable harm to Iowas children.2. Feeforservice unfairly disadvantages rural, small and border districts. This has been shared repeatedly and is easily understood. I am very surprised this still remains in any bill. Just a reminder of mental health, local entities were going to provide the services. There are seriously too few services due to lack of providers available as well all other resources. The idea failed then. It will fail now. It will fail our children. Again, I reiterate this disadvantages rural, small districts. And what is Iowa primarily but small, rural but we are also strong and proud and demand more of our elected officials. We are fired up and are demanding the best for our children. Governor Reynolds did hit the nail on the head when she said Iowans care about their kids. Each of you hold a sacred trust to meet the needs of those that elected you. Listen to the vast majority, we do not want this bill. Any changes must come from a planned and informed process. Again, I implore you look to all the informed concerns and objections and to not pass this bill.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Resident]
CON
Please vote NO to this!!! Would have devastating effects.
02-20-2024
Angie Hance [parent, grandparent, taxpayer, voter]
CON
I am not in favor of any changes to the AEA system at this time. The Governor's report was highly flawed and skewed to say what she wanted it to. There IS accountability for the AEA system the Department of Education drives this. If there are concerns, outline what those concerns are and move towards a common understanding and practice to ensure the process aligns. AEA's do not teach children in the classroom, teacher's do. AEA's provide services to children such as speech and language and OT/PT support and supplementary support from teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing. To blame AEA's for special education students not achieving is misleading and wrong. The report generated by Guidehouse also states Iowa spends significantly more on special education than other states but in the report, many districts are listed as $0. Not sure how this is a fair comparison. The way funding is calculated in each state varies as well in addition to how states identify students for special education. NAEP scores should not be used for comparison purposes such as this either. NAEP would not recommend it (check their website) and there are other factors that would be better. With NAEP, Iowa students scored only 1 point below the national average on a 500 point scale (see her report). Factors that should be considered would include graduation rate for students with disabilities (from 69.51% to 80.43%) and drop out rate for students with disabilities (19.79% to 17.25%) (numbers from 2016 to 2020). Leave the AEA's alone. Conduct a thorough study including parents, superintendents, teachers (who use the services most regularly), principals and, most importantly, AEA staff).
02-20-2024
Dan Tousley []
CON
Any action needs to be suspended until further transparent study is conducted.
02-20-2024
Becky Dawes [IUP]
CON
I am against any bill that reduces the quality of education and assistance in learning for children in Iowa. Any reduction, once again, is a further attack on children and the public education system. We want our children to succeed in all ways and have the tools necessary to do so.
02-20-2024
Molly Masat [Educator]
CON
Im writing in complete opposition HF 2612. What is the rush to completely overhaul/dismantle the AEA system? Please slow this process so a thoughtful, thorough and data based (with valid data) review of the AEAs can be conducted, with representatives such as superintendents, parents, AEA staff, and other key stakeholders at the table, utilizing the data we all agree on.
02-20-2024
Angie DeWaard [Ames Community School District]
CON
Good morning! My name is Angie DeWaard. While I am a newlyelected school board representative in the Ames school district, I'm writing to you today as a passionate fulltime employee in the IT industry, concerned mother, and avid school and municipal volunteer. I come from a long line of educators, with my grandfather being a teacher from the 1960s through the 1980s, and my mother teaching briefly before being a special education professor for the last two decades. On the paternal side, my grandfather was a longtime school board member in Pilot Mound. A deep commitment to Iowa's storied educational success runs in my bones.I wanted to cordially write to you to implore you to please consider voting no for the amended AEA legislation. This process simply has not had time to be vetted thoroughly for such sweeping changes, and is still built on data points that are not factually correct. Furthermore, school districts cannot pivot in just a few months to change alreadyapproved budgeting, hire staff, etc. for such a quick date (even the new pushed out date). Our schools will be left with a dearth of vital services. Our most vulnerable children will be left without proper services; if the concern with the AEA is that the special ed metrics have gone down, this will only further accelerate a downward slide.Additionally, ANY change with the AEA flowthrough funding hamstrings school districts. This is a in tandem with a toosmall recommended budget increase for the year (even as amended). This funding is desperately needed, as the timing dovetails with the end of the ESSER funds that have been buoying schools shortterm. Simply google "iowa school teacher positions cut" to see how the current minimal funding has been affecting districts' budgets statewide; this change will gut districts both big and small. At a time when there is a huge shortage of teachers, a shortage which will grow in coming years, cutting funding to schools drives our teachers out of the state of Iowa. They will be taking their tax dollars and certifications to other parts of the country. Our relative teacher vacancy and underqualification per 10,000 students are among the worst 3/4 in the nation. We simply can no longer afford to underfund our schools. While a less educated future workforce may certainly be more pliant, their contributions to the workforce and our state economy will be proportionately less advanced. The larger districts like ours will likely be able to muddle through with some of the proposed changes, but the smaller/rural districts will have to find resources they don't have to pay for vital needs. This will disproportionately affect your constituents in smaller areas.Rather than putting more decisions at the local level, this proposed amendment still centralizes the funds and decisions at the Iowa Department of Education level, who will still make decisions at a high level rather than in a tailored way that works for each unique district's varied needs. We have wonderful staff at the Iowa DoE, but a onesizefitsall technique will not work when our largest district is over 32,000 students but our smallest is 97 students. Giving one body such skewed decisionmaking power on AEA contracting takes away the personal voice and touch of the locally elected boards and hired administrative staff.In addition to hampering the educational needs of our youngest population, our rural and smaller schools often use some of their AEA funding for such important things as cybersecurity. I found it surprising personally when I discovered that schools are the #1 target of cyber attacks, as criminals can use the children's identity for years undetected before the child goes to apply for anything using their credit. This exposes both our future state population and our industries and corporations.I understand that this is a difficult decision that has many nuances! I implore you to please talk to the school districts in your territory both the smallest and largest. I am sure they will be able to provide scope and will appreciate the chance to dialogue about their situations.Thanks so much for your time and consideration.
02-20-2024
Jean Conover []
CON
This is so wrong for our kids and staff. Why cant republicans listen to their voters?
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Mother]
CON
Cutting AEA services will hurt our children. I have personally used AEA services for both of my kids and honestly dont know what I would do without them. They are amazing and deserve more funding.
02-20-2024
Billie J. Wilson [BRASS Acres]
PRO
Please do not make any changes to the AEA without further study that includes comments from Iowa teachers, staff, students, parents and voters. Basing changes on an out of state study is wrong.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Thank you for listening to taxpaying Iowans like me.Please DO NOT CUT funding to our AEAs. If anything, they need MORE FUNDING. Please do not cut special education and mental health services for our kids. Please do not cut funding to our AEAs. They help provide critical specialized special education and mental health services. Additional funding would help them offer more services.Summary PLEASE DO NOT CUT FUNDING TO AEAs.Thank you from a taxpaying Iowan.
02-20-2024
Cheryl Lang []
CON
I firmly stand against HF2612. It will only hurt rural districts. There are many more rural districts than urban in Iowa that will not benefit from the current bills. Even with additional funds districts would get, rural districts will not be able to afford to provide themselves the services offered to them now by the AEA. If there are improvements that need to be made to the AEAs, a comprehensive study performed by experts from Iowa can bring thoughtful, data based change, if needed. That should be the goal of this legislative session.We need to slow down this process. Districts cannot plan for the upcoming school year, set their budgets, hire staff and make decisions about how to work with this new AEA system in the next four months. The Governor had 10 days to listen to input, both to her office and all Iowa Legislators, from tens of thousands of Iowans, school district administrators and staff, AEA staff and administrators, accredited nonpublic partners and local and AEA board members who are almost unanimously opposed to nearly every provision of this bill to basically send an almost identical version of this bill back to the house and senate.
02-20-2024
Melissa Drier [Hampton-Dumont CAL Public Schools]
CON
As a Public Special Education School Teacher, I depend on services from my local AEA Central Rivers AEA. They provide so many services for myself and for my school. We would be lost without them. I am putting out a plea to our lawmakers to please not tear apart our AEA's. This is something that is a system that is not broken and does not need to be dismantled. With the way the law was drafted, many services would be cut from schools and families that depend on their knowledge and guidance with all things to best help students. Not only do we depend on Special Education services but services that affect EVERY student we serve in a Public School setting. I currently am taking a class through Central Rivers AEA to help students in my classroom that exhibit behaviors that may interfere with their learning. Many teachers depend on our AEA's to receive further Professional Development credits needed to keep up our licensure. Please think about the far reaching impacts of what this law could do to tear apart Iowa's Educational System. Thank you.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
If Kim wants to cut the budget please start with her paycheck
02-20-2024
Megan Martin [none]
CON
Iowa's Area Education Agencies provide vital services to every school district in Iowa. One example: how many kids were affected by the recent shooting in Perry? Those kids received almost immediate counseling and support, thanks to the regional AEA.But Kim Reynolds, with the help of an outside consulting firm and Iowa Republicans, is pushing a horrific plan to slash services and cut funding. If enacted, this plan will harm Iowa kids and weaken Iowa communities. How many kids will have to suffer because of their cruel decisions?Nobody asked for this, and nobody wants it.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [retired from VA Healthcare system]
CON
Keep your hands completely OFF our AEAs !!!!!
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Concerned educator]
CON
This bill sets our schools up for autonomy, without a second thought to how they will comply with sped law within individual cases. Without the 3rd party player involved (AEA) between the school and DE, there will be no one there to remind and enforce FAPE and IDEA law. Our schools struggle to meet the needs of children who are significantly delayed, as well as those who have behavioral and executive functioning challenges. They are tempted every day to find ways to piece together programming that makes the job doable or just mor manageable, such as shortening the school day so that the strain isn't as hard on the staff. If they are allowed to pay for the services that they need, why would they choose to follow an opinion that does not fit their own? There will be no REAL unbiased party present to ensure that the law is followed on a day to day basis. This is something that our AEA staff has to advocate for every day in some capacity. AEA reform needs to include regional directors/supervisory staff that do not live near the school districts that their own families attend. Providing supervision to your own child's school district staff is a major source of conflict that leads to due process. We need supervisory staff that allows the law to lead conversations, not the need to be approved. PLEASE CONSIDER HOW FAPE AND IDEA LAW MAY BE MONITORED IN A RELIABLE AND VALID MANNER. The bills that have been presented DO NOT COVER IT!
02-20-2024
Dan Alpers []
CON
The idea of making cuts to our kids' already struggling educational infrastructure is absolutely asinine.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [parent]
CON
Education has always been a top priority for me and my children. I went to college for it even though I didn't graduate with such honors as to become one due to unforeseeable circumstances and changes in the way children were taught in our state (ie: Common Core and lesser of the No Child Left Behind Act of 20022015. The law of itself that allowed our children to be at the forefront of every school district in the state, shoot in the country. The reason that act didn't work is because we penalized schools who didn't show any improvements on children and their achievements based on standardized methodology and not the actual comprehension of the child itself and how determinable their ability at testing to such methodologies where on average, according to the CDC an average of 9.4% of children aged 317 year suffer from some type of anxiety, whether school based or not. Now, instead of once again focusing on our children, our schools, moreover our state officials, despite an already deteriorating school system in general is going to penalize schools by also taking mental health programs away be means of deflating the direly needing AEA programs already set in place and have been since 1974, over fifty years. Our schools need these programs and their abilities to provide our already struggling students with the ability to learn at a pace that fits with their current needs, whether due to a learning or physical condition that would prevent otherwise. My daughter, for example, is currently being evaluated by the AEA due to a massive undertaking and recognition to the fact that she endured in June of 2019 after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She then, despite massive amounts of trauma, has since been diagnosed with ADHD, and also potentially has dyscalculia that can only further detriment her current learning. She has struggled immensely, and demoting the already needed program could potential limit what she's able to be provided to her that is at an ultimate need. I have at least a dozen friends, who also would be impacted by the lack of proper funding if this bill were to progress. Please think of our kids, as it isn't just their mental health that is struggling, as recently witnessed by multiple violent acts, including school shootings, in our schools as well. Please consider FINALLY making our children your top priorities and not financial prerogatives to a vote moreover than our future generations, our schools and democratic future depends on this. Thank you for your time.
02-20-2024
Diane Olsen []
CON
All of Iowas citizens have a right to the best care and education from professionals who have experience and wisdom to make this outcome possible.I am deeply stressed and concerned about those professions being ignored and scorned.I want to see compassion from those who have the power to make Iowa place I can be proud of. I am embarrassed to say I am from Iowa when traveling outside the state.
02-20-2024
Judi Barta [Retired]
CON
I completely disagree with the changes that are being made to our AEA. Allowing the school districts to use the funding for other agencies to provide services will take away from the AEAs current ability to keep the necessary staff and resources that can provide services to ALL. The rural communities who have less access to other choices will suffer because the AEA wont be able to keep all of the money it now has to provide those resources to ALL.I also disagree with The Department of Education providing oversight to the AEA. It just adds another level of unneeded bureaucracy to the system. The fact that job listings were posted for The Department of Education BEFORE the changes were even discussed in the committees reeks of a set up before public discussion .At the very least, slow the process down and table this bill until further investigation can determine whether any changes need to be made to provide these much needed services to ALL of the children in Iowa.
02-20-2024
Lois Allen []
CON
When will this relentless attack on services and opportunities for innocent children end? The governor in her efforts to modernize isnt fooling anyone. She wants to cut income taxes for the haves, and be damned to the havenots who desperately need assistance. I lived for many years in Florida with no state income tax. Let me tell you roads dont get built or repaired free, protective services are not free, the governor and legislature dont serve free. Where does the money come from? Every other tax you can imagine, including toll roads, are levied on all, placing extra burdens on low income families, schools, services. Beware! Do not pass this bill. It is a slippery slope.
02-20-2024
LINDA M SCHNEIDER []
CON
This bill affects too many Iowa students and they are our future work force. The legislature needs to slow this process down. The rush to change is unacceptable. We need to study the issues and take our time making changes, because of the impact to our state. The consultant's report was prepared by noneducators and people from out of state. It requires more study, before jumping to make changes. Moving too fast will affect our state for years, possibly decades, if we get this wrong. Thank you for your consideration.
02-20-2024
Joelle Cook []
CON
I'm writing to encourage the committee to listen to Iowa families who are receiving AEA services most of whom do not want this bill. They didn't ask for this bill. I have family members and friends who have or are currently benefiting from the services provided by our AEAs. Please invest in our children, including maintaining the support many receive through our AEAs, and disabuse the notion that auctioning off student supports to the lowest bidder will result in positive gains for our children and our state.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Concerned Parent]
CON
There is not much more to say other than this is a completely unnecessary bill. The AEA's in Iowa are providing CRITICAL services for all School Districts, especially in the rural areas. My son benefits from these services and he absolutely would not be where he is today if we did not have the AEA supporting him. From his IEP to speech therapy to occupational therapy, the AEA has been there every step of the way. Our schools do not have the resources necessary to take over these services and the thought that they can just pivot and all of a sudden provide the support that the AEA's give today is just irresponsible.I don't know why this legislature is continually attacking our public schools and our teachers. Constantly pulling away funding, cutting services, and making our AMAZING teachers out to be horrible people who are "indoctrinating" our kids. STOP!!!The AEA's are absolutely necessary. Pointing to a grading system that shows Iowa in the bottom for special education should wake you up that you need to EXPAND the services and funding, not cut it off at the knees.
02-20-2024
Sherri Peterson L Peterson []
CON
Please save our AEAs. They provide efficient and essential services to children, families, teachers, schools, and communities. Iowa needs our AEAs.
02-20-2024
Laura DeWall []
CON
Please vote no on this bill. Establishing a task force with knowledgeable members should be the next step to study any changes made to the AEA system.
02-20-2024
David Allen [Ankeny Community School District]
CON
I am in full support of our AEAs. They are a unique aspect of education in Iowa that help eliminate barriers to education for so many of Iowas children. They also provide critical training for educators. And the list of positive attributes just goes on.It is clear that Iowans support AEAs across party lines. It is fair to expect our representation to do the same. Sincerely,David Allen
02-20-2024
Jessi Carver []
CON
This bill needs to be voted DOWN. AEAs need to be fully funded and celebrated for the incredible asset that they are to Iowa students, teachers and schools.
02-20-2024
Robert McGrath [Parent]
CON
There has been a tremendous amount of outrage over this bill. How can that be ignored? Let's build up the AEAs and make them even stronger...not dismantle them and let some Poly Sci major try to ruin (I mean run) them!
02-20-2024
Chad Bartlett [Administrator]
CON
The newly revised bill by the House does very little different than the first proposed bill.This is the time that our legislators need to listen to those who know education. There have been multiple Department of Education leaders who have spoken out against this bill in its entirety. You are hearing from AEA leadership on a consistent basis about the negative connotations of a bill like this. You have heard from dozens and dozens of school superintendents about how this will impact them, primarily the rural District leadership. You have heard from teachers on a consistent basis about the services and supports they desperately need from their local aea.While all of that is important, the loudest voice you've heard is the parents and students who receive these Services. At what point can we count on our legislators to listen to their constituents?
02-20-2024
Chris Kleinschmit [Northwest AEA ]
CON
Please Vote NO! Thank you
02-20-2024
Sarah Cramer []
CON
AEAs are essential to the success of our kids and our school systems. Cutting mental health and special education services increases the risk of these kids falling behind & suffering mental health issues in addition to putting more on the shoulders of our already overworked & overwhelmed teachers. Iowa deserves better. Our education systems deserve better. Our children deserve better. Continuing to cut resources from schools and families will not help the next generations to flourish and become the great Iowans we want them to be. PLEASE support our kids, our schools and the AEAs to ensure that Iowa will still be a place for families to flourish.
02-20-2024
Jill Kimpson [Link Associates]
CON
I am strongly opposed to the proposed changes to the AEA. These changes have been recommended and made by outofstate companies based on misconstrued data, and this kind of complete overhaul to the AEA system is nothing but a sham to take away more control and assistance from already drowning school systems. There is no need to privatize AEA services or give more control to the DOE. The people making these recommendations to overhaul the AEA have NOT consulted with people actually working in the field and transferring all property to the DOE would essentially be a criminal move in the eyes of most Iowans. Please consider your constituents and stop pandering to rich donors who want to scrap public education and AEAs in their current form to pour more funding into private corporations and charter schools. This is NOT want Iowans want or even remotely need.
02-20-2024
Toni [Merfeld]
CON
Please amend this bill to convene a bipartisan commission to make recommendations to improve the AEAs only. To do anything else would bring great harm to children, families and educators. There is absolutely no reason to make decisions using the governor's flawed and biased report. Thank you!
02-20-2024
Anita Christensen [Citizens' Climate Lobby - Anita Christensen]
CON
I am opposed to HF 2612. Where does this bill show how these changes will benefit students, especially those in rural areas? If it is really to benefit students, then the necessary time should be taken for it to be done right the first time. Please oppose this bill.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am definitely not in favor of the proposed dismantling of the AEA. The AEA was formed to fill a need that was not being met. A study of the services provided by the AEA and the results of those services could be an alternative to a total dismantling. I do not see how the private industry of social workers could possibly be a viable and cost effective alternative to the services provided by the AEA.
02-20-2024
Laurie Butz []
CON
Please vote "NO!" Lawmakers should not be making changes that will eliminate or delay vital curriculum services to Iowa students. Curriculum Consultants with AEA deliver "justintime" services to teachers and schools. Creating a process that delays services in any way in unacceptable and hurts our students. Please oppose this bill. Thank you!
02-20-2024
Diane Schilling []
CON
Our rural schools cannot survive without these crucial AEA services. Kids will suffer and districts will continue to lose good teachers.
02-20-2024
Jennifer owens [Parent]
CON
I see first hand in my daily work how the reorganization of DHHS is harming Iowansthere is chaos getting Medicaid applications processed right now. I dont understand why the Governor and state republicans continue to insist on cutting funding to those who most need it. Please do not pass this bill that would affect services for CHILDREN who are disabled and/or mentally ill.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
This bill will severely break the education system! PLEASE do not vote yes on this, it is very wrong for our kids.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Republican Voter]
CON
Please VOTE NO!!! While this bill is an improvement over the initial AEA bill, it still has a long way to go. As I hear legislators discuss proposed changes it is obvious they do not fully understand the services of the AEA system. Media and Educational Services are vital in the support of both General and Special Education students in Iowa, especially in rural Iowa. The original bill was introduced by the Governor not as a solution to a problem but as a way to keep money in the General Fund. The bill is based on incorrect or misleading data, not a surprise since it was written by an out of state firm that did not talk to Iowans. You have heard from thousands of Iowans and they do not want large changes made to the AEAs. Take the time to form a bipartisan committee made up of stakeholders to study why the gap between Special Education and General Education exists and how to properly fix the problem. Nothing in this bill actually fixes the problem, it just limits the supports that teachers have to help all students! Listen to the people that elected you to serve in their best interest, this bill is not what they want and they will remember that come November!!
Attachment
02-20-2024
Karen Hope []
CON
AEA is essential in our states educational system. My own granddaughter has benefited from its services. The dismantling for this important service is detrimental to the future of our public schools. Many children benefit from the programs offered through AEA.
02-20-2024
Ellen [Stemler]
CON
As a retired principal I have directly seen the positive and life changing impact of AEAs for students, teachers and staff, families and communities! At a time when schools are struggling to find resources for students in areas of behavioral, academic and mental health needs I worry that despite Iowans telling you how important AEAs are this legislation is still being considered. It will be detrimental to all Iowa students!Schools are overwhelmed! Legislators need to partner with schools and Iowa families instead of creating legislation that would upend resources and create more work for already overburdened schools! I would like to see each legislator spend a week in schools across the state to see what is really happening and to garner more hands on experience to make the best possible decisions for our children. Educating children is heart and hard work. Our children deserve the best and so does our state!Thank you for reconsidering this legislation so that proper research can be done! Thank you for your service to Iowa! Iowans deserve the best!Thank you!Ellen Stemler
02-20-2024
Seth Roberson []
CON
My name is Seth Roberson. I am a lifelong resident of Iowa, a former teacher, a parent, and spouse of an AEA employee. I am writing you with concerns about HSB542. Iowas AEA does a tremendous job supporting our teachers and students. As a parent I have experienced this with both of my children. Our oldest was struggling with speech to the point his peers noticed he received great support. Our youngest was being bit several times a week at a daycare center the AEA was in the center supporting the staff within a few days soon after the issue improved greatly. I have great concerns on why this bill came about. Every single educator I know relies on the AEA. The system is not broken, so why the rush to completely dismantle a system that supports Iowas schools on so many levels with comprehensive educational resourcesboth human and physical? Why remove a system that provides crisis support when schools are hit with tragedy? And one of my biggest concerns is why was this bill written by a firm in Virginia instead of by Iowans who know Iowas unique needs?If this bill goes through it is clear our small and most rural schools will be hurt the worst. I grew up on a farm in NE Iowa and received speech therapy through the AEA myself. The challenges that would be created by HSB542 would severely limit the access to all of these supports. Thank you for your time,Seth Roberson
02-20-2024
Sue Doppenberg []
CON
The AEA has helped so many children through the years! Please don't try to fix something that's not broken!
02-20-2024
Carole Cherne []
CON
I grew up in Iowa, but moved to another state after college. The hen my kids were in their teens, I moved us to Iowa to be with family. I remembered the great Iowa public schools of my youth. The days of great public schools in Iowa are gone. The recent actions of the governor and legislature promise to decimate public education in Iowa for not only special needs students, but for every student. Stop this disastrous push to drastically reduce the roles of AEAs. Iowa public schools were once the envy of most other states, but your plans will completely ruin Iowa schools!
02-20-2024
Jeff Ridley []
CON
I strongly oppose the disruption to the AEAs long standing success!!Listen to the voters hands off!
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Community]
CON
Table this bill. Take a year to study the long term effects before changing the entire landscape of Iowas Area Education Agencies.
02-20-2024
Alan MacVey []
CON
I have a disabled granddaughter who depends on support from the federal and state governments, and especially from the AEA in her area. I fear the changes that might happen if the AEAs are changed. Please don't reduce the opportunities for people like my 10 year old granddaughter.
02-20-2024
Stephanie Gronowski [None]
CON
Please do not make cuts to the AEA or shift control to the Department of Education in Des Moines. I fear this would be disruptive to education services and create inequities throughout the state. I do not see how these changes will benefit our students. Thank you.Stephanie Gronowski Parent of preschool student with CP
02-20-2024
Greg Alan Jacobs []
CON
Please leave the AEA's alone and unchanged. Public schools depend on them, especially the small rural schools. In the 90's, Iowa's public schools were considered to be one of the finest in the nation, but now it appears the Reynold's administration wants to crush the life out of them. Is it because she receives her direction from the Heritage Foundation? They have a long history against public monies supporting public education. Do not change the AEA's.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Grant Wood AEA 10]
CON
Please keep the AEAs intact as they are now. All families and their children need their services.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [None]
CON
This government & governor needs to stop taking away from the children that go to school in this state. Its a very bad idea to take away resources from special education programs.
02-20-2024
Ashley Cook []
CON
Our children need strong support and education. Please do not take these critical services away.
02-20-2024
Anne McAtee []
CON
More cuts to educational services is bad for Iowa.
02-20-2024
Janet Dohman []
CON
Please vote no. As a former teacher I have great concerns with this bill. This bill will deeply affect our educational system. Please think of Iowa's future.
02-20-2024
Tamara Danzl [Mom, Grandmother and former teacher]
CON
I oppose the cuts to our public education. The rational that testing has not improved misses the correct point of education. It is the whole, unique child that we are tasked to educate. Not a score on a test.
02-20-2024
Gerri S Ohde []
CON
The continued chipping away at funding for and services provided by our public schools systems weakens them at a time when our children and families really need them. First the Governor (and Republicans) pushed through the voucher system for "choice" now this. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy then to say our public school system is weak when the very people elected to serve the state for greater good of the state are the ones tearing away at it.
02-20-2024
Deb Goodenbour []
CON
I vote no to HF 2612. Twentyfive years of teaching experience wherein AEA services were my strong backbone tell me that, although improvements can certainly be considered, the current centralized structure supported by boards of local, knowledgeable community members should be retained.
02-20-2024
Sharon Brice [Teacher]
CON
AEAs are an essential partner in the education, health and well being of all Iowa students, teachers and families. As a math teacher, I rely on the AEA for continuing education and learning strategies and best practices that help ALL of my students. Rural areas do not have other options available. Please say no to this bill for the sake of Iowas children and our future.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I as a teacher relied on the services of the AEA during my service in the public schools of Iowa. The AEA as it is has and will continue to provide many services to our students.There is a saying that says something like, "If something is working well, don't try to fix it". That is what I think of with the AEA. Let it continue as it is doing the good work that it does.
02-20-2024
Mike Wheeler []
CON
Vote no! Please advocate for the comprehensive study the governor 1st proposed. One of my own children utilized AEA and I have grandchildren who have also used AEA services. I know 1st hand how very much is at stake if this program is disrupted.I am counting on your vote of no!
02-20-2024
Lisa Martincik [Citizen]
CON
Removing proven educational services and breaking a functioning system might look good on paper somewhere to someone but will have a negative impact on many people in this state, especially in lowerpopulation areas. Please stop this bill.
02-20-2024
Rhonda Pieper []
CON
Please do not rush this bill through. It has not had the deep study the governor suggested before she presented this bill. This is terrible for small rural schools. Which my children attended and my granddaughter is attending now. We need aea for all the children. Remember the rural communities you are serving.please vote no on this bill. Sincerely Rhonda Pieper
02-20-2024
Teri Keifer []
CON
Education in Iowa used to be a source of pride for this state. Now, the legislature is starving public education, and the results are alarming. AEAs do important support work for public school districts help them to keep doing that work. It really does help all citizens to have a strong public education system.
02-20-2024
Leigh McEwen []
CON
I have been an educator in Iowa for 25 years and have never been so disappointed in our state. Public education needs to stay strong in our state. It starts with a belief in the system, which our governor has shown that she does not have.There is NOT one positive thing in either the house or senate bill for students, families, and educators. PLEASE do not try to fix a problem that doesn't exist with a bill that has been hurried. Give AEAs a seat at the table to make improvements.Do NOT give the power to the DE. It's already a mess there and it will only get worse. PLEASE do not change our AEA system! Fee for service sounds great but will be detrimental to the quality of services we can provide. Lastly, BE THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE, THAT IS YOUR JOB.
02-20-2024
Carolyn Marie Wiezorek []
CON
The proposed bill will have irreversible negative impacts on the AEAs and Iowa schools, especially rural schools. Relying on out of state consultants whose goal is to cut taxes and services without regard for needs of the stakeholders isn't what Iowans want or need. Please put your constituents over politics.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Parent]
CON
The AEAs are a vital part of our education system. Iowa has been a leader in public schooling and I fear with the changes that have already been made we are starting to fail our children. AEAs serve ALL children and making drastic changes to them is going to impact all children in Iowa.
02-20-2024
Pat Weigel [Citizen]
CON
I am vehemently opposed to this bill in its current state.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Parent]
CON
The AEA bill should be written with the AEA in mind. Not oversight by people who have no knowledge of what they do or their truly beneficial impact in rural Iowa. This bill was drafted by a law firm in Virginia. That should be enough to say no to begin with. AEA funds and services need to be managed by AEA not the department of ed. Kim Reynolds needs to stop her over reaching power trip.start putting Iowans first not her political career
02-20-2024
Lynnette Lott []
CON
As a special educator for 24 years in Iowa, I respectfully ask that you reconsider making cuts to the AEA. This organization does so much to support both special and general education. Please take a closer look at what you are proposing to cut. By doing this, I believe that you will only be frustrating teachers but not offering support. Teachers are already beyond frustrated in the classroom. Please support them and don't take away the much needed resources the AEA provides.
02-20-2024
David Castelluccio []
CON
It is clear by the overwhelming number of emails and negative sentiment directed to our legislators that your constituents do not support this bill. It is also clear based on the language contained in the bills/amendments, that our representatives do not fully understand all of the services provided by the AEA's, and the positive impacts they have for children, families, and teachers throughout the state. Our representatives need to EDUCATE themselves about this topic, before they LEGISLATE changes that will be PERMANENTLY DETRIMENTAL to education in our state. Slow down to learn why this is such an important topic to your constituents. Please do not play politics with our educational system.
02-20-2024
Katherine Evenson []
CON
There are many unintended consequences with the passing of this bill. To improve the performance of students receiving extra support through Individual Education Plans (IEP for students identified as needing special education services), they must experience an integrated system. One consequence of this current bill will be the dismantling of this integrated system. If the Governor and legislators want to improve outcomes for students, they would do a yearlong study of the current system to learn more about how it works and then provide support in making it the best it can be.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Many families depend on the services provided by our Area Education Agencies. Keep Iowa a place that's familyfriendly and strong on Education for our kids preserve our AEA's!!
02-20-2024
Margaret Rose Jambor []
CON
Slow this bill down. Take time to do an in depth study of all parts of the AEA. Sometimes unintended consequences happen and I fear for this possibility if this bill passed. Can the Department of Education approve things in a timely manner and provide the needed services? How does this bill actually help our special education students. All students are general education students first. Who will provide the training for teachers at low/no cost? How is Early ACCESS being managed so that students can easily transition to school. Who will provide crisis management at no cost to the schools? Who will fill in as administrators? How does any of this bill help our students? Does it save money when it appears to cost more? This bill will hurt small, rural schools who will not have the money or resources to bring in all the services that are needed. Do the study. Don't pass this bill.
02-20-2024
Jo Porter []
CON
The counseling and support services through AEA are critical for our school districts, especially rural districts. Trained, experienced mental health, crises and grief support counselors are needed as well as therapists specializing in special education, speech and audiology and physical therapy.
02-20-2024
Oliver Langland [Action Network]
CON
As an adult with autism, I find this bill despicable and a slap in the face to Iowa education and especially for special needs Governor Reynolds has done so much damage to the states education platform, and this bill would be adding insult to injury. Its clear that the Reynolds and the state GOP are putting themselves first and not the people.
02-20-2024
Heather Kaufman []
CON
I am against this bill for a whole host of reasons. It harms the ability of small rural schools to provide the same educational opportunities as our larger districts. This bill takes away services from all of our general education students both public and parochial, leaving all teachers with less services and materials to serve students. The initial concern was that special education students in Iowa are falling behind. There is nothing in this bill that addresses the achievement gap. Improvements can certainly be made, but dismantling the AEAs and giving control to the DE is short sighted and will not address the concerns and, in fact, will cause more issues for teachers and schools. I appreciate all of the legislators who have listened to their constituents and are voting to slow or stop this bill so that the issues can be carefully examined with input from all stakeholders students, families, teachers, AEA staff, and district personnel. Thank you for hearing the concerns of Iowans from across the state!!
02-20-2024
Pamela Kunze []
CON
My grand daughter is a brain cancer survivor. The AEA professionals are pivotal in planning and guiding her journey of learning. I fear what will happen to her if this program is dismantled. .
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please take time to do a indepth study to create a program that will actually help our students. I have yet to see any information that by simply making the DE in charge of the AEA will help out kids. Lets study this and make the changes that will actually work. I ask that you vote no against this bill.
02-20-2024
Joel Weeks [Educator]
CON
Special Education Funding The funding and delivery process needs to stay the same. A feeforservice program for special education would most likely result in significant issues for smaller/rural schools, both in funding and in ability to find staff to fill service roles. We realize that there are different opinions about this, but even larger schools should and do recognize that their abilities to make it work are enhanced when compared to rural/smaller schools. Timelines Any changes to AEA functions would be very significant. Huge changes to expectations require study and planning. Any changes to AEA Ed Services or Media services would need to be made over time and be strategic to benefit districts and allow AEAs and districts to adjust to expectations. Media Funding If the funding for Media services (tax levy) were to go away, districts would still have a need for those services and would have to find a way to pay for them. This would put a burden on the general fund.Unique Services If there are significant adjustments to the funding stream (non special education) AEAs need some type of expected funding (beyond special education) so that they can provide ondemand services. (Crisis teams, Challenging Behavior teams, Nutrition Coop purchasing, etc.)
02-20-2024
Diane Jackson []
CON
I do not think enough study has gone into this bill. This will affect so many children, rural areas will be hurt. I have seen the argument about equal access for all often and its not true. I saw this happen for mental health services. First the local county had ability to meet the needs of their county, then it went to regionalization to all equal access. Equal access never happened. The urban areas used available resources. Then providing funding for private schools. Guess what, Greene county doesnt have any private schools. If you are a parent and working full time you cant transport your child to a private school. This AEA bill talks about equal access being one of the goals. Rural Iowa will not have the resources to provide services to families. Please leave AEA as is. Review of the current system can be done thoughtfully and with input from all parties.
02-20-2024
Donna Gerling []
CON
I am definitely not in favor of AEA cuts. This another scheme to destroy public education.
02-20-2024
Janet Evans []
CON
I am opposed to this bill. AEAs are important to delivery of services to children, teachers, schools, and parents. I have personally known AEA personnel who travel to visit babies and small children in need of services who have no other way of accessing services in their rural communities.
02-20-2024
Diane Walrod [Retired SpEd teacher]
CON
Iowas AEA services successfully helped my disabled daughter for 18 years. Teaching Early Childhood Special Education, I learned the importance of AEA services to families, students and teachers. Please vote no on any changes to this awesome agency!
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Retired]
CON
No, no, no. Stop making decisions to hurt a most vulnerable population, our children. All the services provided by the AEA are necessary for children and their families. These services are the only positive experiences, support, and growth for hat some children have.
02-20-2024
Pamela Carlson [Alllianz]
CON
Please continue funding AEA to the fullest extent as needed for teachers, students and parents. Keep funding as it is today
02-20-2024
Anonymous [not sure]
CON
I strongly oppose taking mental health services from the AEA's.
02-20-2024
Anne Steffensmeier [Iowa resident and taxpayer]
CON
Please do not move HF 2612 which significantly alter and even eliminate the quality and essential services provided by our AEAs. If some are underperforming, lets adddress them, but to not punish our children by removing the quality education they receive for those services and agencies that are performing at or above expectations. I will address one part of the issue. It appears the bills in both chambers would address student academic performance, defined as test scores, by changing the administration structure, removing local control, changing the funding distribution, reducing funding to the AEAs, and reducing quality educators and materials that support students and teachers. I have been searching everywhere I can access to see evidence that these changes will increase student performance on standardized test, as seems to be the goal of this reform, nor can I find and evidence that these changes have any documented evidence that they will positively effect any aspect of student achievement. I would appreciate you informing me and the rest of the public how the conclusion to change or even eliminate AEA services and staff will effect student achievement. In my research, I did find documented and evidence based research that the following do impact student achievement:Family issues substance abuse, lack of quality time interacting by parents, parent mental health, parent physical health issuesChild abuse and neglectMalnutritionHomelessnessViolence exposure in home or community (and now in schools)AbsenteeismQuality of childcare when parents are not availableChild mental healthChild social competency and self regulationResearch shows things done in schools are responsible for one third of a childs academic success, while these factor are responsible of twothirds. Why dont we address the real factored the affect academic success instead thinking up something that seems easy to do?And, why are we looking at old research that standardized testing is an accurate and meaningful measure of student success? We know it does not measure what students are capable of doing. In fact over 80% of colleges and universities no longer consider ACT and SAT scores as a major factor or in many cases at all in determining admittance. Why? Because they are proven to not be good predictors of students past or future academic success. Research demonstrates performance based testing as progressive educators use is the most effective form of evaluating students. Why cannot Iowa be a leader in education again?Please, drop this bill. Lets looks at education in the state as a whole and create an over plan that truly address student needs based on established research that includes as aspects of a students life.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I worked as a teacher and school counselor for over 30 years in Iowa schools. In my working career I found the services provided by the AEA invaluable. The AEA social worker was a great resource for me in my counseling work and connecting school families with social services provided outside the school setting. The speech pathologist from AEA provided students with additional social skills training that improved their school life. There does not seem to be a need to change the AEA. They are providing so many services that schools need to provide for all students to reach their potential. Listen to the families and professionals who are benefiting from the AEA, rather than a study that was completed a decade ago without the input from the AEA. This needs so much more time if a change is to be made that really improves the lives of Iowans.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Our students, schools and teachers depend on help from the ADA.
02-20-2024
Jerry Johnston []
CON
I feel this bill will continue to hurt our Education system as well will have an adverse effect on our kids. It will truly affect the rural communities. This is just another ploy to put the governors office in control of our schools. All the bills that have passed in last couple years have had an adverse effect on our schools. Thats why we rank so low in education. We need to be building up our schools not tearing them down. Support the teachers and facilitators they are the true leaders.
02-20-2024
Grace Blazevich [Drake University Occupational Therapy Student ]
CON
I am writing in support of the AEA. I am currently working on my Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Drake University and I also am working my way through graduate school as a registered behavior technician (RBT). I have extensive experience working with children on the autism spectrum. I have worked cooperatively with AEAs both in my current role and when I worked at Child Serve in Iowa City. As I have researched this bill and the amendments it is obvious to me, the extensive services that AEA provides, Education Services, Media Services and Special Education to all children in public and private schools will be at risk. This will negatively impact children and their families. I am speaking up and using my voice to express displeasure.
02-20-2024
Rachel Casper [*]
CON
I am opposed to this bill and amendments. We need to stop or drastically slow this process. Iowa needs all serves provided by our AEAs.
02-20-2024
Amy Endle []
CON
Please slow down and complete a comprehensive review of the AEA system prior to passing any legislation.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [N/a]
CON
We have a mental health crisis in Iowa, we need to be supporting these services right now not cutting them. The children in Iowa need these services and currently largely benefit from them. This bill will especially hurt rural Iowa communities that are already hurting, and continue to take resources away from these places. This system isnt broken so there is no need to try and rework it, lets spend our time and taxpayer dollars on a things that are broken in Iowa!
02-20-2024
Rebecca Kmett []
CON
Please oppose HF 2612. It is an illconceived, sweeping piece of legislation that affects so much more than special education. And it is another way to undermine public education. Literally no citizens have asked for this. It is not reflective of representative government and once again attempts to solve a nonexistent, invented problem.
02-20-2024
Diana Volkens [Concerned Iowan]
CON
Please do what is best for ALL of the children in our state! AEA has been helping our kids in so many ways for decades. If it needs a tweak, then address it. Otherwise, leave it as it is. A few rich schools in the state should not decide what hundreds of small schools have to do. Vote with your conscience!
02-20-2024
Kathryn Lee []
CON
Stop this bill. No more amendments.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Stop the bill and complete a comprehensive study of the AEA's.
02-20-2024
Dr. Pam Vogel []
CON
I am Pam Vogel, a former special education teacher, principal, curriculum director and school superintendent. This bill was based on a report that came from another state, that does not know or understand Iowa, and in the words of Ted Stilwill, a long term and respected Director of Education under both Governors Branstad and Vilsack, this report was designed to bolster Governor Kim Reynolds effort to decimate the Area Education Agencies (AEAs) and weaken Iowas public education system. He said the consulting firm has no apparent expertise or track record in the education world. Nothing in the report indicates that a single Iowan was engaged in its preparation. And that the reports conclusions about AEAs are flawed.The data in the report around student achievement do not accurately describe our students and their achievement.We have something special in our state. We determine when a child is discrepant and needs some extra support and we do not wait for a disability label for the child to receive services. And in Iowa we work with children from birth through 21 to ensure that every child can grow and succeed. And the Ed services and Media services provide professional learning and support to all teachers in Iowa schools because our public schools serve ALL children.This bill takes the regional decisionmaking from local boards and experienced administrators and hands it to the director of the Iowa Department of Education, who is lacking in both experience and education. Adding layers of bureaucracy in Des Moines is a bad idea. We need boots on the ground in our schools so our professionals can respond quickly to the needs of our kids and our teachers.You have heard from thousands of parents and families across the state who do not want this change. Please put an end to the bill and these amendments and let the stakeholders from across Iowa work together, do a study, and ensure that we continue to have excellence in education in our state.
02-20-2024
Claire Vander Wiel []
CON
As a teacher and a community member, I am against cuts to our AEA services. This will drastically affect students, both academically and emotionally. I cannot overstate how much benefit we as a school and a community receive from our AEA. I cannot do my job as a teacher well without them.
02-20-2024
Justin Scott [Eastern Iowa Atheists]
CON
As atheists and nonreligious Iowans, we acknowledge and value the vital role that Area Education Agencies (AEAs) play in supporting and shaping Iowa's public education system and broader society. These agencies serve as lifelines to students and educators statewide, providing invaluable support and resources. This support goes a long way in nurturing critical thinking skills and promoting inclusivity, things that strongly align with our Humanist values.Because of these points, we vehemently oppose any efforts to gut AEAs in Iowa. The baseless criticisms and attacks aimed at AEAs are just one aspect of a broader ongoing assault on public education in Iowa. Such attacks threaten the foundation of evidencebased learning and equal access to quality education without the reliance on exclusive vouchers. Efforts to divide, diminish, or eliminate AEAs in Iowa jeopardize the interconnectedness of our public education system, threatening to deprive Iowa educators of essential resources and support networks.We atheist and nonreligious Iowans stand united with the majority of Iowans who advocate for public education and recognize the indispensable role played by AEAs. We oppose any efforts to dismantle public education and we firmly reject educational alternatives built upon antiscience ideologies, which interestingly seem incapable of flourishing without diverting public funds from public education.We Iowans must prioritize the preservation and enhancement of our public education system for the benefit of Iowa students now and for generations to come.
02-20-2024
Carl Johnson []
CON
The AEAs have been one of the sources of pride for Iowa's educational system for decades. Change will only diminish their quality and reputation. If there is reason for change it should come from the recommendations of a task force of all stakeholders, not from the suggestions of an outofstate group having no familiarity with Iowa. This bill should be tabled permanently.
02-20-2024
Cathy Stange [Little Angels Learning Center]
CON
Please do not cut AEA programs. As an early childhood center, we use early access to help assess our children for learning/cognitive disabilities. They come into our center and guide us on how to best help these children.The CART program is something we could not do without as well. We use this program to help us with aggressive behaviors, biting, suspected Autism behaviors, and other behaviors that would normally get a child kicked out of a program as we are not trained to deal with mental health or severe behaviors.If these programs are deleted, you will see a mass exiting of children from centers because we are not equipped to handle such behaviors. Parents will have to quit the workforce because no one will take their child.Another factor is that often new families don't recognize nor what to recognize that their child may have Autism or a medical condition. The CART program can come into the classroom and work with the teachers without a diagnosis. Thus, we get the help we need w/out worrying about parents' denial.We are slowly able then to educate the parent and encourage them to get help.Early childhood does not get the support it needs as it is; please don't leave us in the lurch with no resources.
02-20-2024
Gina Rogers []
CON
Please vote no on this bill. It is hurried, based on study that has been proven to have errors, and lacks input from all stakeholders. Additionally, it does nothing to solve the problem it is purported to solve. This movement away from local control and feeforservice components of this bill are troubling. This will ultimately harm small, rural schools and degrade the quality of education for students living in these districts. This bill is obviously unwanted by Iowans. Listen to your constituents. Vote no.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Vote no on hf:2612. Any bill of this magnitude needs thoughtful, deliberate study, not hasty decisions made based on a study from an outside source that used inaccurate and made up data. VOTE NO!
02-20-2024
Mary Koenigsfeld [Retired Educator]
CON
I'm so disappointed in our governor and those who are supporting this bill. It seems the mission is to destroy Public Education in Iowa. It makes no sense,NO AEA or classroom professional was at the table. How does this make sense? An outside Iowa firm hired to write this Bill? How is this right? Is no one in our state smart enough? Cost? More money in our coffers to make the Governor "look good"? That certainly didn't help mental health issues improve when she closed facilities making it much harder for families and individuals get meaningful care. Now she's doing it again. There is no doubt, children and families will suffer again, small schools will close and consolidate. We all know what happens to towns then. Please learn the facts, listen to Iowans and vote NO!
02-20-2024
Walter A. Pregler [Private Citizen & Former AEA Board member - 18 1/2 years /w/ Keystone]
CON
I fel insulted that my service to Keystone is bein g dissolved by an effort to diminish "Home Rule".AEA's across Iowa have brought education into the homes of all Iowa. AEA's kept the "playing field" level. It isn't broke, so don;t "fix" it.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am against the current amended House AEA bill It does has many improvements which I appreciate especially regarding the forming of the task force. It would make sense to bring stakeholders to the table in a bipartisan manner and review what can be improved before making changes. After determining any needs then it would make sense to develop plans and bills to improve the eduction for all students in Iowa. Please move forward with the task force and allow the process and future needs to play out.
02-20-2024
Cynthia Steflik []
CON
I am OPPOSED to HF2612. The only thing that needs to be in this bill is the creation of a task force. With party equity (not republican laden) represented.I thank you for listening to Iowans across the state.
02-20-2024
maribeth newman []
CON
Please allow AEA s to continue serving public education in Iowa. Continuous defunding and undermining of public education is the root of low test scores. That would be the change that needs to happen at the state level.
02-20-2024
Diane Eberhart []
CON
Do Not pass this to cut AEA services.
02-20-2024
Kim Folkers []
CON
This bill is completely uncalled for, based on the work of out of state consultants who have no idea of the current effectiveness of our AEA system and the unique needs of Iowa students and their schools.
02-20-2024
Penni McKinley []
CON
As a parent of an AEA recipient and as a grandparent, I strongly urge you to VOTE NO on HF 2612. This bill continues to put Iowa children ages 021 at an increased risk for failing to meet their highest level of education/functioning. Being under the direction of the DE adds undue burden for the ability of AEAs to respond in real time to the needs of the children and the school district. Especially since the current Director of DE does not meet the same educational requirements as those outlined in the bill for the AEA Directors. Where are school districts going to find alternative private resources and at what cost? Will the private companies be subject to any oversite by the DE as the AEAs are proposed to be? Will outcomes be standardized and measured and reported by each provider of services? If not, how will we know if improvement is being made? There are too many issues that have not have addressed. I take longer to decide on purchasing a new couch than the time you have spent on this bill! I implore you to shelve this legislation and create a task force to evaluate the current AEA in all aspects of its processes and outcomes. Due your due diligence to the children in Iowa by undertaking a thorough review with ALL STAKEHOLDERS to determine what improvements need to be made.
02-20-2024
Shari flatt []
CON
I taught in Dbq schools for 34 years. Our Keystone AEA was a part of my daily classroom life from providing books, media, research to the skill of speech therapists, psychologists, experts in reading and math. I just want to ask of the people trying to precise these services for profit, WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?? Im assuming its another effort to hurt our schools intentionally and turn the system into a for profit system that puts profits ahead of our kids. Shame on you all. If the system needs some fixing, then take a year and look it over for the needed tweaks. But dont try to fool us into thinking thats what you want. After the last few years we know your plot. Again shame on your desire to hurt our kids in the name of money.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [ICCSD]
CON
I am an elementary school teacher for a large district in Iowa. Schools NEED AEAs and taking them and all of the current things that they offer away will be detrimental to students and teachers. Who showed up at the Perry school shooting to help? The AEA... who helps students and families with learning and physical disabilities? The AEA... who provides required trainings at fair prices for teachers? The AEA... who advocates for students along with their teachers? the AEA... who wants to see public schools fail? Gov. Reynolds
02-20-2024
Melissa Shallberg [Parent/Citzen]
CON
The Regional AEAs provide invaluable support to Iowa students, teachers, and communities. It is the responsibility of the State of Iowa to educate all of its children and prepare them for their future. With Districts being asked, no, required to do more with less funding and other restrictions, the AEAs provide specialized care and services beyond what a classroom teacher can provide. If the AEAs are restructured, combined, and otherwise limited, where will students who need help get it? Is this another attempt to undercut the freedom of local school boards and communities to choose how to best serve THEIR students? What happened to a Future Ready Iowa? If we dont provide the resources necessary for our students of all abilities to grow and become active members of our communities, we will not, cannot, be ready for our future.
02-20-2024
Landon H Treloar [Parent]
CON
Please do not cut funding of our AEAs and mental health services of our children. If anything we should be considering more services and funding for the mental health of our young. AEA's have already endured recent budget cuts and have proven to be a vital piece of our youths development as a recent bill to disband them was not passed. Please consider our youth before making a hasty decision.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Ms.]
CON
This illconceived bill will adversely affect, not only students with special needs, but will curtail many of the other services offered by the AEAs. Eliminating AEA services will particularly affect the small rural districts.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Heartland AEA ]
CON
First of all, thank you for having this public hearing. Since all of this has started, my colleagues and I have continued to go to work serving children, families, and school districts. This is our calling and we are dedicated to what we do. The AEA system is not perfect, but maybe that begs for a task force to study what's going well and where changes can be made.
02-20-2024
Eric Locke []
CON
I am a concerned parent of a child with special needs. From what I have read of the proposed bill I do not believe that this legislation as it currently stand in the House and certainly in the Senate will provide benefit to my daughter's education or me as a taxpayer. While I am in favor of accountability, I still believe that this legislation is moving too rapidly without adequate time for comprehensive and constructive input from all stakeholders. Thank you.
02-20-2024
T. Jill Cecil [retired school psychologist]
CON
There is absolutely no reason for this bill. AEAs have done their jobs for fifty years. They have been national leaders and the test scores the Governor referenced are a false representation of the truth. I know this bill is creating a lot of stess among AEA employees which is not good for them, kids or Iowans.
02-20-2024
Mike McKinley []
CON
I urge you to vote NO on this bill. My daughter is a school psychologist with an AEA for 05yr olds. How are any of these parents with special needs kids or with behavioral problems find help in the private sector? How do they even know where to look? Could they afford the services? This bill needs to be scraped and a group of all stakeholders appointed to try and identify the problems that Gov Reynolds seems to think exist!!!
02-20-2024
Lora Fraracci [Self]
CON
Republicans are running the state into the ground. What once was a really good public education system has been run into the ground. This is further attempts to privatize and put the running of our education systems in the hands of profiteers. I am opposed to this bill.
02-20-2024
Sally Johnson [Retired Educator]
CON
The attack on AEAs is another politically motivated move against public schools.The services AEAs provide are essential for students, teachers, administrators, and staff of schools. I was a teacher and administrator for 44 1/2 years and relied on the services of AEAs for my students, teachers, and myself. There is no way that most of the public schools can afford to hire special education consultants, speech pathologists, audiologists, occupational therapists, social workers, psychologists, grief counselors, etc., or to pay for professional development opportunities for staff. Decisions about education and educational services should be made by EXPERIENCED educators, NOT politicians.
02-20-2024
Robert Gertsen [None]
CON
Why are we even talking about this at the legislative level? If there is a need for improvement, go to the core level; talk to stakeholders parents, teachers and the providers at AEAs. Gather input and let them decided the next steps. Dont assume that a bunch of legislators in Des Moines are smarter than the thousands and thousands of those that will be directly affected from rash decisions. Discontinue this legislation and return to sanity.
02-20-2024
Jim Green [ET22]
CON
HF2612 is not the "all parties at the table" solution that Rep. Wheeler suggested. As a long time elected AEA board member, I do not believe that putting the AEAs under the management of the Dept. of Education (a compliance organization) will improve education outcomes for all Iowa students. Superintendents already seek the services they need in their districts, and the AEAs respond. Elected board members ensure that happens. Let's take time to plan for system improvements, with all parties at the table, before upending Iowa's envied system of AEAs.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [concerned citizen ]
CON
Please stop this bill, no more amendments. I ask that you conduct a study without a bill moving forward. I also ask that you do what the general public of our State wants, which is to end this bill.
02-20-2024
Marilyn Rodgers [Former Teacher]
CON
I beseech you, do not pass this bill that will deny the valuable services that our AEAs provide our students especially in rural areas. As a former teacher I was provided with expertise that was otherwise unavailable.VOTE NO!
02-20-2024
Misty Nay []
CON
CONIowans do not want this! It is frustrating to me that this is being pushed through, even though there is an astounding outcry to leave our AEAs alone. The governors socalled report has been completely debunked as false, and she has created a problem that does not exist. This needs to slow down, and those who actually understand education and data interpretation need to be involved.
02-20-2024
Carol [Watson]
CON
As a grandmother of 2 specials needs grandchildren, I have personal knowledge of the services provided by the AEAs. The proposed changes to the AEAs would be devastating to Iowa's children with special needs & make an already difficult world to navigate even more cruel & discriminatory. As a nurse who worked closely for many years with my local AEA to expand services to children with acquired traumatic brain injuries, I have first hand knowledge of the talented, dedicated resources the AEA staff provide to our schools. The proposed changes would take these very important resources from Iowa's children & teachers.
02-20-2024
Aran Cox []
CON
The AEA is a fantastic resource for Iowa's children and parents and was instrumental in my son's success in school. When my younger children are in school I want that same level of support to be available to them as well.Every dollar spent on the AEA is money well spent helping children! This bill is unnecessary and I am opposed to changes in the AEA system unless it is to provide MORE funding.
02-20-2024
Nancy Sellers []
CON
As a grandmother of three children with special needs I am appalled that Iowa would take funding away from their educational needs.
02-20-2024
Deb Mountsier [Retired]
CON
I am opposed to the bills changing the way Area Education Agencies provide services to local school districts, children and families. The Area Education Agencies currently provide equitable services no matter where a child or school district is located in the stay . Please vote NO on these bills.
02-20-2024
Emily Bingaman []
CON
This bill will ultimately harm education, especially in rural school districts. Rural districts are already experiencing issues from lack of funding and staff shortages. If this bill passes, it will reduce availability of special education even more. Furthermore, the assessments that were used to justify the bill arent reliable, as the sample sizes are too small and Iowa programs are far too different from national programs. Please listen to Iowa experts and dont vote for this bill.
02-20-2024
Tamie osby [N/A]
CON
The funds are needed to help with children and there special needs! The families have their hands full with expenses that come with having a special needs child! Its not like the old days where you looked them up in mental institutions and died there. We have so much knowledge in helping these kids but the funding is needed to continue!
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Public schools ]
CON
Our public schools need so much more help then they receive now for any and all students and all staff. Taking funds away from public schools in anyway is a disservice to our communities and future.
02-20-2024
James Craig [Cardinal CSD]
CON
This AEA crisis was manufactured from unreliable and misleading data, taking strengths of Iowas special education system and spinning them into retributive accusations.NAEP results arent credible to this argument because less than .3% of Iowas students with IEPs were randomly selected to take the assessment in 2019. Even NAEP will say this isnt a data point that should be used in this type of highstakes decision.Iowa aims to exit students from their IEP services once proficiency is reached. Other states compared in the Guidehouse report keep students on their IEP throughout their K12 career whether proficiency is reached or not. Think about it if all Iowa students that had an IEP werent ever exited, our scores would be naturally higher and gaps in achievement would be smaller.The big issue is the cost of the AEAs, particularly administrative costs. AEAs are already required by law to keep administrative costs at no more than 5% of their total yearly budget. Through statemandated budget reductions and increases in expenses, our AEAs currently sit at 1.2% administrative cost. Republicans support smaller government, but the solution to the problem includes over 120 NEW IA Dept of Ed (IDOE) positions? The IDOE is illprepared to take on this transition because they are already understaffed and utilize an ineffective fire, ready, aim approach to rolling out programming and support to school districts.I encourage legislators to vote no on the amendment.
02-20-2024
Dawn Pitts []
CON
I am imploring the legislature to stop these AEA bills. Instead, move forward with only the bipartisan study group composed of legislators, parents, superintendents, school board members, general education teachers, special education teachers, AEA supervisors, AEA staff, and healthcare providers. In the work of school improvement, we take it as understood that change must be based upon (1) clear, comprehensive data sets and (2) consensus.Right now, neither of those two things exist relative to AEA legislation. Drafting and passing bills before a comprehensive study creates substantial risk for irreversible harm to students and schools.
02-20-2024
Connie King [Retired Teacher]
CON
STOP messing around with the AEAs! This bill doesn't "fix" anything, just reduces the AEA's ability to help students, teachers, and parents. All the bill does is damage Iowa's education more. Are you trying to drive people out of Iowa?
02-20-2024
Renee Thomas [Citizen of Iowa]
CON
As a former teacher in the state of Iowa for a rural county school district, I utilized AEA services daily. My students received speech, special education, occupational therapy, and physical therapy from licensed providers. We used online services for student curricular materials and teacher support materials. We also used media services for physical and digital books to support our learning and to encourage lifelong reading habits. AEA consultants would provide professional development opportunities on state initiatives to school staff, the newly developed state social studies standards, literacy curricular programs, and classes at convenient times and locations to keep state license current. Our AEAs are invaluable resources that school districts cannot begin to absorb or cover the cost.
02-20-2024
Cynthia Oshea [Concerned citizen]
CON
Our future is our children. AEAs provide vital support to our schools and our children. This bill will be very harmful to our children, school districts, and educators. I oppose this bill. Big government is always dangerous when they have complete control. This bill should not even be considered.
02-20-2024
Jolene Bristol []
CON
I protest changes to AEA of any kind. It is one of the bright spots in Iowa education. Private services contracting only leads to cuts in quality of services at higher prices. Area Education Agencies have only the welfare and education of our children in mind, not profit making.
02-20-2024
Sally Knustrom [Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary]
CON
Please think of our children first! The AEAs across the state provide very necessary services to our children, their parents, and educators.
02-20-2024
Amy Muchmore []
CON
AEAs provide valuable and much needed resources to children and teachers. This bill, if passed, will hurt those who need it most.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
DONT CUT AEA SPENDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.
02-20-2024
Amanda Johnson []
CON
Please stop this madness! I don't understand why something so incredibly important is being attempted in such a hurry. Stop this bill. Hit pause on the whole process. Then, get a group of actual stakeholders to advise on the writing of new legislation. Also, please reexamine the "data" that was used as a catalyst for this whole thing. Everyone knows how easily statistics can be skewed to say what you need them to say. Do your due diligence, and gather more information before taking one more step forward!
02-20-2024
Kandi Brittain [Parent and teacher]
CON
Please do not cut services if AEAs.
02-20-2024
Cathy B. Hill [Private citizen, retired special educator]
CON
If our Iowa representatives are really listening to the hew and cry from multiple con voters, they should immediately quash HF 2612! It is discriminatory against smaller school districts who would be in peril of not being able to serve this population due to diminished resources. These students and their families are already in a life struggle. Why, then, would the state remove opportunities for them to reach their full potential? This trajectory is just unconscionable! Shame on those who would put forth and vote for this bill???!!!
02-20-2024
Krista Davidson []
CON
Please vote no. I am a speechlanguage pathologist and clinical professor. This legislation is hiding under the guise of "choice" and "nothing will change." It is misguided and illinformed. Cutting back on AEA providers and services will hurt all schools and students who require special education services and supports. It will especially impact small and/or rural schools that don't have the funds to find alternatives. Listen to the educators, therapists, and parents and oppose this bill!
02-20-2024
Bryn Pangburn []
CON
KEEP STATE AEAS IN PLACE. We DO NOT WANT A PRIVATELY RUN AEA. Any further dismantling of our beloved public schools will guarantee no future support of the Republican Party in Iowa. Republicans betrayed Iowans at every turn for the benefit of the wealthy. Bryn Pangburn
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Personal ]
CON
Passing this legislation is just another step in dismantling Iowa public schools. It is shameful and in direct opposition to being pro life. Life is long, not just something that happens at birth. Education and educational accommodations are a major pathway to an opportunity for a productive life. Taking away the AEA limits the trajectory of human life. Let's not just be probirth but also prowhole life with systems that support throughout life. If there are modernization that needs to be done, then let's put together a comprehensive plan with systems in place to support the transition instead of just dismantling something that is working strongly in many schools and communities.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [retired Iowa high school teacher - 32 years experience]
CON
I strongly oppose this bill. The state is too big and educational needs are WAY too many to consolidate and dilute help from AEAs. Goes against all the "parental control" arguments used for every other change you want to make in education. How can parents or ANYONE concerned with the education of Iowa's children want LESS access to help? Please rethink and revise. You are destroying Iowa's education reputation.
02-20-2024
Megan Garrett [Private Citizen]
CON
Growing up in Iowa I was told our public education was one of the strongest institutions in the country. I fear that if this bill passes, individuals in need, who live in rural towns like the ones I grew up, in would be left behind. We cannot let special interests continue to fail our state, which is primarily rural areas. Please listen to the constituents who will have to pick up the pieces if decisions continue to be made without our voices and input. Please bring guardians, schools, and research professionals to bring better policy options. I respect the work you all do, I just want to continue being proud to live in our state and proud for our future generations to attend our public schooling. Thank you.
02-20-2024
Denise Menke []
CON
I believe a committee, which includes stakeholders, should be formed to study the implications this bill would have on our students. Changes to AEAs should NOT be made in such a short time without a great deal of research, discussion, and thought. This is absurd to quickly pass a bill which is detrimental to students, educators, and schools!
02-20-2024
Shana L. Willenbring [Parent & Educator]
CON
This AEA House File 2612 bill should ONLY be about putting together a task force of parents, teachers, students, principals, superintendents, legislators, AEA staff, and someone from the Department of Education to do a comprehensive review of the AEAs and to put together a plan to improve student learning. I don't believe the legislature and general public are getting the current and accurate data on student performance. The bill as written does not address day to day needs in schools all around the state. It would make sense to bring stakeholders to the table in a bipartisan manner and review what can be improved before making changes. After determining any needs then it would make sense to develop plans and bills to improve the eduction for all students in Iowa. Please move forward with the task force and allow the process and future needs to play out.02202024
02-20-2024
Rosemary Mabeus [Retired educator]
CON
I have already sent an email to my Representative and Senator about this issue. As an educator, I got help from the AEA. I took classes through the AEA in order to renew my teaching license. I got books and materials that my school did not have through the AEA. My daughter currently teaches in the Columbus Jct. Elementary School. She has two special education children in her classroom. One of them is deaf in one ear. She has consulted the audiologist from the AEA about this child. The audiologist made sure that she has a microphone that hangs around her neck and a tower speaker that is in the back of the classroom to help this child hear. She has several children in her classroom who receive speech help fromthe AEA speech pathologist. She also has many who receive ESL help. Small school districts in this state can not afford to hire all of the specialists who are needed to give their students the education that they need. Nor would they be able to find enough people qualified to give this help if you disband the AEAs. These AEAs have been in this state for over 40 years and all of a sudden, you want to get rid of them based on some research from some out of state company that the governor hired? You need to stop this bill right now and get a panel of teachers, administrators, and parents to study this for at least a year before you do anything . I bet that the majority of you have not been in a classroom since you graduated. Let the people who know what is going on in our public schools make these kinds of decisions. Governor Reynolds is always talking about local control. If the local school districts have to ask the State Department of Education if they can access these kinds of help, that will just add that much more red tape and take that much more time to get the help to the children who need it. You have already done enough to ruin public education in this state! Do not pass this bill!
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
keep AREA 4 the way it is , this helps many dissabled children in rural school districts . If you change the way they are working now , it will be detremental to the children with learning difficulties and children in the special Ed classrooms . Do NOT change this !!!!!
02-20-2024
Bonnie Boothroy []
CON
Where is the evidence to suggest there is a need to dismantle a key component of Iowas educational system? Iowans have spoken. They value the personalized and professional services they receive through the AEA regional service delivery model. They do not want services centralized in Des Moines under the direction of a single individual. If the Governor or legislators disagree with their constituents, a task force should be convened for a thorough study. There is no urgency to act now. Please vote NO on this or any AEA bill advanced in this session.
02-20-2024
Ralph Rosenberg [TBH]
CON
The bipartisan solution is to create an interim committee of policymakers and add additional experts and professionals.One cannot rely on the current consultants report, which has errors.One can rely upon tens of thousands of Iowans who only want to improve AEA, not implode it.This bill implodes.
02-20-2024
Denise Crosby []
CON
We need to keep all the services we currently have. I taught for 36 years at the Iowa Juvenile Home in Toledo. Our students needed the serves provided by the AEA. We as teachers were provided with services and classes to help with these students, many of whom had been identified as students in need of special services.
02-20-2024
James Andrew Ruff [Retired]
CON
HF 2612 in its current form is premature and illconceived. There needs to be a thorough assessment of all AEA services an assessment that includes all of those stakeholders who benefit from the services the AEAs provide this would include, but not be restricted to Iowa parents, Iowa teachers, AEA employees, Early Intervention providers, Iowa students, Iowa administrators, Iowa community representatives, and more.
02-20-2024
G osburn []
CON
My experiences are from another state, more of a cautionary tale. Progress South had a great resource program for my younger son who has a language based learning disorder. He was doing well until a Governor Blunt decided to, "trim the fat" in state programs. Chip program went, to get food assistance you had to have income of 150% below national poverty level and funding was cut for programs that provided extra assistance to schools for children with special needs. My older son lost access to gifted/accelerated programs and my younger lost even more. He was instead given an ill trained para that one day told him he was useless and should just quit school. I had to cut my hours back to go work in the school as a his para and that left us in a precarious financially situation. Now I hear from my older son who lived in Houston area that Gov.Abbott in Texas has implementing firing all tenured staff and hiring new teachers with dubious qualifications and cutting other services. My older granddaughter is bored and expected to work way below her capabilities doing preschool level work in 1st gradeWith the affinity Reynolds seems to have with Texas Gov.Abbott, I would not be surprised if that development isn't down the pike for Iowa. We have no choice but to make a stand now. I feel that this is a political tact used mostly by Republican Governors to take funds away from programs that actually help the public in order to refill state coffers and also an attempt to dummy down the population. Remember when Iowa used to rank in the top 5?
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am opposed to this bill which changes the AEAs in Iowa based on an out of state company and its assessment. Certainly there is room for improvement in any organization but I object to the way it has been presented and the speed with which it has progressed. This is a bill that affects every student in the state of Iowa. You have heard all the testimonies from your constituents. Why not table this bill and really delve into the services and how they might be improved? Use the extra time to form committees to actually define the problems and thoughtfully recommend solutions. Why all this urgency? If it truly is so urgent that we can't take time to formulate a wellthought plan, why wasn't it brought up earlier? These situations don't happen "overnight", and they cannot be solved "overnight".
02-20-2024
KimberlyCobler [Media Clerk -GPAEA]
CON
Dear Education Committee Members:I am writing to express my concern for SF3073 and HSB 713 amendments and passage. I am asking that neither bill be passed. Both still allow vulnerabilities to rural school districts and student services. It has been said that Governor Reynolds is not ending AEAs, but I believe that if passed these bills would tear it down from the inside out. The AEAs would be literally gutted and gone. I am especially concerned about the Media Center fall out that I never hear anyone have accurate information and concern for. I may add that I voted for Governor Reynolds and am for saving taxpayer money. All education systems need to be held accountable, not just the AEAs. Thank you for listening to our voices, I speak for many across all job positions. SF3073 & HSB 713Continues to Diminish Local Voice Director of the Iowa Department of Education to determine which programs and services are made available through the AEA everyone is concerned about this aspect.Effective July, 2025 the Department of Educations Division of Special Education will oversee AEAs everyone is concerned about this aspect.The Department of Education Director will have supervision of the AEAs, and AEA boards will be advisory in nature everyone is concerned about this aspect.The Department of Education Director will be authorized to approve collaborative efforts like consultation, development of professional learning, and other support between districts and AEA's everyone is concerned about this aspect.Reduces Economies of Scale and Introduces a Tiered Reduction of FundingBeginning July 1, 2024, AEAs would retain funding to provide Special Education Services but receive only 40% of the funding for Educational Services and Media Services Beginning July 1, 2025, and moving forward, AEAs would receive only 10% of the funding for Special Education and 40% of the funding for Educational Services and Media Services taking funds away depletes our ability to serve.Media Services will be centralized by July 1, 2026 What does this mean? Does this mean a physical location, database, or district centralization? Please meet with our Media Center Librarians, clerks and supervisors. Please get numbers, distance of service to patrons, building site locations and values.Creates a Task ForceCreates a task force to study all parts of the AEA system, reportable to the legislature by Dec. 31, 2024 Isnt this too late? Shouldnt this have been done before Governor Reynolds dropped her plan and the June 1st 2024 decision? Declines to Separate the New Teacher Pay BillInclude teacher pay language beyond initial teachers This needs to be separated and what about the paraeducators, bus drivers, custodians or lunch people? Creates Unrealistic Timelines for DecisionMakingSets the date for a decision by June 1 this year A task force to study all parts of the AEA system has not even been done. Governor Reynolds made the decision with outsiders and before the preparations. Shifts AEA FundingMedia Services: Beginning July 1, 2025, districts can use media services funds to contract with an AEA for services or contract for their own services This is in effect the same theory that our Founding Fathers addressed when determining the Big State vs Little State for fair representation. The bigger school districts will zap all the power from the little school districts and control the money. The little school districts will be forced to make decisions that do not benefit the Collective Whole which is why the AEAs were created in the first place.
02-20-2024
Christiane Matthews []
CON
We need to properly fund education, including mental health services. Meeting the needs of our children will improve our community in Iowa now and in the future!
02-20-2024
Terry Anselme []
CON
Please vote NO and stop all amendments to this bill. The AEA system supports students, families, and districts creating a system of equality for big and small districts alike. Vote NO!
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please save the AEAs.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [self]
CON
Please do not take money away from special education and/or mental health services for our children.
02-20-2024
Evalee Mickey [pax Christi USA]
CON
AEA should be fully funded. It is nuts to think otherwise
02-20-2024
Anonymous [In support of informal educators ]
CON
Please stop this bill. As a rural informal educator that has used the AEA resources in the past; cutting resources and centralizing them would be a HUGE disadvantage to children. The services and supplies available by the reginal AEA offices help children in less populated areas gain valuable information and experiences. PLEASE vote NO.
02-20-2024
Jeremy Parrish []
CON
The AEAs are a critical component of education. This bill simply hurts the children and school districts in Iowa. The people of Iowa have already spoken and they do not want this. I ask that you listen to the overwhelming opposition of this bill and do what is right for the children of Iowa.
02-20-2024
Becky Durand [Educator, Parent, Grandparent ]
CON
AEAs are a vital resource for students, families, teachers and schools across Iowa. The Iowa Department of Education doesnt have the capacity, ability or skill set to provide comparable comprehensive services to schools. AEAs provide amazing services beyond special education, with professional development being one I want to speak of. When the state required school improvement plans, it was the AEA that helped guide and train us on the process. When the State changed requirements for Statewide testing, it was the AEA that provided professional development. When the State required Professional Development plans, it was the AEA that provided professional development. When the State adopted the TLC program, again it was the AEA that took the lead in providing professional development .This attempt to shift services from AEAs to the Department of Education is the governors way of trying to privatize services and use money for noneducational items. I speak firsthand of how poorly this turns out. The privatization of Medicaid was a disaster with my mentally handicapped 70 year old brother in law, who has been on Medicaid since he was young. He has been kicked off Medicaid a number of times and its a real challenge to get things fixed. Keep our AEAs as they are! Vote for students!
02-20-2024
Jim White []
CON
Stop destroying our public education system!! Kim Reynolds doesnt own it, we do.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
AEAs are a necessity for our schools
02-20-2024
Christopher Ellington []
CON
Dear Legislators,I am completely against this bill. I feel as though this will create a redundancy in administrative positions, thus costing more money for taxpayers. Also any positions that are eliminated and recreated at the Department of Education will take away high paying jobs in rural communities and concentrate them in Des Moines area. I also believe if the school districts have control over the AEAs and weather they continue to use them, it also gives them the power to deny access to special education programs that they dont want to pay for or provide. I feel that schools will only provide the bare minimum of what a child needs. I only see this bill hurting special education scores on testing, which seems to be the focus of the Governors concern. I dont understand how stripping services provided to schools is going to better special education scores, when the AEAs dont provide teaching nor do they provide curriculum to schools. I understand the thinking that schools know what is best for their district, however I also know that schools also run like a business and will only do the bare minimum of the requirements due to the cost of said services. Schools that choose to hire in house services will no longer have any accountability because the employees hired to keep the schools accountable will be employed by the district. I see that causing lots of conflict and most likely lawsuits. I also believe that whenever you use the government as the primary means of accountability things get hung up in lots of red tape and it takes forever to get problems resolved, and there will be problems. I also believe that this bill was written to primary deal with one problem child of the AEA, Heartland AEA as everyone knows has large amounts of administrative bloat. This bill punishes all AEAs instead of dealing with the one bad apple, you are acting as if it is spoiling the whole bunch. If you are thinking that I am just another democrat trying to fight against a republican sponsored bill, you are very wrong to think that is the case. I identify as a republican I am as conservative as they come, but I believe that our students need to be educated well. I believe that instead of Iowa trying to keep up with other states we should be striving to be better than them, and lead the way in education. When you are striving to be better or the best you do different things than everyone else. We need to provide more to our schools, not take away. I would also like to ask one question, are you voting on this bill representing the people that elected you or are you towing the party line? I would encourage you listen to the people that you represent, be the representative you promised to be when you ran for office.Thank you,Chris Ellington
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am a child advocate! While no organization is perfect, the goals of the AEAs within the state of Iowa are that of HELPING children. To try to eliminate what they do without careful study and current research from WITHIN our state that includes people who know and understand statistics is most definitely NOT helping children. Please table this bill until further, in depth research by highly educated persons from within the state of Iowa have had a chance to study and propose some changes (not elimination) for the good of children. This is not an overnight process and will take several months.
02-20-2024
Linda DeSotel [Parent]
CON
Small schools without the layers of support staff would suffer.My son was in the early program of Gifted and Talented.Also, my child suffered the loss of his father at a very young age. Both of these areas were helped by AEA services to help our very small school. Dont want this access to go away!
02-20-2024
Julie Nadrchal [East Sac County Community School District]
CON
My name is Julie Nadrchal and I have attached a letter explaining my concerns on HSB 542. My hope is this bill does not pass it is going to be very difficult for our smaller districts to get resources and people if this passes. Also, services for general education students will also be negatively impacted. My 3 1/2 year old grandson was born profoundly deaf and has bilateral cochlear implants. Today, our grandson is on track with his peers in all areas of his development, in part because of the AEA services he received in Early Access. Our grandson is receiving support of Section 504 plan in preschool and audiology services from the AEA. The AEA audiologist helps train his teachers on how to use his cochlear implants, and to help ensure that he has access to his education. This bill will take away the support of an audiologist to children like my grandson who is not receiving special education services, but will always need the support of an audiologist in the school to access his education. It would be difficult and costly for the school district to try to provide these services. SincerelyJulie Nadrchal, LISW
Attachment
02-20-2024
Gordie Felger
CON
Vote NO on HF 2612. Iowa students and families rely heavily on AEA services. What troubles me most about this bill is that too much control is given over to the Dept of Ed. The AEAs need to ask government bureaucrats permission to do their jobs? Keep control in the local school districts. Also, the biggest losers of this bill will be rural school districts that already struggle to fund their schools. The governor claims that AEA funding will not be "reduced one dime," yet $33 million of property taxes for media services are to be axed. That sounds like a big cut to me! How will that money be made up?
02-20-2024
Ali Huebner [All God's Children Preschool & Childcare]
CON
We are a preschool and childcare outside of the public school. We do not receive the type of support childcare receives within a school district. The AEA has helped close that gap. Their impact is transformational. This year alone, we've witnessed:Speech therapy unlocking potential: Parents, previously facing the heartbreaking choice of leaving our preschool and childcare due to their child's needs, can now watch their child blossom right here with GWAEA's visiting Speech Pathologists.Early detection, empowered families: AEAprovided hearing tests reach every child, catching potential issues before they impact learning. Imagine the relief for families one less worry, one more chance for their child to shine.Expert guidance for thriving minds: When challenging behaviors arise, their support empowers us to navigate even the toughest situations, ensuring every child feels safe, understood, and supported.I don't know what I would do without the support of GWAEA. I know for certain that I wouldn't be able to retain staff if it weren't for their help in the behavior department. They are important and we need save all portions of the AEAs.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please do not pass this bill! Listen to your constituents.
02-20-2024
Lisa Korcuska [Community Member ]
CON
Please listen to the will of the people and vote NO on HB 713. Our community does not support this bill as it will harm our most vulnerable students and their families. Do the right thing for our children.
02-20-2024
JIm Cornick [Retired School personnel at Mason City Community School District]
CON
Again trying to take services away from the people who really need them! These people pay their taxes, they need these services provided by our government. These people trying to cut all these services for our children don't care. Why should they, they have all the money to take care of their own and toss the rest off the side of the road. Greed and Power! Very discouraging!
02-20-2024
Joyce []
CON
Making monetary cuts to our public education system, whether it be by taking funds intended for public schools and using them instead to help fund private schools, or cutting much needed services, such as those provided by the AEAs, which will limit their outreach for those who need it the most, such as our rural districts, is ill advised, and counter productive to the core principles of the DOE. AEAs have been an integral part of Iowas public education system for 50 years, so I find it curious that this attempt to upend what has been a successful resource for teachers and students alike, is at risk of being dismantled at the same time that our governor is encouraging parents to forego public schools and instead, send their children to private or charter schools, (even taking money from public schools to that end). Public education has done very well by my children, and grandchildren, and I know first hand how important a local AEA can be. Please do not make it harder for teachers to help our students thrive, and continue to support our AEAs, as they have supported Iowa students, parents, teachers, and communities, for the past 50 years.Thank You,Joyce Cota
02-20-2024
Annie Volker []
CON
First, thank you for your service; for the beginning improvements on the AEA bill; and for your willingness to continue making improvements. Youve already heard the salient concerns from thousands and thousands of Iowans:1. Invalid problem identification (achievement of students with disabilities) based on faulty and misleading data2. Stripping local control by granting decisionmaking/approval authority to the Director of the Department of Education (who has no background in (public) education and is a political appointee based on her track record of school choice policy (i.e. siphoning public dollars for private schools).3. Disintegrating special education, educational services and media/technology thereby creating a fractured and siloed delivery systems that will harm all students.4. There has been no critical examination of the consequences (both intended and unintended) of reducing economies of scaleparticularly to rural districts, the capacity of the (Iowa) private workforce or what actual methods and measures are in place to address the achievement of students with disabilities. Youve heard the overwhelming support and approval of AEAs from countless families, students themselves, school board members, superintendents, administrators, educators and experts (former Directors of the Iowa Department of Education) and others. Youve heard from democrats and republicans. Moreover, and most pressing, this legislatively imposed crisis introduced by the Governor has significantly breached the publics trust. Job one is repairing this rupture. Job one is commissioning a comprehensive review of the entire educational system in Iowa. Starting with AEAs is welcomed! Such a study does not require legislation. The membership of the task force should not be intentionally partisan. A comprehensive review of the critical components of Iowas system (DE, AEAs and LEAs) would surely yield strengths and opportunities for improvement that will benefit ALL Iowans. Vote no. Do not advance the AEA bill! Do not harm children!Thank you,Annie Volker
02-20-2024
Julie Honan [GHAEA]
CON
Please oppose HF 2612 and HSB713 (and any other bill amended from the original). 1. I don't agree with the feeforservice plan 2. I don't agree that there should be a shift in oversight to the DoE. If I need my field director to participate in a meeting or need support for whatever reason, they are available to me quickly. I don't see this happening if there is a shift to the DoE. 3. I feel that you need to add requirements to the Director of Education job requirements. The Iowa Director of Ed should have been an educator. That person should know and understand Iowa school systems. They should be Licensed by Iowa Board of Educational Examiners as a teacher AND a school administrator (this requires two different licenses). Both licenses must be current and active. In my opinion, all of these bills/amendments should be stopped and instead, move forward with only the bipartisan study group composed of legislators, parents, superintendents, school board members, general education teachers, special education teachers, AEA supervisors, AEA staff, and healthcare providers.
02-20-2024
Marie Ellithorpe [Missouri Valley CSD]
CON
As a career educator of 23 years, I vehemently oppose this bill. The AA provides invaluable resources to assist teachers. This bill is ill advised and an overreach of legislation. Educators should be allowed purview of education. We know best what resources are required to support ourselves.
02-20-2024
Beth Rupe []
CON
Please vote no to the current legislation involving AEA. We, as a family, benefited from their coordination of services. Dont mess with something that isnt broken.
02-20-2024
Kim Wemer [private citizen]
CON
This a thoughtless bill. Leave education to the local experts.
02-20-2024
Pam Worlber [Family]
CON
I believe that Iowans invested in the education of the children of Iowa have everything needed to solve any achievement gaps or issue regarding special education services. Iowa does NOT NEED people from Virginia. Please slow the process down. Get Iowas on a task force and lets get onto the work of doing what is best for the kids in schools!! Please no more amendments , skewed data, and grandstanding of people who dont know the whole picture!
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please slow this bill down and take a year to do a DEEP DIVE into the issues before negatively impacting children and families across the state of Iowa. Let's make public education a proud characteristic of our state, once again. As a voter and taxpayer, I want my voice to be heard, loudly!!
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
No cuts/changes to AEAs. Continue public/taxpayer support for special education, mental health, media services, administrative resources, and other services currently provided. Spend taxpayer money on *public* education. Maintain and improve the valuable resources AEAs provide to all schools, especially our rural districts, that help educate the upcoming generations of Iowans. Do NOT divert taxpayer dollars to private organizations or private individuals/families. Those entities already have the resources to pay for their individual decisions. Help equitably educate ALL Iowans so everyone can share in a better future.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am a Literacy Consultant for the AEA who supports two small rural public schools and seven private schools as well as remaining on call for any other private schools in our agency that may ask for assistance. My days are filled with providing assistance and coaching to classroom teachers, special education teachers, Building Lead Teams, and administrators around researchbased literacy practices, differentiating instruction for struggling students, and providing ways to best teach the standards in the English Language Arts portion of the Iowa Core Curriculum. My fear is when I am relieved of my position due to this bill who is going to help these buildings. Who is going to provide this type of ongoing, daily support to our small rural schools and private schools. The private schools have seen an influx of students due to last years bill and now their support for these students, many who are struggling learners is going to disappear. The refocusing of the AEAs may be to only support special education students but as a literacy consultant I do a great deal to aid in that work as well as the work of supporting ALL students in the state of Iowa.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Council Bluffs Community Schools District]
CON
I am against changing anything we currently do with our AEAs in Iowa. We need these resources and should not redirect funding from these agencies as they provide vital services for our families and students.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Retired School Nurse]
CON
Vote NO on HF 2612! As a retired school nurse, AEA services and resources are invaluable to Iowa children, parents, school staff and the community! On a daily basis and/or in times of crisis, whether individual or communitywide, the AEA services are critical to every Iowan.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please reject yet another attempt to gut education in Iowa. It is a disservice to students, teachers and others in the education system. They have suffered enough under this administration.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please stop the elimination of programs like this. They are so needed for the benefit of our youth. For the life of me, I cannot understand why there are these continued attacks on what was once an enviable education system in Iowa. Youth are our future. We owe them the best possible.
02-20-2024
Jenny [Turner]
CON
I oppose this. Its a solution in search of a problem and study needs to define any problems before anything else is done.
02-20-2024
Jill Purcell []
CON
I am a parent of 3, including one who currently has an IEP I am against this bill. It is irresponsible to change a system that children rely on without clear evidence of need and without clear evidence that the change will be an improvement. Shuffling money around and giving more power to the nonresponsive BoE offers no clear benefit, other than giving more power to Kim Reynolds and the Republican director, who has been hired from out of state after attacking public education in multiple states. It is unfathomable that we can ignore clear issues in this state and then experiment with the education of our children. Shame on republicans.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
This bill does not improve education for ALL Iowa students. Why are we trying to fix something that isn't broken? Our AEAs are vital to supporting all of our schools including our rural schools.
02-20-2024
Barb Harms [Concerned citizen, parent, AEA staff member]
CON
Thanks for the opportunity to provide feedback for this public hearing for HF2612. While this bill shows some improvement from the Governor's original bill, I strongly oppose the language that would move oversight and control away from the local AEA Board and shift it to the interim director of the DE. I also oppose any effort to convert special education services to a feeforservice model as it will be detrimental to students & staff, especially in our rural areas. Please take the time necessary to study the impact of this bill on our education system in Iowa.
02-20-2024
Michele Harrison []
CON
This bill is a travesty for Iowans.
02-20-2024
Marv Fedders []
CON
You did not listen to stakeholders or AEA. This will have dire consequences if passed.
02-20-2024
Doris Montag [The History of Ordinary Things]
CON
Resources are needed to address special needs children in the school system. AEA provide professional help to children and teachers. I am opposed to a reduction in their funding.
02-20-2024
William Miller []
CON
School districts value AEA services. Stop trying to fix a system thats not broken! Instead, increase financial support to the AEAs and districts needed to reverse the deteriorating quality of public education in Iowa.
02-20-2024
Patti Conrad []
CON
Do NOT gut the AEA! Our kids and teachers deserve your support!
02-20-2024
Katie Woodward [Myself ]
CON
I didn't Start talking until I was almost 6 in half years old. If there was no AEA I probably would of horrible speech issues to this day and I am 36 years old now. I had learning disability also so I probably wouldn't even had graduated high school without AEA. This bill is horrible idea. We are putting a huge rish to our children now, that need, we are risking there future. Our kids today have enough to worry about while in school. They don't need to worry about how they are going get through school with a learning disability or anything disability.
02-20-2024
02-20-2024
Tawny Wilson [Mother]
CON
On the Iowa quarter there is a school house and reads foundation in education. Enough of this scam to undermine our public schools in order to privatize them! Most Iowans support their local AEAs and the public schools they support.
02-20-2024
Mary Rickert [Former educator]
CON
As a former educator, I have been watching Iowa legislators as they try to dismantle and harm the Iowa education system. Starting with their prevention of educators to have a voice in negotiations, to the approval of tuition vouchers for private schools with tax payer dollars. Now they are determined to take away valuable resources and services to students and teachers. I was once proud of Iowa, but now I am ashamed of how little they care about the future of our youth. Please start putting children first. We are all watching and will be remembering how you act to protect our youth.
02-20-2024
Margo Stites []
CON
Retired high school teacher here. For the better part of a century, Iowa schools were the best in the nation. That's no longer true thanks to Kim Reynolds and her legislative stooges.I'm getting sick and tired of Republican politicians making stupid, unimformed decisions that are adversely affecting the students of Iowa.This is yet another bill like that.If you want to "fix" the AEA, talk to actual students, teachers and administrators in actual public schools.But I don't think your real objective is to fix anything. It's becoming more and more clear that your real objective is to destroy the Iowa public school system. Go ahead, prove me wrong!
02-20-2024
Mike Hicks [Concerned Citizen]
CON
Please stop this bill and take the next year to do a study. The oversight and control should NOT go to someone in Des Moines without a degree in education. The control should stay local with the experts. Take some time and do a study with all parties involved. This bill is moving to fast for the amount of proposed changes. Lets not rely on inaccurate information that an outside company is providing.
02-20-2024
Jean Swenson [individual]
CON
Please slow down (or halt) HF2612. To have a firm from Virginia determine that Iowa's AEA system is broken is offensive to those of us who relied on the services of AEAs for our entire careers. I'm sure Iowa's AEAs might have a few areas to "tweak", but to dismantle the system and suggest privatization is not what needs to happen.I am a retired teacher. I cannot imagine functioning in rural Iowa without those services. We relied on them for special ed., curriculum writing, media, and so many other services. We are watching relatives use their early childhood services, and they have nothing but wonderful things to say about the AEA.Please look to teachers, administrators, and parents to make changes, as they use AEAs every day. Legislators need to listen to them before changing ANYTHING in the AEAs.
02-20-2024
Pat Berrie []
CON
To cut services or change the way services are delivered without substantial and long range data is irresponsible and only displays the ignorance of what AEAs support and accomplish.
02-20-2024
Ashley Panno []
CON
While marginally improved over the original, this bill shows two things:1) The writers do not understand the current system in place in Iowa, nor the consequences of sweeping changes that accompany this lack of understanding. 2) The opinions of the majority of Iowans that have provided input continue to be ignored. This is evident in the speed at which this legislation is getting pushed through the process along with the continued lack of meaningful improvement to the wording of both the house and senate files.
02-20-2024
Mike Wolfe [Mike Wolfe for Iowa]
CON
Please dont make changes to the AEA structure prior to performing a study and receiving specific feedback and recommendations from Iowa stakeholders.
02-20-2024
Melissa Klay Rogers []
CON
If the assertion that this bill does not reflect the results from the costly evaluation, then you are actively working against evidence to advance your own selfish agenda. This is to the detriment of our children and a disastrous use of funds. Way to be fiscally responsible, ensure local control, and show you really care about our children. Oh, wait.
02-20-2024
Kathy Graeve []
CON
I am adamantly opposed to HF2612. Leave the AEA system intact. Iowa students and families need the integrated services of the regional system that AEAs provide. There is not a private system for parents to access in Iowa that would provide timely mental health, speech pathology, early childhood intervention, media services, and on and on. Iowans are opposed to the legislation and are asking this legislation to be stopped. Please listen.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Mother of child with Special Needs]
CON
This bill substantially cuts the abilities of the AEA to provide the services special needs families rely on. It would be detrimental to approve this bill in its current state and would HARM our state's children, teachers, and families.
02-20-2024
Linda Wolff []
CON
Please do NOT hurt Iowa children and our future by passing this bill. Children deserve the best and this would inflict great hardship and pain for them.
02-20-2024
Jamie Koster [Central Rivers AEA]
CON
This bill is not in what students in Iowa need. Cuts to the AEA's will be detrimental to all students and teachers regardless whether they are special education students or general education students. Further more, test scores for special education students are not a reliable source to base education success. Many special education students are not good test takers. Success of special education students should be based on the growth that the student has shown based on their functioning grade level rather than their current grade level in their academic careers. If a student is in the 5th grade, but reading at a second grade level at the beginning of the year and with specially designed instruction are able to increase their reading level to the 3rd grade level by the end of the school year, that is success! Not the test score that represents one day in that school year. Growth is success. To blame AEAs for students scores based on one test on one day a year is unethical. If our government was graded this way, a lot of politicians would be out of a job.
02-20-2024
Dot Clausen [None]
CON
Am trying to understand why a think tank from Virginia was hired to develop a plan for special education services to be utilized in Iowa. If there were issues related to the Area Education Agencies, why were there not public hearings held through out the state so invested parties could voice their concerns and seek solutions to stated issues? The monies paid to this outside of the state agency could have been better utilized by the AEAs to answer concerns and find workable answers so all students, parents, and schools would be better served.
02-20-2024
Kay Sansone []
CON
Local AEA's are integral in providing resources for special education. They aso provide speech therapy, occupational therapy and the training of teachers, among many other things. Financially, it would be difficult for schools to provide these same type of services. To eliminate AEA's would ne a disservice to our Iowa students.
02-20-2024
Carla Christensen [Missouri Valley Community School District]
CON
AEA's are integral to the success of ALL learners and ALL Staff. Rural, smaller, public schools can't afford to operate without ALL aspects of AEA's. Our MVCSD and GHAEA collaboration is paramount to the success of ALL our students.
02-20-2024
Sara Todd [Parent ]
CON
Our now 24yearold son helped us navigate charted waters starting when he was a toddler, through the early access program. He continued to receive speech, occupational, and physical therapy throughout grade school, middle school, high school, and his transition years they not only directly helped him With their vast skill set, but also by providing assistive devices. They taught us and his teachers and paraprofessionals how to best help him and to make his environment as inclusive as possible to this. I use many skills that I learned from our Grantwood AA providers every single day , they are a lifeline for so many families. I implore that you did not cut funding to the AEA. We need them!
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Citizen, Voter, ]
CON
Education is not a business it's about quality of life and opportunity for individuals, families, and communities. This is shared responsibility and exactly why AEAs were designed and continue to operate. Greed, power grabbing, and selfishness are not pillars of Iowa. Dismantling AEA systems will only serve a few and have a devastating negative impact on the majority. Bullying behavior is not leadership.
02-20-2024
Brenda Royer []
CON
Stop This Bill Now! I urge you to please take the time to conduct a comprehensive study with all stakeholders included! This bill ultimately hurts students, families, educators, and communities! Please vote NO and stop spending so much time trying to fix a problem that doesnt exist!!
02-20-2024
Mary E Airy [Retired Iowa Educator]
CON
I am against reforming the AEAs and the AEA funding structure for 192425 school year. Instead create a bipartisan task force of Iowa stakeholders to a comprehensive review of AEA services and funding them. Also study special education student achievement using multiple measures and make recommendations for closing that gap. Im also against the consolidating oversight at the Iowa Dept. of Education and the DEs noneducator Director resulting in taking away local control from AEA Boards and school district elected Boards of Education. This drastic proposed dismantling of an education support system (AEAs) for the 2425 school year is too rushed. Rural school districts will struggle to fund and hire the specialized professionals that AEAs provide.
02-20-2024
Patricia S. Timmens [none]
CON
Please end this bill. Please do not use unreliable information to make decisions. Our AEAs do good things and we want them just the way they are. Thank you.
02-20-2024
Jeanne Cornick []
CON
I do not understand why the state is trying to hurt children by decreasing or eliminating services like mental health and special education for the children of Iowa. This is very concerning to me and I really don't understand the reason for this. I would hope that the lawmakers are listening to education experts and parents but instead I'm afraid this is just another program that someone else is going to profit from. Children are the future and it is mind boggling to me that special interests and out of state groups are making decision on our behalf about the best way to educate, protect and support our youth. I believe it is time for the lawmakers to start working together!!!! Stop giving special interests and the Govenor's agenda a rubber stamp to anything and everything that they/her come up with!!! Start behaving like adults and do your work and representing the people!!!
02-20-2024
Dustin Gean []
CON
Please note no. This is rushed and not well thought out. Our AEAs are precious to us.
02-20-2024
Mandy Arkfeld [Iowa Constituent]
CON
As a resident and constituent in Iowa, as well as a parent of public school students, I am opposed to any bill that limits our AEA system. I appreciate that the House is listening to stakeholders and has amended the original bill, but I still cannot support this current amendment as it shifts funding away from AEAs for media and ed services. I am THRILLED to hear that special education services will stay with the AEA, but want to see media and ed services stay with the AEA, too. Please remember, Iowans are NOT asking for these changes. I believe the strong response from all over the state should tell you that the current AEA system is beloved and valued. Improvements to our current AEA system are always welcomed, but an overhaul (and ultimate elimination) is not. Please slow down and take time to study what those improvements could involve before taking action that cannot be undone. Please vote NO to this bill. We do not want these changes in Iowa.
02-20-2024
Cheryl [Voter]
CON
Please slow this down and due a comprehensive review with all parties at the table! I believe this bill will do more harm than good! Our children deserve ALL AEA services! I know as a parent and educator that my children have benefited and the children I have taught have benefited! I also know all the help and supports I received as an educator that are so incredibly helpful when performing my job!
02-20-2024
Kim Baldwin []
CON
Good Afternoon,As set her today on my lunch break I have some many things I would like to share regarding the AEAs in Iowa. First a little on how our family has benefited from the AEA services of the Grantwood and Heartland AEA. My husband and I have been foster parents to 7 children, adopting our daughter in 2008. Some of these children received services from the Grantwood (GWAEA). Our daughter has severe mental health issues that began in kindergarten and have progressed over the years. She has been placed in a Pediatric Medical Institution for Children (PMIC) facility in Des Moines twice. While at Orchard Place they were able to get her an extensive 504 plan with the assistance of the Heartland AEA. Once she came back home the Grantwood AEA was able to assist us in getting her an IEP that included a modified/adapted schedule, task/work system, break system and much more. Our daughter is about to turn 17 but she has a comprehension level of a 10 year old and a coping skill level of a 25 year old. Without the IEP she can't function in school.I have used GWAEA to take courses to get my paraeducator certification and my substitute certification. After working 5 years as a paraeducator at the school level I accepted a position as a Speech Language Pathologist Associate with GWAEA. I currently service 7 schools in 6 different districts helping children with their speech. I average 30 children a day.Second I don't understand how these changes will benefit our students. Our AEA system provides so much to our students, teachers and school districts. Our school districts are struggling to hire and retain teachers. How does this bill support these new teachers? With this bill we are telling new teachers that we want you but we are not going to support you in your career. Lastly this not about me having a job, I can always go back to being a paraeducator at the school level. This is what is best for my daughter, ALL of our students no matter what level they are at in their learning, our teachers and our future.I would like to thank you for your time and the time you are taking away from your families. I am begging you to vote NO to dismantling our AEA system.Kim Baldwin Cedar Rapids
02-20-2024
Carol Leech [retired citizen]
CON
Stop the cuts for the critical services for our kids provided by the AEA's. These services are important and needed in so many ways. Do not destroy something that is working and needed for our Iowa children.
02-20-2024
Tina Fulton []
CON
As a recently retired teacher, I can tell you from firsthand experience that the AEAs are a valuable and vital resource for educators, children and families. Completely overhauling them as the governor is suggesting would be doing a grave injustice to those who use, rely on and benefit from their many services. Leave the AEAs alone!
02-20-2024
Julie King [personal]
CON
Please vote "no" to this bill. While changes have been made from the initial legislation, the bill is still not written with a clear understanding of the impact, both intended and unintended to the educational system in the state. The majority of you were placed in your positions by those of us in rural Iowa, and we would never have imagined that you would listen to your colleagues in the urban areas as opposed to your constituents. No one in the general public is asking for this or supporting it. If this bill proceeds it will solidify the idea that Iowa is no longer operating as a democracy.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [retired teacher]
CON
I believe this bill has been rushed and is a danger to not only our special ed students but to all staff and students. Rural districts rely on all these AEA services that supply resources to all students and staff. Curriculum resources, mental health services, ordering supplies, all of this help meet our needs and help with the budgeting of such items. Please read the Des Moines Register's Sunday editorial. DO NOTHING with the bill and take the next year to really research and collect data to see if and where there are needed changes. Also read the article from the Breeding Heartland about where the governor received her information. NOt even from IOWA. Vote no/con on this bill.
02-20-2024
Carol Frye []
CON
As a parent, I saw the value of the AEA direct speech therapy our child received, starting before the age of three. Without this service she would have struggled, been labeled, and most likely bullied. Instead, she learned to speak and gained the confidence to become a successful person.As a school librarian, I saw the value of the AEA media services daily. These services supported the curriculum and provided invaluable resources for staff and students. Our budget could not have afforded such services on its own.
02-20-2024
Gina Trimble [Independence Community School District]
CON
I respectfully ask that you slow down. I have no issue with doing a comprehensive review of the AEAs but trying to ram this bill through without thoroughly vetting it is a mistake. It appears you are receiving information from uninformed or less informed sources.Also, please separate the teacher pay bill from the AEA bill.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
This is a horrible bill and I am deeply upset this is even being considered.
02-20-2024
Jill Majeres []
CON
Any changes to the AEA should only be done after a thorough review that includes talking to schools, parents, teachers and current AEA employees. It seems to me that the AEA provides a lot more services than the people suggesting this legislation took into consideration. I'm especially concerned about a family with a child that needs lots of services that lives in a rural setting. I think that child will not be helped at all with these current bills/amendments. Please vote no to any changes and then do a comprehensive study with stakeholders involved. There is a high level of risk that changes now will inflict permanent hard to a good system.
02-20-2024
Patrick Silvey [Southeast Polk Community School District]
CON
As a general education teacher in Iowa (I've taught high school math for 8 years), I am extremely worried about how HF 2612 will negatively impact not only students in need of special education services, but all students in school districts throughout the state. I have worked with special education students and teachers throughout my career, and I have also utilized the AEA's services on behalf of my students (in the form of special education services and general educational consultant services) and on behalf of myself (in the form of professional development). Department of Education oversight of special education and AEA provided professional development is likely to make the services themselves less reliable and less efficient for teachers and districts. Moreover, the "fee for service" plan will create inequity between small and large districts, and will ultimately make the AEA's (or alternative services) more costly for districts.Why are these dramatic changes being forced on our education system so quickly? Are we certain there is really a problem? Have we gathered reliable, standardized, quantified data that suggests these changes will actually benefit students? I work with hundreds of students, educators, and administrators dailyI haven't spoken to a single stakeholder who supports the governor's bill, this bill, or the Iowa senate's bill. We are aware that the system isn't perfect, and are supportive of thoughtful, researchbased measures to improve it (especially if they can be applied incrementally). But the passage of this bill, as written, will have serious effects on the state of the education system in Iowa. When those effects become realized, Iowans will know that it isn't the teachers or the AEA's that are to blame. Please reject this bill and consider writing one that puts our students first.Thank you,Patrick Silvey
02-20-2024
Stacy Behmer []
CON
Listen to the voters who are speaking out about this legislation. Yes, some of the same services will be out there, but the integrated model and crosscollaboration among the AEA system will not. Having special education, general education, and media/tech services all being integrated as needed to support districts at any time is what brings value to educators, students, and families. Losing local control and the customization of services will not support our learners. Work with stakeholders to identify areas to improve rather than dismantling a system that will have unintended consequences.
02-20-2024
Peter [Reiter]
CON
I believe that our AEAs provide essential support for all our schools. The current proposal appears to me to be unnecessary, not better for our schools and students. I am concerned there is more emphasis on diverting tax funds from education than creating value. I also think the legislature should stop the rush, create a study group and evaluate if ANY changes truly benefit students and schools.
02-20-2024
Kim Wesbrook []
CON
I am against this bill (HF 2612) as I believe it will be seriously detrimental to the quality of education for all students grades K12 in Iowa. The Area Education Agencies are currently efficient and effective and are an asset to teachers, students, administrators and parents.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Retired]
CON
As a 40year veteran of teaching in Iowa, I ask that you reject the AEA changes and bury it! AEAs are valuable resources to all children and educators in this state. Having been on committees to build these agencies, it has taken many years to have these coop experts with great background experiences ! Do not mess with something that is working well for children, parents, educators and elected representatives. This is nothing but a petty power grab by the governor and Republican Party..follow their money greed. Thank you in advance for your consideration and a vote against this bill! Show us that you care and know that we can vote..
02-20-2024
Shelly Gentry [Parenthood]
CON
I am writing as a concerned parent who is vehemently opposed to proposed cuts to Iowas AEAs. This bill is poorly thought out. It would do terrible damage to our kids, especially in rural districts who cant afford to pay for their own services. IF the AEAs need reorganized or changed, we need all pertinent parties at the table parents, teachers, AEA staff members, and school representatives.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Great Prairie AEA]
CON
While the issues with this bill are many and nuanced, I highly oppose passing the bill in any form during this session. This bill will be a monumental shift in the education of Iowa students, and to approve passing it without due course of study on AEA process & policy, as well as impact in public schools, would be haphazard at best. Please do not risk the education of Iowa students over political reasons, no matter what they are; this bill can be done well and appropriately but not without the time it takes to adequately check the statistics and true progress of our students. Please, please, reconsider passing a bill this term so we can do right by our kids.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Northwest AEA]
CON
To vote on anything except a comprehensive study is irresponsible. To dismantle a system that has worked for 50 years, providing equitable, efficient, scalable services, because our Governor has to have a win is unconscionable. Please be responsible, let a team of invested citizens work with each other to come to a thoughtful solution.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please listen to the variety of stakeholders who have voiced their concern over this bill. What I hear them saying is that AEA's are not afraid to take a deep dive into how they operate, what they are scared of are hasty decisions being made about vital services and supports to our students. Vote NO to this bill.
02-20-2024
Vickie Shipley []
CON
Please do not make such drastic cuts to AEA services!
02-20-2024
Brenda Mennen []
CON
Allow me to address House File 2612. To begin, I am grateful for this opportunity to address this proposed bill. I do recognize your efforts to hear from the citizens of Iowa.However, after reading through the amendments you have offered to improve this legislation, it seems to me you have not gone far enough. There are still improvements that need to done. I ask you return and revise and improve upon the work presented in House File 2612.I have several points so please bear with me. First, please consider the impact on students this legislation could have. You are putting at risk that many services, now offered by the AEA, will not be available or attainable to tens of thousands of kids across the state. Seriously, as an educator, I have seen the benefits speech therapy or a special education consultant can provide. Those are examples and there are many, many more I could offer you. Social workers who come and support our schools when kids have experienced trauma. For example, a dozen or so years ago, one of my students drowned in the Mississippi River. The AEA provided our students and staff support in the days that followed. I have sat in thousands of staffings/meetings with AEA professionals who sought to recommend accommodations for students. They were knowledgeable and helpful and offered support for students and teachers. I ask you: why are we changing a system that supports so many? A system most are proud of and satisfied with their efforts. If your answer is that the NAEP assessment scores were low. I can tell you that I personally witnessed a handful of kids take those assessments each year. Not one time did the entire student body take that assessment. It was a small percentage of students. As such, they were not even used in our schools to inform teachers as to what instruction we needed to focus on. We had other assessments for that. My point is so few kids take the NAEP that to most educators, we are wondering why that assessment would be used as the reason we need to destroy our AEA system. It does not make sense.Another point I ask you to consider is to continue to fund AEA general education services and Media services. As of now, it appears you have cut funding and the funding you are allowing can be taken and used for other services. Again, that is going to force administrators to choose the services they feel their building needs yet not enough funding to assure that every service needed could be offered to students. This will have a direct impact on kids. Please do not cut the funding to these services. Please do not eliminate opportunities for kids to experience the support they need.Finally, why are you allowing the Department of Education to determine or approve what services a district can obtain? Why does the Department of Education need to oversee services? Why take away local control? If you must restructure or make changes, then please include stakeholders. Take your time. Take the next year and examine how we can best serve kids and schools. And lastly, ask yourself, is there a better way to handle this that would not disrupt the lives of so many? Dont put services at risk. So many of those services that could be at jeopardy, are vital to the lives of the students who need them. They are vital to their future. Do not rush this decision. Please reevaluate if there is a better way.
02-20-2024
Mary Mason [General Public]
CON
AEA's provide crucial services to the students they serve through the personal relationships they have developed. I question the consolidation and cutting of services without the input of the Iowa citizens most affected by this bill. A mother of a student served said she's less concerned if he scores a few points higher on a test compared to a person in another state, than if he is happy and successful in life. Calling AEA services anything close to "failing" is an excuse for Governor Reynolds primary focus, saving money and who this bill actually and truly benefits.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Iowa had always been known for its forwardthinking and excellent standards of education. Why would the legislation even consider cutting mental health and education? We need it now more than ever. Instead of encouraging the proliferation of guns or arming teachers (!), I think more resources should be devoted to identifying and helping troubled students.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Retired teacher]
CON
I am opposed to HF 2612. The origin of the bill is unclear and utilizing a company outside the state of Iowa, unfamiliar with the AEA was inappropriate as the stakeholders of Iowa and the AEA were not involved in writing the bill. The haste in proceeding with this bill is curious. The services of the AEA should be reviewed by those knowledgeable in the needs of the public school system from which recommendations could be made and then enacted upon. I came to teaching later in life and when I was actually in the school system, I realized how little I knew about the operation of public schools previously and I think this would be true for most people looking in from the outside. AEAs provide many important services, one of which is special education, but the AEAs reach goes far beyond that and I utilized them in many ways. A few examples. I had a blind student and the AEA was skilled in helping me prepare for him. I taught FCS, the AEA helped this student be successful in my cooking and sewing labs. I used their media services every year as my school could not fulfill my needs. The AEAs offer so many other services at a much lower cost than a school system could carry out on their own.I heard Pat Grassley this morning on WHO conveying that the AEAs needed to be more transparent and have better oversight (which I don't agree with). I think the same could be said for how this bill came into existence with little transparency and oversight. Please take a good amount of time and utilize Iowa stakeholders to determine the best course of action for the AEAs to best serve the students, teachers and public school systems in Iowa.
02-20-2024
Susan Langan [Nons]
CON
Please vote CON on any bills cutting services from the Iowa AEA agencies. You have heard from students, parents, teachers, administrators, school board members and many other very concerned people that these cuts will continue to erode our educational system in Iowa. Please look at the DATA and make a decision that is NOT political, but in the best interest of Iowans.
02-20-2024
Richard Patton []
CON
I am opposed to this bill. I am a retired award winning public school administrator of 37 years.
02-20-2024
Gary Steflik []
CON
I strongly OPPOSE this bill. It was done in far too much haste without proper research and study. It is moving far too fast and there is no way the DOE can set up a new, adequate program in such a short time. This most certainly will NOT be in the best interest of Iowa students. Please stop this bill and replace it with a bill to create an independent, nonpartisan task force that includes all affected parties at the table and is also equitable in numbers (Democrat & Republican), as opposed to a republicanladen task force. This task force would take the time to properly research and study this issue and make recommendations that can then be considered for any changes.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Cedar Rapids Community Schools]
CON
Stop the cuts to these critical services and financially efficient funds for our kids. The teachers, parents, and communities are valuable! You will pay painfully and dearly for the consequences of lower quality education in the future if you proceed with the unwise cuts. We want smart people in our future. That requires excellence in education now.
02-20-2024
Lance [Iowa Citizen]
CON
The actions the governor and the Iowa Legislature are taking to regulate the AEAs are radical and deceptive. To pay an outofstate consulting agency a large sum to produce data supportive of the governors ultimate plan is again deceptive. If I were the consulting firm, I too would produce information to accommodate the desires of the financier, in hopes of gaining additional revenue from future endeavors. With this being said, I do understand, as do most people, any large agency funded by tax dollars should be evaluated for possible changes to increase efficiencies. However, adjusting the process of an agency so sensitive to the future of our children needs to be looked at very cautiously. History tells us, after changes are determined to be adverse, the damage can be irreparable to those affected and returning valuable practices is time consuming, costly and alters the entire lives of those influenced. Please reverse course on the process of dismembering Iowas Area Education Agencies.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I think this is an essential program for our children. They provide valuable help for our school. Our Teachers and school staff are overloaded anyway with out adding more. The summer programs that the AEA provide are so helpful to the children.
02-20-2024
Whitney Wolf [None]
CON
Please do not change our AEAs! They are vital to our children, schools and communities. Our rural communities will be the ones hit the hardest. Please take the time to learn and study the AEAs and work with the stakeholders to make improvements based on factual data and input from parents, educators and AEA staff. Getting this wrong will be detrimental to our children and communities. Please listen to the vast majority of your constituents who are begging to keep their AEAs intact with all the services they currently provide. Please support and fund education properly instead of all these negative attacks.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
My 4 grandchildren all go to small private schools. If this passes, how would their schools get funding like they currently have for children who need the assistance that the AEA currently provides. One of my grandchildren has a learning disability and the AEA provides assistance for her. No, they dont have the income to get assistance otherwise. The AEA is a godsend for her. Please dont discontinue the much needed assistance for these children!
02-20-2024
Shannon Monson [None]
CON
Dear Representatives,I am asking you to listen to the public and NOT pass this bill. Take the time to conduct a proper review of special education services across our state. Bring Iowa teachers, administrators and AEA staff together to conduct a legitimate study of how to improve services and impact outcomes for our students.
02-20-2024
Kelsey Owens [N/A]
CON
Please stop this bill completely. I am advocating for a taskforce to learn about the intricacies of the AEA system and education (general and special) in Iowa. We must get this right for Iowans and we do not need a bill to have an investigative task force. Thank you for your work up to this point, your willingness to hear the public voice and your continued efforts as we work toward the genuine betterment of Iowas education system.
02-20-2024
Michelle Sanderson []
CON
Dear Representatives,I am asking you to listen to the public and NOT pass this bill.Take the time to conduct aproper review of special education services across our state.Bring Iowa teachers, administrators and AEA staff together to conduct a legitimate study of how to improve services and impact outcomes for our students.Michelle Sanderson
02-20-2024
Anonymous [IRSPA Big 4]
CON
I urge you to vote no on HF 2612 bill. I am a retired high school teacher whose AEA was a valued and essential tool in my classroom instruction and professional growth. The professional education books and journals, and media lending library for the classroom were important assets. The variety of practical education courses taught by the AEA staff experts during the year and in the summers were instrumental in improving instruction for all of my students. I am against the changes advocated in this bill. Please do not cut the mental health services and special needs resources.Thank you for reading my comment with care.
02-20-2024
Lori Lovstad [APEP, CPEAR]
CON
This bill is too important to rush, and too devastating to the most vulnerable in our state. If there are improvements to be made, then be thoughtful and deliberate in them, making sure that no harm is done, first. Really get informed from those who know what is going on, not out of state consultants who have never set foot in Iowa, or biased information from entities who only will profit from dismantling the current system. Shame on the Republicans for once again injecting trauma onto already marginalized communities. Do better.
02-20-2024
Jackie Christerson []
CON
Working and volunteering in the public schools for 20 years, I know how much good the AEA did to support teachers, staff and students. It seems like this legislative body and the Governor are doing all they can to diminish public education in Iowa. Unfortunately, they are succeeding vouchers for private schools, book banning, antiLGBTQ+ bills that harm children. This bill, along with others proposed by the Governor and taken up by the Republican House and Senate, is not good for Iowa or public education.
02-20-2024
Ruth [Retired teacher, parent, grandma]
CON
Do scores that are compared nationally look at growth of students no matter what their label? So many AEA services cant be measured by a score.AEAs should be encouraged to improve and to make all positions are working up to their job description. Reducing the number of agencies simply spreads AEA staff over more miles, increasing mileage and reducing time spent with students, students, teacher and support staff in schools Schools benefit from AEA services. Do not allow schools to use outside sources. AEA personnel understand department of education standards and are available for many more services than hiring agencies unfamiliar with schools.
02-20-2024
Thomas T McGuire [Kossuth County taxpayer]
CON
After reading statistics from the Nation's Report Card's National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the ISASP, and the U.S. Department of Education with ratings of the AEA and the services they provide, I believe we may have some unique reasons for the results. With the declining rural populations and few students, many schools and adjusting to few students. The proposals from Governor Kim Reynolds and HSB 542 only provide more State control by the Iowa Department of Education and reduce the ability of local school districts and parents with the AEAs to provide the best service to our Special Education Students.
02-20-2024
Leona shima [Retired teacher]
CON
AEA services are vital to our regular and special education students! They provide needed services in the most timely cost effective manner! Their services are critically important to our rural schools and communities! Please proceed with great caution! You are affecting our childrens future! I have personally witnessed their impactful support for our kids during my 43 year teaching career!
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Public School Teacher]
CON
I am a lifelong Urbandale and Johnston resident. I am a public school teacher in my 30th year of working with elementary school students in Johnston. During my 30 years I have taught first, second, and third grades. Currently I serve as a master's level reading interventionist with students in kindergarten through fifth grade. I am pleading with you to not allow the cuts to our AEA's! Our job as educators has become increasingly difficult over the past ten years and the supplemental support of our AEA's has been essential in addressing the significant needs of our students. From special education evaluation, enrichment and training in core instruction, and mental health support for our students. This restructuring IS NOT NEEDED! Please leave education alone. Teachers are still recovering from the challenging after effects of Covid on our students and their families. The resources our AEA provides from video production, library materials, specialized curriculum trainers, continuing education and printing costs are what we need to do our job successfully. Pay raises are not why we chose to be educators. I work closely with our AEA specialists when deciding next steps for struggling readers that I intervene with. The specialists' knowledge and guidance as well as the collaboration we conduct regarding data is pivotal in ensuring success for all students. Our AEA specialists and support staff work tirelessly with teachers and students in Johnston. They are valued and essential!Please leave political ambitions and party lines out of classrooms. If you truly care and support Iowa's children will vote no to the AEA cuts. This is a monumental mistake!
02-20-2024
Jodi Milner [Teacher]
CON
Teaching self regulation, ways to work through frustration, and overcoming trauma are all things that teachers cannot do without a trained social worker or therapist. We are not educated to provide mental health services. Social workers through the AEA give us basic skills so that we can help students Until they can get help. They educate teachers about how trauma presents in kids so that we can identify it. Our school lost two students in a car accident. AEA was here for weeks helping us. Supporting not only the students but the staff as well. Weve had students who have been abused, and called AEA to come help. Weve had students have a death in their family and called AEA to come help. Small rural districts do not have access to a lot of mental healthcare providers. AEA not only helped in the moment, but they helped set up a resources that families could access even in Rural locations. We need them if you dont understand why, you need to spend some time in a school!.
02-20-2024
Kaycee Schippers []
CON
PLEASE DO NOT CUT IOWAS AEAs!! No changes should be made to our AEA system without working directly with ALL OF the stakeholders!! My son was almost 6 weeks premature when he was born. heartland ARA followed him for the first two years of his life to make sure that he was on target developmentally. Thank goodness we didnt have developmental issues, but I cannot imagine navigating that world without the help of experienced employees of Heartland AEA!! Our AEAs provide critical services to all of our public schools and families. Giving money directly to the school districts is not going to provide the same level of services and value that our public schools receive now. PLEASE LISTEN TO IOWANS!! We see what you are trying to do to our public schools and we will not stand for it.
02-20-2024
Miranda Galvin [parent and special education teacher]
CON
As a special education teacher and parent of two children, please stop the billcutting services to our students through AEAs in the state. Improvements to AEAs can be done in a professional manner that does not hurt our students and their access to resources general education and beyond, mental health services and special education supports.
Attachment
02-20-2024
June Morgan [Educator]
CON
Please stop this bill. The education of our students is at risk. The AEAs not only help our Special Ed students but all students, the teachers, and administrators to help students succeed.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [AAUW]
CON
I strongly oppose taking local control away from the public school.
02-20-2024
Bridgette Jackson [PUBLIC SCHOOL]
CON
The bill to change the AEA is not in the best interest of the Special education population or the best interest of the general education population. Our AEA does a lot to help both sides of our population. They have worked with teachers on Math interventions, Reading interventions, and writing interventions to help students gain proficiency before they get to the point of needing services. To say that one side of our population only deserves their help is not a wise choice. We use our AEA and their services for so much more than just our IEPs and Special Education Students. If anything the AEA needs to have more resources, but our schools need them in the most unrestrictive circumstances. They need to be able to help ALL students.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Denver Cyclone Booster Club]
CON
This bill and its amendments should be opposed until further studies can be completed. The AEAs support Iowa schools in providing vital services to students served in the special education setting. The individuals providing these services have a close working relationship with the districts they serve. They know the students, their needs, and best practices for supporting the teaching staff. If a study were to truly show that there is a true problem, we should be offering resources to fix it not taking it away and redirecting money into more private sectors.
02-20-2024
Megan Ault [Northwest Area Education Agency]
CON
At its core, this bill is still detrimental for all of Iowa's students. It would take away local control and centralize it in Des Moines. It removes valuable and necessary supports for students, educators, and AEA professionals. It takes away control of funding, again going to Des Moines, and replaces services that have always been provided with flow through dollars for fee for service. When you look at the "fair market value" of these services through private companies, you will realize how expensive educational services truly are and how much the state saves with area education agencies that are able to utilize their economy of scale. This bill will destroy education in Iowa public, private, general education, and special education. I implore you to strongly consider listening to Iowa citizens that unilaterally oppose this legislation.
02-20-2024
Jane Kennedy [Retired Teacher]
CON
I urge you to vote no on HF 2612. AEAs provide multiple layers and types of support to Iowa's children and must continue to have the funding they have had until now. When I taught, I frequently used the AEAs to help me be a stronger, more effective teacher with better resources. I asked for advice from the consultants; I ordered materials from the media services; I attended professional development courses for many years and added networking meetings when I taught English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). The services needed from AEAs go far beyond just special education services. Iowa's schools depend on the resources and expertise currently provided by the AEAs. Please do not pass HF262, this constituent is against it, and the teachers and retired teachers I have spoken with are also against it.
02-20-2024
ZoAnn Beat [Retired Teacher]
CON
Please do not change anything about our AEA. I used their services all the time when I was teaching, and it wi have been very difficult to have done it all on my own. They are a wealth of information that teachers use daily in their classrooms.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Vote "NO" to cuts to the AEA's and special education programs.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
This bill is not in the best interests of students, their parents or the public. Certainly it would be advisable to spend some time to assess where AEA is, how they are structured and truly how the students are being served. That takes time but the goal is always what is best for the students!!
02-20-2024
Amy A. Benson [Northwest AEA]
CON
This bill is detrimental to the success of all our students in all of our districts as the DE is not prepared or equipped to meet the needs in NW IA let alone the state. If teachers do not have our training and coaching support, more will leave the profession. All of this hurts our future generation.
02-20-2024
Phillip DeMoss [None]
CON
Vote no! Kims fabricated lies about AEA performance are obviously not the issue. Kim is attempting to steal public money and services from our most vulnerable Iowa Citizens, our children with disabilities. Kim and her lobbyist supporters of this bill, from outside the state of Iowa, states like Florida, Virginia, Vermont do not share our Iowa values. Kim and her rich out of state donor lobbyist class wish to enrich themselves by taking apart the AEA Governor Robert Ray helped create. Kim does not care about Iowa children and neither do her rich of state lobbyists cronies. This bill is a grift and Kim has chosen to be corrupted by influences outside the state of Iowa. When voting on this bill just asks yourselves would you rather live for eternity in heaven with the great humanitarian Robert Ray and our God or burn in hell forever with Kim and her cronies. God is watching the corruption and theft this governor continues to perpetuate. She once again is preying on our Iowa families and our most vulnerable Iowa children. Vote no.
02-20-2024
Teran Buettell []
CON
Thank you, HOUSE, for listening! And making time to hear from stakeholders. The changes you have made to the proposed legislation are a big step in the right direction. But, this process is still moving too quickly. First, it is best practice in any organization to first try to solve problems at the source, rather than completely restructuring the organization. There is no evidence that this has been attempted. Second, the Department of Education has widely been acknowledged by educators and legislators alike as having some serious systemic issues. This does not seem like a good time to take them from approximately 150 employees to 1000s. It seems that it would behoove the state to fix those problems, rather than shift AEA administration to an ineffectual agency. Third, the director of the DOE is a political appointee. This means that, as political leadership in the governors office changes, this person will likely change and implement policies that align with the agenda of said office. The consequence of this instability will be the creation of the AEA and its employees as political pawns. This is unacceptable. The people working to provide supports and services to our education system should not be subject to the whims of politics. Fourth, the director of the DOE does not have even the minimum qualifications to work in an Iowa school, yet she is being tasked with supervision of this massive system. This doesnt make sense on any level. The position should require a background in both general and special education, and a doctoral level degree in education/administration, in addition to an established residency in the state of Iowa of at least five years to establish familiarity with the needs and values of Iowas citizens and a commitment to meeting those needs. Fifth, the elimination of operational sharing will result in the elimination of the very successful pilot program that places mental health therapists in schools to make services more easily accessible to Iowas children. Just this past weekend in Fairfield, Rep. Jeff Shipley (Republican) spoke of the tremendous need for behavioral mental health supports for children in Iowa and said the responsibility for that would likely fall on schools. But, this bill eliminates a program that is addressing that need, at far lesser cost than would be available through medical channels, with much greater convenience to families, and there is another bill on the docket that eliminates socialemotional learning in schools. There is so much to consider. Please propose a task force to examine the issue indepth for a year, but stop at that until the results of that investigation are complete. Then it will be time to propose changes to improve services to children. And, again, thank you for listening.
02-20-2024
Brett Trenkamp []
CON
The current AEA bills lack research and data based solutions that will support the goal of improving academic performance. The proposed bills alone will not bring change to improve student learning outcomes, but I believe that with more data, research, and collaboration between all parties, we can find ways to make improvements. Please, take the time to find what is working within the AEA system and then focus on specific areas of concerns that need to be addressed with data based solutions. Legislators making such high stakes decisions need to be well informed as their decisions will impact the lives of thousands. The state of Iowa has adamantly shared its fears and concerns with the AEA reform legislation. There are far more voices opposed to this legislation than there are in favor. This has been made obvious by the citizens of Iowa. As an elected official you are responsible for representing your constituents, so please stand up for those that you represent and do what is best for the children of Iowa.
02-20-2024
Jason Trenkamp []
CON
I am in opposition to this bill. What data is being used to support these proposed changes to the AEA system would improve student achievement for students with disabilities? It seems that a comprehensive study is needed in order to ensure changes to the AEA will be in the best interests of all students of Iowa. Changes that impact children should be based on data and research. Please take the time to make changes that are well informed and made with integrity.
02-20-2024
Marcia Hamilton []
CON
CONI do not support this AEA bill. I first want to thank you for slowing down the process of this AEA bill. But second, I need to urgently tell you to vote NO on this bill. This is not the right bill to pass onto the full House. AEA's do so much for particularly rural Iowa. I as a parent of 2 students that I raised in rural Iowa depended on the AEA for valuable speech services, autism support, and also math experts to help my children in their school experience. The AEA provides so many online services and assistive technology knowledge a d support to my students to use to aid in their school work. The AEA also provided them with some mental health resources and assistive technology which my local district used. But it is more than just services that directly help students in rural communities. The AEA also provides technology support for our district. They would not be able to support current internet needs without the AEA. I want to encourage you again to vote NO on this bill. It does not serve students or citizens of Iowa! Let's let the AEAs work together with legislators, the Governor , other stakeholders and parents to write a bill that will not have consequences for rural schools and their students. Lets take time to study how to improve the current system and not throw the current system to the trash. Thank you for your time. Marcia HamiltonSent from my iPhone
02-20-2024
Jane Rider []
CON
I am totally against revamping the AEA program in our Stste. I have yet to hear any concrete data that supports the need to upend a program that works and is so widely supported by the parents and students alike. Jane Rider
02-20-2024
Victoria Riley [141523]
CON
I oppose HF2612 because decreasing the funding Area Education Agencies know they will receive creates a roadblock to them being able to hire adequate staff that will stay with the AEA long term. I moved to rural Iowa in 1996 with a severely impaired 5yearold, after leaving the services of a large metro area in Michigan. It was reassuring to learn that the AEA had staff to provide all the services my son needed. Leaving parents of special needs children wondering if their child will have the services he needs, providing a disincentive to moving to Iowa. Implenting HF2612 is NOT in the best interests of Iowa.
02-20-2024
Jesse Butler []
CON
Please take the time to to thoroughly study this and consider the repercussions. Future generations are too important to move hastily on this decision.
02-20-2024
Barbara Krieger []
CON
I do not support this bill. I would like to see a process where all stakeholders sit and review the AEA's before there are wide spread changes done by the legislature. AEA's have been accredited and removing local oversight and giving it to the BOEE is not not a solution.
02-20-2024
Sue Slavens []
CON
Please STOP HF 2612 completely.Do a STUDY, which NO BILL is needed for, and get this RIGHT so Iowa children are not harmed.IOWANS elect their LEGISLATORS as their VOICE on legislation and TRUST them to make wellstudied decisions and not rushed, especially when it involves our childrens education and services.Please DONT let your constituents and residents of Iowa down. None of us will forget how this was handled.This bill will give too much control in Department of Education and Director of DE. Director is not even an educator and not qualified to make decisions compared to our experts.Bill is based on flawed information from Guidepost, an out of state business consulting firm to produce a report critical of Iowas AEAs. No documentation that a single Iowan was involved in the report.HF 2612 breaks up an integrated model that without will leave Iowa children with delays and gaps.AEAs cannot staff a broken up system during the school year. This leaves our children without services. Lower quality or out of state telehealth services are never as good as our own Iowa AEA professionals. We dont want to lose these valuable professionals in the process.Thank you for considering my concerns for the our most valuable asset, OUR CHILDREN.Respectfully,Sue SlavensBettendorf, Iowa
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
The current AEA system is efficient, effective, and equitable. Nothing in this bill improves what we currently have in place. These changes will have a devastating impact on education in Iowa, and on rural schools in particular.
02-20-2024
William Pattee [N/A]
CON
I am a taxpayer living in rural Iowa and I am concerned about how my small school district will be able to provide these services to students if this bill moves forward. If the current funding model for services through the AEA is changed it is going to wreck the economies of scale the AEAs currently achieve for ALL districts.The original drive for a change was supposed to be better support of students with disabilities. It is unclear how this legislation is going to achieve that. Instead, it appears to me, that this legislation is really about money and control. While school districts might get to decide how to use some of the funding, if a district wants to partner with an AEA for media, technology or ed services, the Department of Education has the final say on if an AEA is allowed to provide those services. This is not local districts choosing how to spend their funds.It is clear that there are more problems with this legislation than there are answers. This bill should be stopped and the process slowed down. If students with disabilities and special education are really the catalyst for change, then Iowa can't afford to get this wrong.
02-20-2024
Julie Stevens [Retired teacher]
CON
As a retired teacher, parent, and grandparent, I respectfully ask you to vote con on the AEA bill. The services that our AEAs provide is invaluable. They cannot be duplicated.
02-20-2024
Garry S Klein [Iowa CCI]
CON
The original drive behind this legislation is purportedly to better support students with disabilities. It is unclear how any of these changes will improve outcomes and close gaps for students with disabilities or address federal compliance concerns. We need to slow down this process. Districts cannot plan for the upcoming school year, set their budgets, hire staff and make decisions about how to work with this new AEA system in the next four months. This bill devalues local control. While districts get to decide how to use the special education and education services funding, the Iowa Department of Education ultimately makes the decision if districts can contract with the AEA for those services and what those services can be. The district doesnt really have a choice.This bill transfers, in an unprecedented way, decision making power from locally elected boards, and locally hired administrative staff to the Director of the Department of Education 133 times. This does not include the decisionmaking now given to the new executive director who is not hired by a local AEA board and serves, with no protections, at the pleasure of the Director of the Department of Education. The wording of the amendment places a tremendous amount of control in the hands of the Department of Education. see subbullet aboveAdditionally, AEA budgets are no longer subject to open meetings, like all other public entities, but are approved by the Director of the Iowa Department of Education.The elimination of media services removes $32 million of funding from local districts and accredited nonpublic school budgets. Districts and accredited nonpublic partners will have to use general funds to replace it.The Governor had 10 days to listen to input, both to her office and all Iowa Legislators, from tens of thousands of Iowans, school district administrators and staff, AEA staff and administrators, accredited nonpublic partners and local and AEA board members who are almost unanimously opposed to nearly every provision of this bill to basically send an almost identical version of this bill back to the house and senate.
02-20-2024
Amanda McMartin [Concerned citizen ]
CON
Do not move forward with this bill, it would be a disservice to our students and educators. If there are concerns then address them with stakeholders, legislation does not need to be included.
02-20-2024
Vicky Brenner [Retired Teacher & Community Advocate]
CON
CONI urge you to vote NO on this AEA legislation that threatens to undermine how education services are delivered and funded. As a retired public school educator, I know firsthand how effective our AEAs are. Children and families will be dramatically and negatively affected. The majority of Iowans on both sides of the aisle have not asked for this and are not in favor of it.
02-20-2024
Jennifer Lorence []
CON
I am adamantly opposed to this legislation. Please do NOT pass any bills changing anything about the AEAs without a fair and thorough nonpartisan investigation of special education and AEA services in Iowa. Our children are too important to get this wrong!
02-20-2024
Cindy Thompson []
CON
I am reaching out to share my concerns with the AEA reform. The current AEA bills lack research and data based solutions that will support the goal of improving academic performance. The proposed bills alone will not bring change to improve student learning outcomes, but I believe that with more data, research, and collaboration between all parties, we can find ways to make improvements. Please, take the time to find what is working within the AEA system and then focus on specific areas of concerns that need to be addressed with data based solutions.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
As a former teacher and district literacy facilitator, I know how essential the AEA services are for teachers and students. Cutting, eliminating, and outsourcing AEA services is not going to provide Iowa students with the supports they need to be the active learners and successful students and citizens Iowa needs.
02-20-2024
Patsy Martinson [N/a]
CON
I urge all of you to vote NO on any bills or amendments that will change our AEAs, including House File 2612.Thanks. Leave AEA alone.
02-20-2024
Becky Nardy [Grandparent]
CON
Rural schools need the AEAs to continue providing quality education to all students. Equity in the media, services, specialists,and expertise will be greatly diminished if this bill passes. Parents, teachers, and school administrators who value the quality of education in all areas of Iowa have spoken up against these AEA bills. Please listen to Iowans about what education in Iowa needs and do not listen to suspect studies done from outside Iowa that failed to include the local stakeholders. Please vote no. These changes will hurt my grandchildren in three rural Iowa school districts. Listen to your voters who have come out in droves against this and the previous bills about the AEA.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
All students need access to these benefits. They help those who need the help that would otherwise not have access to it. Please keep all the programs that AEA provides.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Parent ]
CON
The AEA serves all children of Iowa with equitable services. Protect all services that the AEA offers and end this bill.
02-20-2024
Edward J Anthony [Concerned parent]
CON
As a parent with a daughter who works in the public schools as a school psychologist, I get to hear the incredible challenges she faces dealing with a broad range of mental, physical and socioeconomic factors that are present in our schools. More than one of the students she works with has come to depend on her positive feedback, encouragement and extensive training through her PhD work, which come together to reach and grow children that otherwise would fall by the wayside.Further she does all this at a near poverty level compensation because she loves what she does and cares deeply for her students. Removing funding for the Iowa AEA and leaving it up to individual schools can and will result in reduced or eliminated services to the students that need it most. These children are our future leaders and workers. As I compare what I experience in school to what my children experienced in school and now what my daughter shares is the current state of public education, I am appalled and ashamed how bad things have become. I moved my family to Iowa over 20 years ago specifically due to the excellent education opportunities. Today, we are on the other end of the spectrum. Defunding the AEA will completely separate the haves from the have nots and our future generations will pay the price. I implore you to think before you act. This move is poorly conceived and politically motivated. Our children and their children deserve better from us.
02-20-2024
Kim [MacLin]
CON
Devastating for Iowa children and families. Embarrassing that this is even proposed. Listen to educators. Listen to families.
02-20-2024
Robert Janisch []
CON
This bill has the potential to bring harm to the children of Iowa. Iowans have indicated in many different formats that they are against this. It isn't even something that Iowans have indicated there are problems. The bills have talked about local control, but in reality is is centralized control with DE being in control of most decisions. Iowans have also said that this is not something they want. This needs to stop! Listen to the voices of Iowa people!!
02-20-2024
Pennie Tesch []
CON
I do not support this bill as written. I support forming a task force of stakeholders and experts from Iowa to obtain data and information about any changes that may need to be made to the AEA system. I do not support school districts having a choice of special education providers. It will be a staffing nightmare for all districts and AEAs when there is already an established system of providers in place. Also blanket cuts to "administration" positions needs further study because those positions are vital. I fear most school districts are seeing dollar signs of money flowing into their districts without fully understanding what it will cost to get these services up and running and at the end of the day none of these things proposed in this bill will really help students succeed!
02-20-2024
Margie Butler []
CON
This bill will hurt rural districts. More thought and time should be put into something this important.
02-20-2024
Gina Walter-Dunn []
CON
The AEA serves all children of Iowa with equitable services. Protect all services that the AEA offers and end this bill.
02-20-2024
Owen Johnson []
CON
The AEA system provides a variety of services as well as a great deal of cost synergies. Cuts to AEA programs will reduce the quality of of education and increase expenditure at each member school.
02-20-2024
Betty Stiefel [retired speech/language pathologist]
CON
Please conduct a comprehensive review of Iowa's AEAs with Iowan's, NOT Virginia Guidehouse. The Guidehouse report is flawed in many ways. Example: it refers to special education students and "normal" students. No educator worth his/her salt would use "normal" to describe any student.I'm a retired speech/language pathologist. I worked for GWAEA for 38 years. I'd like to mention the stellar professional development I participated in. In particular GWAEA brought in Edythe Strand, a leading expert on Childhood Apraxia of Speech. I used evidencebased strategies she taught us to help a completely several unintellibible preschoolers to become an articulate speakers in a shorter period of time than the strategies I learned in graduate school.
02-20-2024
Kristen Anderson
CON
This bill will cause harm to the most vulnerable kids. Stop trying to give corporate handouts and destroy our public institutions.
02-20-2024
Terese Grant [League of Women Voters of Iowa]
CON
In Iowa the AEAs have provided services to our schools, teachers, students, as well as special need students for many years. HSB 713 is an improvement over other bills, but is proposing many changes that would not benefit students and teachers who rely on these services. The AEA system has been so successful that the changes being proposed are simply not necessary. Iowans value the AEAs and do not want to see any reduction in services. HSB 713 is not necessary and should receive NO votes.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [A concerned citizen who has used AEAs since the 1980's]
CON
As a concerned citizen who has used AEAs since the 1980's for my daughter and granddaughters and have two grandsons who have autism who enjoy the services provided by the AEA in Cedar Rapids, it should not be changed at all! The services they provide are invaluable and vital to the student health of all the students in Iowa. My grandsons are highfuncting autistic, however, they would be pass over and over looked and under served if it were not for the local AEA in Cedar Rapids. I do not support ANY changes to Iowa's AEA unless it was to add more funding to their programs.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Taxpayer]
CON
Stop this bill. Study the state of education in Iowa with a Task Force. Without a thoughtful definition of what needs to be fixed, any solution is a shot in the dark and our education system in Iowa deserves better. Be known for reflective problem solving, rather than hastily supporting change based on a vague problem primarily determined by nonIowans and based on sketchy data.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please do not make changes to the AEAs. We are happy with the way services work now for our disabled daughter. These changes are extremely unpopular and your job is to represent the people. You are not representing the people of Iowa if you vote for this bill.
02-20-2024
Jennifer Johnson [N/A]
CON
Please vote no on this bill. Things continue to move at a very quick pace for the complexity of the system changes proposed and the signficant impact it will have on educators, support staff, families and children across the entire state. Please SLOW down. The responsibilty you hold as legislators is important. Please trust the educators, parents and experts who have weighed in with their concerns. A comprehensive study is important to our education system before anythign is voted on that will impact thousands.
02-20-2024
Kylie Butler []
CON
AEAs play a crucial role in ensuring access to highly trained professionals and equitable services across all school districts, especially in rural areas.Centralizing decisionmaking power to the Department of Education would undoubtedly slow responsiveness to the needs of Iowa students, families, and schools.Transitioning media and educational services to a payperservice model would hinder the efficient delivery of resources and professional development, potentially leaving many districts underserved.I urge you to conduct a comprehensive study of the AEA system with input from local stakeholders before proposing any changes.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [AEA]
CON
Many of the schools I serve are 20+ miles apart. As a consultant many times I serve as a liaison between schools and families. If I have a question or problem that needs to be solved I can reach out to my director. When evaluating this system, please consider if these changes are made and all of this is moved to Des Moines, problems wont be resolved as they are now, and families wont have the one on one care that they have now. I work closely with OTs, PTs, speech/language pathologists, behavior specialists, directors, and so many more to provide the services to help make these students successful. When I was a special education teacher I relied heavily on these services. I knew they were a phone call or email away. I was able to integrate resources from the AEA online library so my students could access gradelevel content. My students graduated by making gains on their IEP goals, many have opened businesses, attended college, have families, and are purchasing homes. As a previous special education teacher, I couldnt have done it without this support! Rural areas, like ours, heavily rely on the specialized services offered by AEAs. The unique challenges faced by these districts necessitate the tailored support that AEAs provide, and any reduction in their services could have severe consequences for our students. It is essential to recognize that AEAs play a vital role in bridging gaps and ensuring that every student, regardless of location, receives a highquality education. I want to draw your attention to the potential impact on employment as well. If AEAs were to close, a pool of specialists would become unemployed, potentially leading to a competitive hiring market that might disadvantage smaller schools, such as ours, in attracting qualified professionals. This could result in challenges for several districts in providing the same level of quality education to all students. Districts also cant afford to provide the level of professional development that Area Education Agencies provide. From the beginning of becoming a teacher until now, AEA is the place where I can obtain all of my mandatory training as well as extended training. This training isnt just online or training that is passed through quickly, it is quality training that we are proud of. It is also a system that warehouses educators' training and keeps track of what has been taken and what needs to be taken. Moreover, funding reductions over the last 15 years, and particularly last year, have already strained the capacity of AEAs to maintain their critical services. The continuous reduction in funding puts us at a tipping point where the quality of services to children may be compromised. It is crucial to understand that further cuts could significantly impact the ability of AEAs to meet the diverse needs of students in our district. While I acknowledge the importance of evaluating educational systems and addressing the needs of students with disabilities, I urge you to consider the unique context of rural districts like ours. I believe it is vital for the voices of Iowa school boards, students, and their families to be heard before any legislative action is taken. I am also a professor at Buena Vista University, I want to be proud to continue to encourage individuals to go into education. With these initiatives being sent to our directors ahead of the bills being passed I am afraid for future generations. Our jobs are being advertised on the Department of Education website ahead of the bill being passed. Please take notice of these actions. I appreciate your dedication to our community and legislature, and I trust that you will carefully consider the potential consequences of changes to Iowa's AEAs. Our students and their educational wellbeing are of utmost importance, and I believe that, through collaborative efforts, we can ensure a positive and equitable future for education in our district. The students I serve arent my children or your children, but they are the children of the future.
02-20-2024
Mandie Sanderman []
CON
I ask you to listen to what Iowans are overwhelmingly telling you to vote NO on HF2612 and halt any further amendments. It appears as if you are in search of a problem that just does not have the data to prove it even exists. Enter into a year of study of the AEA system and the benefits of this system to the students and teachers of Iowa. Once that year of study is concluded, then determine if a problem exists. Removing local control and putting all authority into one individual the director of the department of education is not in the best interest of Iowa students or teachers. Having to request approval for professional learning from the Dept of Ed in DesMoines insinuates that the school administrators are not aware of their own local needs. Please vote NO.
02-20-2024
Gary Lindsay []
CON
This bill does not serve a need in the state and will hurt education at every level.
02-20-2024
Abbie Keibler [Mississippi Bend AEA / parent]
CON
While I appreciate the improvements this bill notes, it remains an effort to mitigate a disastrous bill from an outside company that never should have been given space. I hope it has become abundantly clear that Iowans are not asking for this. Your constituents are not asking for AEA change. And that should beg the question who is? And why? And who does this support? Certainly not our children in Iowa. I remain in opposition to this bill, as I was the previous iteration. The best bet is to strike this bill entirely and celebrate the great system we have in Iowa. Studies can absolutely happen to increase and improve efficiency. That doesnt require a law. Thank you.
02-20-2024
Kaylan Hobbs []
CON
Oppose this bill. Fee for service will not be beneficial and will especially be harmful to smaller and more rural schools. AEAs provide immediate assistance to schools, and this will NOT be the case if control is given to the Department of Education. This bill will not benefit Iowas children, and there is no proof or data that it will do so in the future. Bills shouldnt be passed just on possibility. This is too important.End this bill and get all key players involved in this discussion. Changes to this system should be influenced by educators, legislators, parents, the AEAs, and school districts. People who KNOW education need and deserve to be involved.Iowans do not want these changes.
02-20-2024
Phillips Peters [none]
CON
Vote NO on any bill that reorganizes the AEAs in Iowa. I taught for almost 30 years in Iowa and relied on the AEAs to provide not only professional development opportunities but also, and more importantly, terrific assistance to students with special needs and their teachers. Any push to privatize or dismantle the current system of AEAs hurts Iowa kids. Why does this legislature want to do so much to gut what was once considered one of the finest education systems in the country? It makes no sense!Keep our AEAs strong and vote NO on House file 2612
02-20-2024
Lindsey V []
CON
This bill, while a narrow improvement on the gover or's original proposal, still would not maintain the federal mandate of FAPE (a free, appropriate, public education) for Iowa's students with special education needs. A feeforservice model removes the current flexibility the AEAs currently have to serve students with equity in a timely manner (especially for social/emotional/behavioral and other timesensitive concerns); it creates problems where they didn't exist before. The attempt to consolidate funding and power with the Department of Education removes local control and could be interpreted as a political move to ensure the school voucher budget is ensured/maintained while continuing to undermine public education across our state, since the DOE will have the final say regarding budget and funding allocation. A bill doesn't need to be passed to develop a task force including all stakeholders to examine the redundancies and shortcomings of the current AEA system. Pause all legislation until the appropriate data has been examined and discussed to protect ALL of Iowa's students; they are the ones that will suffer the detrimental consequences of this bill!
02-20-2024
Christine Schnell []
CON
I am against the bill to change the AEA. This bill is trying to change something that is working well and does not need to be changed. We used the AEA when our daughter was young and it helped us so much. I know it continues to help so many.Our daughter is now a teacher of children with disabilities in the DMPS and the AEA is there for her when she needs them.
02-20-2024
Jean Boger [N/a]
CON
While I am very appreciative of the attempts the House has made to rectify the governors proposal, it is my opinion that no action should be taken at this time. Rather, a study should be commissioned to study the impact of the AEAs and, using data, specify any changes or improvements that can be made to the system. Making any changes without concrete evidence or data is impulsive and risks limiting services to Iowa students.
02-20-2024
Beth Tisher []
CON
We need to take time, identify the needs and gaps, bring the right people together, and build a structure that supports the future of Iowas public school system. The experts exist right here in this state. Lets do a study and use them.
02-20-2024
Bee Weinberg []
CON
This bill will hurt small and rural school districts with it's "cost for specialized services" structure. Furthermore, it removes more local control from school districts; something that is the heart of our Iowa culture. While a review and audit of AEA structure may be worthwhile, this bill will throw the baby out with the bathwater and our most vulnerable schools and students will suffer for it.
02-20-2024
Tamara Nordstrom []
CON
Please just leave the AEA as is. They do tremendous things for children with disabilities and learning challenges. They support the children,the parents and educators.The AEA's are functioning properly. Possibly direct your energy on some of Iowa's more serious problems.
02-20-2024
Don Baxter []
CON
Please take time to study the AEA system before making changes what will impact education in our state. These changes would especially impact services to our rural communities. Please listen and represent your constituents.
02-20-2024
Jennifer Collins [Northwest Area Education Agency]
CON
Educators everywhere agree that mental health needs of students are at an alltime high. They feel illequipped to support students in learning. Socialemotional skills are at the core of what educators are asking for. We cannot address classroom behavior and improve learning environments without teaching SEL and supporting the mental wellbeing of students and staff. Calm classrooms, achievement REQUIRE SEL skills and mental health supports
02-20-2024
Brenda Janisch
CON
Iowans have voiced their concerns since the Governor's Conditions of State address. Consistently the message has been given to slow the process down and develop a task force of stakeholders to look at what is working with the AEA's and what isn't and develop an action plan moving forward. There have been suggestions given, but the push continues to get this done this legislative session. Iowans are not asking for this. Putting the control in the hands of the DE is not what Iowans want. The initial bill talked of local control. None of this points to local control, but centralized control. Listen to the voices of Iowans, but most importantly advocate for the children of Iowa.
02-20-2024
Melinda Partlow []
CON
Please do not advance the AEA bill. The AEA serves all children of Iowa with the most costeffective means. The AEA provides vital service each and every day to students, parents, and educators. Please protect all services that the AEA offers.
02-20-2024
Keyea Fowles [Iowan]
CON
What are we really doing that is helping children? If we want to increase student outcomes we need to support the educators and that includes the AEA staff. Iowa used to believe in education and the AEA's were developed in order to increase efficiency and equity for all students in Iowa. This was ground breaking and seen as cutting edge. Please stop gutting public education and making educators out to be bad and evil. We are trying to do what is best for children! Last week alone, I did 12 home visits with families and worked with all 5 special education teachers in my district to work on increasing student outcomes.
02-20-2024
Jennifer Cline [Educator]
CON
Please do not pass this bill. Before moving forward, meaningful input must be sought from educators, administrators, parents, students, and community members to ensure that their perspectives and concerns are fully understood and addressed. Moving forward at this time would have ramifications for all stakeholders that we will not be able to rectify.
02-20-2024
John Kohlstedt [Retired Guidance Counselor and Teacher]
CON
I am opposed to any changes in the AEA system. The system has provided much needed professional support from educational experts in each field, special education, mental and physical help support through psychologists, social workers, speech therapists etc which have helped small schools and large schools for generations. Their Library system is excellent and provides outstanding technological educational assistance as well as countless professional and educational literary support. I have often explained our AEA system to teachers in other states and they wished they had a system as comprehensive as ours.The ongoing education classes sponsored at AEA through many of our state and private colleges has enable teachers and administrators to complete license requirements, in an inexpensive way.Cutting back funds or adding fees for this well established Iowa institution will deeply hurt the small schools who are definitely facing financial burdens because many of our legislators and our Governor go along with it. I have watched cuts in so many needed social services in this state, that it has definitely hurt our citizens from getting the care or support they need in many areas.Your proposals appear to be similar to the library bills which in my mind are a way to censure our freedom of speech. We need to be a citizenship that is aware and understands the social and economic challenges that face us. Education through reading and coursework is the only way to do that. True and honest looking at our needs and solutions.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Northwest AEA]
CON
Iowas AEAs are a model of efficiency, offering robust professional resources and services to students across the state. This economy of scale means rural and urban area students have the same opportunities for growth and learning.Media and IT resources and services are just two hardtofind services available across the state through AEAs. Many communities do not have access to and cannot afford private specialty consulting services without our AEA offerings.AEAs ensure all students, regardless of location or background, have access to highquality educational opportunities and resources. They bridge the gap between rural and urban schools and support underserved communities. AEAs offer all of Iowas schools the ability to access specialists, equipment, and resources, ensuring equity among large and small schools in urban and rural areas.AEAs offer specialized services not typically available within individual school districts, such as early childhood education, special education, career and technical education, and professional development for specific subject areas.Classroom teachers, education support professionals, and administrators must fill in for the services removed from those provided by our AEAs, specifically in rural areas where contracting out is not an option. That means school employee workloads increase exponentially.
02-20-2024
Patrick Tisher []
CON
As an Iowan whose children went through public school and a law enforcement officer who sees the benefit of education for society, I oppose this bill and encourage you to do a study that includes all the right stakeholders. We need to make the best decision and plan for Iowas children and schools.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Thank you to House members who had the courage to make some adjustments to the original bill. However, this bill in its current form still does not meet what is needed to support the education of all students in Iowa. Please continue to support the development of a task force that is made up of Interested parties, and those that are directly impacted. After those results are determined, then move forward with direct recommendations and plans to further improve the quality of education and Iowa.
02-20-2024
Savannah Stebens [Columbus Community Schools]
CON
No no no no no! AEAs do SO much for Iowa. EVERY student benefits from AEAs. Just today, we met with 3 AEA reps to learn about the science of reading, which is helpful for ALL students. This is a free service provided by the AEA to our school. We analyze data, help students with IEPs, look at our general education systems, work with PBIS, and so so so much more.
02-20-2024
Phil Klein []
CON
To improve our AEAs, we need an independent and thorough study by education professionals and experts in Iowa. For nearly 50 years, Iowas AEAs have provided our students an opportunity to grow and learn. Improving and strengthening Iowas AEAs is something we support but the ideas and approach taken by the Governor and the legislature are foolish and disastrous for Iowa.
02-20-2024
Brea Baxter [ ]
CON
I oppose the proposed changes to Area Education Agencies. The integrated services of Special Education, Media, and Educational Services are crucial in meeting the diverse needs of Iowa learners. The current system offers what it was designed to do, provide efficient and equitable support to all learners in our state. Please do a thorough study and include stakeholder voices before making any changes.
02-20-2024
Megan Brink [Iowa Association of Area Education Agencies doing business as AEA Purchasing]
CON
Greetings!I welcome the opportunity to share the good word about the Iowa Association of Area Education Agencies, from a recipient perspective as an Iowa student, as a proud mom raising children that benefit from AEA services and support and as a professional working for child nutrition program professionals across the great state of Iowa. I have faith in the AEA system and I have faith in our elected officials. Local control is paramount to sustaining local values and accommodating local needs. A task force with stakeholders representing all layers of Iowas education system, most importantly recipients, is a great opportunity to ensure this system remains strong and sustainable. I am against this bill. I am all for opportunities to ensure students are supported in all facets, able to learn without barriers and thrive in Iowa. Thank you!
02-20-2024
Christopher Klostermann []
CON
This bill will reduce services for all students and those that teach them. Families will lose personalized service as local control will be stripped away. There is no basis or need for this law as families, schools, and school districts were not consulted in any way.
02-20-2024
Kathaleen Brown [Retired teacher]
CON
Ive met snd worked with AEA employees in eastern Iowa & central Iowa. Your intentions are misguided. Do not change the direction of the AEA.
02-20-2024
Gayla McLaughlin [Taxpayer ]
CON
Please vote NO!
02-20-2024
Rich Kallsen [teacher/parent]
CON
Please do not change our AEA system. This will hurt all of our schools, especially the rural schools. Thank you.
02-20-2024
Tony McLaughlin [Taxpayer]
CON
Vote NO!!
02-20-2024
Kelly Beck [Central Rivers AEA]
CON
As a parent, community member, school psychologist, and voter, I ask you to vote no on this bill. Iowa schools, especially our rural schools, need the resources provided by the AEA to assist with educating our students. Please listen to our teachers, our school administrators, our parents, and the students who are served by the AEAs. Ask them about the invaluable role the AEAs provide in their work and in their lives.
02-20-2024
Theresa []
CON
Please vote no! AEA is essential in the school. I am a mother of a son who has greatly benefited from all AEA services, and a para professional in the school. AEA personnel work hand in hand with the school personnel. It will be the kids who suffer greatly from all the these hastily changes.
02-20-2024
Teresa Greenwood [Retired from North Polk Schools]
CON
As a retired special education teacher of 40 years, I have seen the AEA play an integral part in the education of both regular education and special education students. The vast resources provided by the AEA for special education students, along with the knowledgeable consultants, psychologists and social workers, are a great aid in guiding special needs students to succeed within the general education classroom. General education students at all levels also benefit from the many resources provided by the AEA. I would plead with you, instead of blindly cutting programs and resources, please step back and do as we as educators have been taught to do: determine the issues, collect evidence, and use the evidence to make well thought out, data driven decisions that will benefit the public school students of Iowa at all levels and not just blindly gut our system, sending it into certain failure.
02-20-2024
Catherine []
CON
The entire AEA system plays an integral role in whats best for our students and educators. Please take time to carefully study the system before dismantling and destroying something that is so important to our childrens educationthey are our future!
02-20-2024
Lisa Berger []
CON
I encourage you to oppose the newest AEA legislation. As a former special education teacher, and current special education consultant for Keystone AEA, I implore you to slow this process down, have a committee of stakeholders, including members of AEA, school districts, parents and students come together and discuss if potential changes are needed. Listen to the many stories of the impact that AEAs have on our most important resource, our children. I could not have made it through my first years as a special education teacher without the consistent support of my AEA core team member.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [None]
CON
I am not in support of this bill. Looking at student achievement is multifaceted and to indicate that one agency is responsible is not appropriate. Many things impact students achievement including instruction, evidence based practices implemented with fidelity, attendance , family support, socialemotional and many other things impact achievement. Students will be negatively impacted across the state. There will be no consistency of practice if a wide variety of agencies are providing supports. I do not support this bill.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please do not remove AEA supports. AEA's do so much for schools. AEA is a great resource for training, media, and library services and online student resources as well.I have had positive experiences with AEA in audiologist support and speech and language support in my own family. Thank you.
02-20-2024
Jerri Hill []
CON
This bill will destroy public education! The AEAs provide training for teachers both online, in the schools, and at the AEA buildings. They provide online services that students use from royalty free music, encyclopedia, mackinvia where students have access to ebooks and audiobooks, and so many more that schools, especially small schools cannot afford for their staff and students otherwise. AEAs provide support for IEPs, speech and language pathologists, experts in all subject areas who are willing to answer any questions or will search to find the answer and resources for teachers. Small school districts like the one I live in cannot afford all of these services on their own. Losing our AEA will devastate so many schools, remove supports and resources for students. These are some of many reasons why I am against this bill.
02-20-2024
Anne E Speer [Parent/voter/educator]
CON
The AEA serves all children of Iowa with equitable services. Protect all services that the AEA offers and end this bill.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Although I appreciate that some improvements have been made since the original legislation was introduced, I still have great concerns with HF 2612 as it continues to impair the AEAs ability to effectively deliver services. The amendments maintain reductions to services that kids and schools depend on without offering any meaningful solutions to the stated rationale of improving achievement for students on IEPs. These changes should not be fasttracked. We need a nonpartisan, comprehensive review of AEAs. A review that includes ALL stakeholders (parents, educators, DE, AEA staff, and representatives of the legislature). Please, slow down this bills progress, seek to understand all of the intricacies of the current system, and make informed decisions that genuinely meet the needs of Iowas children, families, and educators.
02-20-2024
Pam Childers []
CON
This bill is improved, but still restricts educational and media services AEAs provide! please have local experts at the table as further changes are considered.
02-20-2024
Vincent Winkler []
CON
Though this AEA bill was introduced with the idea of improving special education services for students, no aspect of the bill addresses these concerns. There is no metric for progress or improvement, there is no plan to better serve educators or students, there is no system of accountability to show whether the Department of Education is making a positive or negative impact. There is only a plan to remove money from AEAs and move all decisionmaking authority to a single unelected official in the Department of Education one who may alter educational budgets and organizations on a whim despite no connection to Iowa's communities outside the capital, rather than allowing Iowa communities to represent their own interests.
02-20-2024
Kris Ward []
CON
Thank you for reading this. While I appreciate the desire to improve education, changing the AEA system would be a detriment to all students and small schools. I teach at a school in a community of about 3500 residents. It is a great school and enrollment is increasing. Our teachers work hard to provide a quality education on a limited budget. The multimedia materials are essential to many teachers in our district. I personally have requested professional magazines, videos, and books. I have taken many professional education courses through the AEA at minimal cost. I have received training on Project Based Learning, the Flipped Classroom, and collaborated with other teachers in other districts through their platforms. Our district has attended trainings for our emergency response plans. We rely on the AEA to provide counseling services and supports in tragic incidents. The AEA personnel have come to our school on a regular basis to offer trainings as well. I honestly do not know how the district will be able to financially add all the costs into the budget that the AEA so readily provides. Services will be cut to our students and our teachers leaving a real deficit in what can be provided for our students. At New Hampton School District we pride ourselves on the diversity we have within our district through educating a large ELL population and various special needs students (nonvisual, nonverbal, and more). Taking away a teachers ability to ask for assistance in the classroom for these students and making it a perdiam charge will force delays in education because we would then need to wait for approval for those services, which could delay student assistance by a month or longer. Students cannot wait to learn. We MUST maintain the excellent services provided by our AEAs. Please, our students need you to do the right thing, and support all the services provided by the AEAs. Thank you for taking time to read this. Sincerely, Kris Ward, Spanish Teacher, New Hampton, Iowa
02-20-2024
Judy Russell []
CON
Small schools in Iowa are already in financial trouble. We depend on the huge savings and benefits of Coop purchasing, printing, curriculum/technology integrations, professional staff development and consultants. (And much more)Take a step back and have a study conducted that includes teachers, parents and administration. Let the people of Iowa guide your decisions, not politicians who are not in the trenches.
02-20-2024
Nicole Williamson []
CON
I am opposed to a bill that may cause any school district in the state, especially rural districts, to loose services or pay more for services for students, families, and educators than what they are already receiving from AEAs.
02-20-2024
Dave Kurns []
CON
I wanted to write to urge you to stop the proposed legislation on AEA structure and funding.The Iowa AEAs are a true strategic asset for this state and have been for decades. Moving them under the Dept. of Education is a mistake.Is looking at the AEAs a good idea? Of course. I think thats prudent. But take the time to review its purpose, function and funding and do it transparently and with data. Do it over the next 6 months, and include AEA, school districts, and do it transparently.The governors approach to hire an outside consultant, then ram it down the throats of the legislature and citizens is wrong. Include everyone and agree on the recommendations.The AEAs have lead the state for a long time. This is the wrong way to go about it.This is an issue I feel strongly about and will vote accordingly this election cycle.Listen to the citizens. Gov. Reynolds should not be doing a money grab to hurt students and families across this state. We are weakening our state education system. This approach will damage it more, not help.
02-20-2024
Brenda Brammer-Smith [AEA]
CON
Dear House Education Committee,Thank you for holding a Public Hearing on HF 2612. I have been an educator in Iowa for 28 years serving as a special education teacher, a general education teacher, reading interventionist and for the last 6 years as a special education consultant for AEA. I am from southern rural Iowa and this bill would jeopardize the services that are available to our children, especially in rural areas. Schools did not ask for this bill, nor do they want this bill. The purpose of the AEA bill according to the Governor was to increase academic achievement of students with disabilities and to give schools more local control. The fact is neither the HF 2612 or SF 3073 address student achievement in any way or give genuine local control to schools. The local control is actually given to the Director of the Department of Education, to approve or reject all requests from schools. This person has been in Iowa less than 1 year, does not hold an Education Degree or even a Masters Degree, but rather only a Political Science undergrad degree. The House bill includes a multiyear process where some services become privatized and in southern Iowa that leaves us without services! The House bill eliminates AEAs right to own properties. Where will multidistrict classes the AEAs provide be offered? Where would the audiologists have their sound booths? Why is this important to legislators? The House version ends operational sharing opportunities between districts and AEAs. How would our rural districts survive without sharing? The House bill calls for a task force that does not include any stakeholders (schools district leaders, teachers or parents). I am thankful that the House bill does not make immediate changes for next year, but why include changes for upcoming years before a task force even begins? The House bill leaves our children, especially in rural districts, in jeopardy of equitable services! Do you realize that our graduation rates for students with disabilities have risen from approximately 60% in 2016, to approximately 85% in 2023 with the support of the AEAs! That is the achievement you need to analyze if you want to continue to see more and more students future ready to be productive citizens of Iowa. The trust our communities have in our legislation will be broken for years to come if legislators refuse to carry the voices of your people forward and stop these bills. I remain extremely concerned that the bill will result in inadequate funding and inadequate services and our children in Iowa deserve better!Brenda BrammerSmith, Clarke County Iowa
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Not until teachers get raises am I worried about AEA
02-20-2024
Sarah Esser [Logan]
CON
Please don't make this into a bill. Let there be a task force that looks into all of the data, the claims that have been made about special education, administration, and the AEAs in general. Please do not allow this bill to move forward so quickly. Though I do appreciate the time and effort that has been put into making the original bill better, there is no reason to move in this direction without full consideration of all of the repercussions of doing away with the FEPs and mental health services provided by the AEAs, and reducing funding for so many other services. The AEAs provide so many great services for general education and special education students and this bill would not allow rural districts to obtain the services they need to serve the students as thoroughly as they do now. Please do not move this bill forward and please vote NO when presented with the senate version of the bill. These bills would be horrible for the future of all education in Iowa, especially in smaller school districts.
02-20-2024
Meryl Hiler [Parent]
CON
I ask that you vote no for this bill. The AEA is comprised of numerous professionals with countless years of service in education. It is a terrible idea to delegate so much power to the DOE, whose director is simply chosen by the governor. This bill has not been well thought out. If the goal is really to improve our education system, Iowa would take some time to study the current AEA and work on improving the amazing system that we have in place.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [NA]
CON
Talking pointsIowas AEAs are a model of efficiency, offering robust professional resources and services to students across the state. This economy of scale means rural and urban area students have the same opportunities for growth and learning.Media and IT resources and services are just two hardtofind services available across the state through AEAs. Many communities do not have access to and cannot afford private specialty consulting services without our AEA offerings.AEAs ensure all students, regardless of location or background, have access to highquality educational opportunities and resources. They bridge the gap between rural and urban schools and support underserved communities. AEAs offer all of Iowas schools the ability to access specialists, equipment, and resources, ensuring equity among large and small schools in urban and rural areas.AEAs offer specialized services not typically available within individual school districts, such as early childhood education, special education, career and technical education, and professional development for specific subject areas.Classroom teachers, education support professionals, and administrators must fill in for the services removed from those provided by our AEAs, specifically in rural areas where contracting out is not an option. That means school employee workloads increase exponentially.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
This bill will hurt smaller school districts and the students they serve and represents a consolidation of power away from the people who can best effect local change.
02-20-2024
Jason Guerin [Iowa Resident]
CON
Iowa has one the best support systems for special education, general education (special education students are general education students first), school staffs, and school systems in the nation, which is due to the current AEA supports available to each school. am in shock that our politicians are still considering changes with the misinformation/data and a lack of understanding around organization. There has been record turn out against any changes to the AEA, so it would make sense to focus on determining school funding for the next school year and other priorities. Iowans will continue to come out in record numbers against any changes.
02-20-2024
Melissa Hesner []
CON
Iowans do not want changes to AEAs. Shifting oversight to the Department of Education and requiring districts to receive approval for services is an overreach of power and diminishes local control. Fee for services will create gaps and harm small, rural districts. I respectfully request you put a complete stop to this legislation.
02-20-2024
Jane Murphy []
CON
Please support Iowas children by ensuring Iowas AEAs continue to be funded as a system and that all children have access to all services, including mental health services by voting no to this bill.
02-20-2024
Carolyn Hall [Lewis Central Schools]
CON
This is not whats best for our students, teachers, or community! We need the AEA!
02-20-2024
Mary Delaney [NA]
CON
Why mess with an organization that is working well for the children in our state?
02-20-2024
Dick Siefers []
CON
Although Im neither a teacher or a parent of a child that has been a direct beneficiary of the services provided by the AEA, Ive heard many stories about the quality of the services the AEA provides, services that most small school districts would be able to provide if left to procuring the services on a singular basis. The shared services model that the AEA follows helps all schools within its 9 regions in providing quality services in support of the diversity of each schools population. Given that in the past several years , the increase in school funding has been below the cost of inflation, the shared services model of the AEA appears to have been an effective tool in helping provide quality services to its schools at a cost which its budget can support. While there are always ways to improve upon the services, this bill does none of that. This is a bill that will kill the AEA, not improve it. I am strongly against this bill.
02-20-2024
Lesley Stucker [Physical therapist self employed]
CON
I am writing in opposition to HF 2612. I am a Pediatric Physical Therapist and worked for Heartland Area Education Agency for 22 years before semiretiring. I strongly believe as elected officials you must listen to the opposition to these bills that are being fast tracked through based on an out of state companys assessment of problems without having affected Iowan stakeholders at the table. I have first hand experience with the amazing work that AEAs provide to ALL children in IowaBirth through 21 years. In my job as a PT beginning with children as young as 3 weeks all the way until graduation from highschool , I was able to work with parents and their child as they navigated one of the most difficult experiences a parent can experience: a child who is not typically developing. As a parent of two children both of whom were identified as Gifted and Talented , I experienced them being challenged beyond their grade level with the help of AEA consultants. As adults they are now a physician and a veterinarian ! My younger daughter also needed assistance from a speech therapist for stuttering and producing the R sound so she had both an IEP and ELP services. Please drop these bills for overhauling the AEA and pass a bill for the task force Dr David Tilley proposed to get a thorough understanding of what problems actually exist and have input from all stakeholders on solutions. I will be watching carefully to see how each legislator votes as I consider my vote this fall.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Lewis Central Community Schools ]
CON
Please vote NO on the recently updated bill. The AEAs are a huge support to schools. As an Iowa teacher and parent, public schools and early childhood centers rely on the AEAs timely assistance and involvement with so many children & families. Keep AEAs alone and as is. No change is needed at this time. Please focus your efforts on other areas of education reform that will actually benefit students and retain Iowa teachers. Thank You.
02-20-2024
Berrett Rice []
CON
Reviewing and improving the AEAs is not a problem. But no legislation like what has been proposed so far should pass until the following questions can be answered: What part of this bill, specifically, is supposed to improve the academic performance of Iowas students? What part improves the performance of students with IEPs? What problem is this legislation fixing, specifically? How do you know it will be fixed with the proposed plans? Will rural districts be able to afford services in a Fee For Service model? For example, Gliddon Ralston uses a total of 2.79 Full Time Equivalent (FTE), currently, from Heartland AEA. Will they have the dollars to pay for 2.79 FTE, which might cost as much as $200,000 (salaries plus benefits)? Will rural districts be able to deal with High Intensity / Low Incidence service needs under the new plan? (These needs do occur, I could tell you some crazy stories. And when they occur, educators experience an immediate and unplanned need for a deep bench of service providers) Will rural districts, in particular, be able to contract for services even when they only need a fraction of a Full Time Equivalent? For example, the smallest ten districts in Heartland AEA, combined, need 0.35 FTE of an Audiologist. How will they contract for that service?If those questions don't have good answers, grounded in good data, vote No.
02-20-2024
Mary Monica Rottinghaus [Center Point-Urbana Schools]
CON
I was astounded to hear our Governor Kim Reynolds was pushing forward ideas for totally reorganizing and revising our AEAs. Why? What possible logic was driving this effort? Does Kim Reynolds know WHAT AEAs accomplish as a support resource for Iowa school districts?It appears she is totally ignorant of all the services they provide. We rely on our AEA to offer resources for visually and hearing impaired students. Our teachers rely on them to support their efforts to teach Science, Math, Social Studies, Geography. We use their library to beef up our reading instructional materials. Their IT Department is critically essential as we attempt to stay on the cusp of technology.Special Ed is an integral aspect of the support offered by the AEA, to be sure. But, our AEA provides SO much MORE!!If you feel the AEA Support Services need revision, be smart. Find out what they do, how well they do it, and consider how teachers will perform without that support. Then, for Heaven's sake, fully fund our schools, please!Thank you.
02-20-2024
Lynda Lanus [Individual]
CON
Although attempts to amend the original bill have been proposed, the overwhelming voice of the people of Iowa continues to say NO on approving any type of changes. Instead, form an indepth study to determine specifically what is lacking in AEA services. Then, make a proposal based on these results. In addition, I'm not sure how ultimately funneling ALL decisions away from local/regional areas to one position (Director of the Department of Education) is acceptable, as I thought Iowans have always wanted less big government control, and more local control. By making final decisions go through the Director of the Department of Education, you've just taken away local decisions regarding what's best for that particular area of the state, which differ based on the area. I feel that by continuing to move forward in this manner, legislators that are in favor of this are purposefully ignoring the duty they agreed to upon being elected; which is being the voice of their constituents regardless of personal opinion. This is extremely disappointing, and I've never been so embarrassed of Iowa, until now. We're better than this, and we deserve better than this. Please make this about the equity of learning opportunities for our children, and not a political attack on a valued service. Thank you.
02-20-2024
Stacey Warren []
CON
Thank you for working to amend the bill. The current bill being proposed is still not good for Iowa students, teachers, schools or communities. There are ways to review the AEAs without dismantling the services and causing a negative domino effect on students and schools.I am opposed to this bill as written because of what it will do to education in Iowa for all students. Small school districts should not have to stop offering services because they have to choose a fee for service. They should not have to predict if they will have MH crisis or a critical incident and get service pre approved. Currently AEA meets the needs of building and district teams. They teach and coach community providers and clergy. AEA has a systematic approach using national standards and evidence based practices. They have prior relationships with schools so when a critical incident occurs they work with buildings and districts to follow a plan to offer support to staff and students. Its things as important as changing the email and attendance so the parent of a deceased child is not called to let them know their child is absent after a death. These are not things community MH providers do or know as they are not intimately connected and serve schools on multi disciplinary teams. AEAs are uniquely positioned to provide these high level MH supports and services. They do so with masters plus level providers. Perry is a good example of this work. The AEA has provided organization and flow, working with Emergency Mgmt. , Iowa CISM, lawenforcement community, mental health providers, and other community providers to organize the response effort. There is no one else who could or did show up to do that organizational work. That work is still happening as AEA provided restorative practices, listening circles in every building in Perry for staff last week. This week that Service was offered to students in the MVP program. None of those services are special education, but they are imperative to the healing and resilience building following this great tragedy.ALL children need access to support for suicide prevention. AEAs provide multidisciplinary teams training and consultation for MH crisis. Other entities are not trained and are not providing training to teachers and counselors to meet these kinds of needs in this way. AEA MH professionals sit on teams in buildings to provide that support. There are SO many services that will vanish if this process is not slowed and those services allocated if not with in AEAs they will need to be accounted for somewhere else. If this is not done carefully everyone in Iowa loses.
02-20-2024
Carrie Hester []
CON
Hello, I am against HF2612. As it stands, it continues to diminish local voice, reduces economies of scale, creates unrealistic timelines for decisionmaking, and shifts additional oversight to the Department of Education Division of Special Education. I am NOT against a full and comprehensive study. I am a Special Education Consultant and work with two rural districts PK12th grade. I would like to provide what my schedule was like for just ONE day (this Monday);9:3011:30; I worked with a middle school special education student who just moved to the district from out of state. I completed reading, math, and written expression diagnostics in order to determine what instruction and setting is most appropriate for the student. 11:4011:55; I walked over to the elementary and completed a Complex Quantity Discrimination math probe with a whole class for peer comparison for a Full and Individual Educational Evaluation.12:1512:30; I worked with a middle school special education teacher on reading comprehension specially designed instruction and goal development for a student who we recently held an IEP meeting for. 12:451:30; I spoke with a principal about a student whose parent recently lost custody and a surrogate has to be determined in order to make educational decisions for the Individual Education Plan. I then contacted the prospective surrogate, gathered the needed information, filled out the form, and submitted it for approval. 1:401:55; I visited with the special education teacher about the student results who I completed the diagnostics in the morning.2:002:45; I worked on the paperwork called Notices of Reevaluations that are required for every 3 year reevaluation for special education services (I have 52 of those this year. I worked on 4.)3:003:45; I completed cumulative file reviews in the office for 7 upcoming reevaluations.I LOVE my job, and want to communicate what I do. I have recently talked to representatives who don't know what my job entails. It takes a village to help students, and AEA's are vital to our districts, as they are vital to us. We are all a FAMILY!
02-20-2024
Alicia Adams
CON
AEAs are a vital part of the education of ALL students. Small schools especially rely on our AEA services to enhance curriculum, provide materials, and support students of all levels. Many of the opportunities provided by the AEA help enrich education for gifted students and provide support for students who have specialized needs. Any changes made to the structure of the AEAs needs to be thoughtfully studied and done with the best interest of students in mind. This bill is a rash proposal that will most definitely harm schools, teachers, and most importantly, students.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [NFV School District]
CON
Rural schools cannot survive without the supports of the AEA they are just as much an integral part of the education system as teachers. Our special education students would suffer the most not having access to the services they provide along with the support. I can't imagine functioning as a school district without all of the AEA not just bits and pieces of it. You demand so much from schools with no monetary support and now you are considering taking away a huge support system of professional development, special education support, resources to enhance learning. Most schools in the state are small and rural and we need the AEA's support look at cuts elsewhere than education.
02-20-2024
Tinna Walberg []
CON
I appreciate that the house has listened to Iowans and made some changes that is far better than the original bill set forth by the Governor. With that being said, I still am not sure why there needs to be an overhaul of the AEAs without the data to back it up. There is nothing that has been brought forth that says what is broken and what needs to be fixed. I appreciate the idea of a task force of Iowans that will look into the AEA system to see what the next steps should be. That should be the only step that is taken this year with all funding remaining intact. The AEA system offers services on an economy of scale that would not be as economical if districts had to use a feeforservice model or go out and find the services from independent contractors. There is data to back this up. Lastly, bureaucracy and oversight doesn't fix student achievement. It is people working together (both people with special education and content expertise) to figure out the needs of students and implement strategies that meet those individual needs. That cannot be done from a central location in Des Moines. These decisions need to be made closer to kids by people who have the expertise to make those decisions. Those people would have experience and training in the theory and implementation of best practices of instruction. Currently, our State Director of Education has none of that experience or qualifications. I urge you to continue to work on what will best serve all of the students in the state of Iowa to help them become productive citizens in our state.
02-20-2024
Mandy Burns []
CON
I want to acknowledge that efforts to listen to stakeholders and your constituents to make improvements to the shortsighted plan that was the original bill (HSB 542): It preserves special education services for students as we know them. It retains the availability of general educational services and media/technology services. It keeps existing flowthrough money a part of the education system, instead of disappearing for property tax relief. It creates a task force to study all aspects of the AEA system. It creates a more reasonable timeline for changes to occur.However, I hope that our threshold is not better than HSB 542, because even with improvements this legislation still seems like a political solution to an illdefined and possibly nonexistent problem (although it certainly causes many new problems of its own). Iowas AEAs are the envy of the nation for good reason they are efficient, they are comprehensive, and they work well. Its important to realize that Iowas AEAs are integrated systems. This means that its possible for special education consultants to work with general education consultants, school improvement specialists, or media/technology support without having to obtain prior approval or pay for that consultation. Breaking apart services into siloed areas will interrupt efficiency and responsiveness to needs.A feeforservice plan for general education services and media/technology is problematic because it will make it difficult to budget for AEA positions and services for schools. Many times schools engage in these services when they uncover issues through other work. Being halfway through the year and discovering a need, yet not being able to enter into agreements due to the need for Department of Education approval or having funding already spent, would be a negative effect for children and teachers. I have worked for several different private rehab companies that provide fee for service. I can guarantee that none of them have the training to support the niche of school based therapy. Due to the highly variable needs of students that can not be predicted at budget time, especially as students can and do move into a district at any point throughout the school year. Our current system is set up to be able to quickly and easily flex and adjust needs to cover ALL districts. A few for service model will not be able to accommodate this and will result in longer time to respond to needs. I have worked at two different AEAs as a physical therapist for the past 15 years. I still dont even realize the full extent of the ability of the AEA to support our teachers, districts, and families. If I am still learning about all of the great things that AEAs do, then Im highly doubtful that the legislature can learn everything needed to write a major overhaul in the span of weeks that does not cause lasting harm for Iowa students, families, and schools.Thats why Im asking the legislature to stop these AEA bills. Instead, move forward with only the bipartisan study group composed of legislators, parents, superintendents, school board members, general education teachers, special education teachers, AEA supervisors, AEA staff, and healthcare providers. In the work of school improvement, we take it as understood that change must be based upon (1) clear, comprehensive data sets and (2) consensus. Right now, neither of those two things exist relative to AEA legislation. Drafting and passing bills is literally putting the cart before the horse.In addition, I have concerns about the qualifications of the current Director of the Department of Education to lead anything related to Area Education Agencies or oversee them. Until very recently, Directors of the Iowa Department of Education have had the experience and credentials necessary to qualify them for this important work. I find it curious that right now, higher standards are being proposed for nearly every educator in Iowa than for this one key individual. Based on what I have seen, it is unlikely that our current Director of the Department of Education would be approved by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners as a teacher, school administrator, or athletic coach. The Iowa BOEE License Search page returns no results when her name is entered. The biography listed on the Department of Education website (https://educate.iowa.gov/about) does not mention any instructional or administrative experience in a PK12 setting.Therefore, I propose that the following qualifications for Iowa Department of Education director be included in state code:1) Licensed by Iowa Board of Educational Examiners as a teacher AND a school administrator (this requires two different licenses). Both licenses must be current and active.2) Holder of a terminal degree from an accredited postsecondary institution (example: Doctor of Philosophy PhD, Doctor of Education EdD, or equivalent). The field of study must be in education or an educationrelated field.3) Minimum of 15 years of experience as an educator in PK12 educational settings. (Up to 8 years of this experience may be obtained from teaching or leading in higher education.) A minimum of 5 years of experience must have been within the State of Iowa.4) Iowa residency for a minimum of 5 years immediately prior to the date of appointment.
02-20-2024
Sandi Hocamp []
CON
Leave AEAs alone! I'm in a smaller district in Iowa. Changing how AEAs help my district will cost a significant amount of money to an already pinched budget. There is no way our district could afford to pay for professional services if they allow this go farther. I was a parent of a child with an IEP. Their services provided my daughter the success she needed based on recommendations for her to be successful. Quit attacking education and fund the Iowa schools so they can provide the services to the students in our districts.
02-20-2024
Angela Dvorak []
CON
This bill still causes major equity concerns and a fractured system of special education and general education services. A fee for service model will destroy the economy of scale and the efficiency of the AEA. Rural schools will receive reduced access to critical services, AEA staff will be difficult to maintain, and the quality of services will decrease. Even with a 60/40 split, schools may use their funds differently which will impact and decrease services for all, including services for crisis response and emergencies that are unpredictable. Centralizing decision making will also hinder local control, slow down responsiveness, and cause undue hardships. Schools, families, and our communities deserve to be stakeholders who are part of this process and a comprehensive review is needed before these radical shifts change the lives of Iowans forever. This bill will create winners and losers and will harm our most vulnerable children and rural communities, the exact opposite of why the AEAs we created 50 years ago. I urge you to listen to Iowans and do whats best for our future, vote NO!
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Citizen]
CON
Leave the AEA alone for goodness sakes it is a great asset to our students AND, teachers. What is wrong with you people, the AEA helps our state, leave it alone. You talk about less (smaller) government and you have attacking everything in site. My daughter is a teacher and the AEA helps mentor new teachers, my Daughter was very pleased with the teachers sharing there experiences to help learn how to best guide our students!!!LEAVE IT ALONE !!!!!!!!!
02-20-2024
Paula Leach []
CON
Please let Iowa communities,parents and teachers elect their local AEA boards. Local control is important to everyone.
02-20-2024
S. Campbell [Parent/Social Worker ]
CON
I oppose the bill to dismantle the AEA system. Please stop the bill , no more amendments. Please take the time to conduct a thorough unbiased study without a bill moving forward. Iowa needs its AEAs. Iowas children deserve better than this.
02-20-2024
Michelle Weber []
CON
AEAs ensure all students, regardless of location or background, have access to highquality educational opportunities and resources. They bridge the gap between rural and urban schools and support underserved communities. AEAs offer all of Iowas schools the ability to access specialists, equipment, and resources, ensuring equity among large and small schools in urban and rural areas.I urge you to amend this legislation to create a task force to review AEAs instead of creating sweeping changes that will likely cost more money and eliminate local control. AEAs are a vital resource that serve all student students, teachers, and families!
02-20-2024
Heather Malli [MBAEA]
CON
This bill needs to be stopped. Iowans did not ask for their AEAs to be changed. If adjustments need to be made to make the AEAs more efficient, then create an advisory committee to determine what would be beneficial rather than destroying an entire system. My son with Down syndrome utilized AEA services beginning with Early ACCESS at age 2. My other son has benefited from AEA services in audiology for hearing screenings after failing the newborn hearing screening in the hospital, College for Kids programs in the summer, and Drivers Ed. There is no way centralized services in Des Moines will be able to be more efficient and economical than regional services. Vote NO please!
02-20-2024
Vicki DeMoss [Parent, Occupational Therapist]
CON
I employ you to VOTE NO to HF 2612. We do not need legislation in order complete a task force to study the effectiveness our system of AEA services and educational supports to all children, not just those in special education. I have worked as an occupational therapist for over 30 years, and the last 14 years for an AEA providing services and support for families and children from birth to age 21 via Early Access, Early Childhood & School Age services in the general and special education settings. I live and breathe the intricacy of AEA services every single day and am often involved with many children and their families as they transition through their educational journeys. Although I am appreciative of the House of representatives willingness to listen and address constituent concerns by creating a bill written to address some of the issues with the original proposed legislation and subsequent amendments, I continue to have great concerns with any legislation that would splinter or disrupt the intricate and integrated way that our current system of supports are weaved into the structure and function of the schools and communities themselves. The funding structure allows our current state AEA system to level the playing field so that rural schools and districts can access all equitable supports, specialty services, media resources, and assistive technology devices that they would not otherwise be able to provide cost effectively, and in a timely manner. In fact, there is already a strong checks and balances structure embedded within our current AEA system to ensure compliance of Federal and State Regulatory mandates. Any of the justifications being communicated as a basis for changes to correct any perceived or purported special education deficiencies are based on inaccurate, skewed, and downright misrepresentation of facts! In addition, the proposed legislation does not provide any evidencebased data or references to support how these proposed changes will improve services to children or positively impact student learning. The bill does not provide any relevant evidence promote the proposed changes to Iowas AEA will provide any cost savings or efficiencies. In fact, there is much more evidence that the proposed changes will extrapolate costs and decrease accessibility and efficiency to provide special education services, and would be detrimental to rural school districts. Based on my extensive professional experience in both the private/medical setting and in the AEA educational setting, efforts to offer choice, or essentially creating privatization of public services will only prove to extrapolate the costs to the system ( & tax payers) and fragment any efforts to provide equity of needed services across the state. I find it very interesting, yet quite disturbing, that there are specific professional, experience, and licensure qualifications for AEA staff in the proposed legislation which is in direct contrast to those who would be in the position to provide oversight and sole decision making roles, who serves at the pleasure of the Governor and is not an elected official. The current State Director of Education has NONE of the aforementioned qualifications, experience, or professional licensure in education whatsoever! In my professional role as a direct service provider in one the AEAs, my services are categorized Special Education currently. It is very unclear from any of the versions in the proposed legislation, whether I would be able to continue to provide all of the general education supports to students, teachers, and schools as I do now. Therefore, I have grave concerns that there is a high risk for loss of services despite the notion from lawmakers that this would not be the case. Please, instead, allocate funds from the States budget surplus to create and implement a AEA and Special Education task force to transparently identify and study evidencebased improvements to our current system. Our Governor used to frequently state that we should trust parents to know whats best for their children. Its very evident that parents are NOT SUPPORTIVE of any version of this legislation.
02-20-2024
Annie Tucker []
CON
To the Iowa Legislators,One of our sons benefitted immensely from his work with a speech therapist at Grant Wood AEA. At four years old, the only consonant he would use was t, and he would use that for all consonants. We were concerned about what would happen if this were the case when he was learning to read. Sounding out a word based on letter sounds would not work for a kid who could only say t. So, we called the AEA and in the year before he started kindergarten, he went to weekly speech therapy appointments at our local elementary school, where his older brother and sister were going to school. By the time he was starting to read, he had an understanding of other sounds. By the time he was in the second grade, he was speaking clearly and graduated from speech therapy. By the time he was in high school, he got into debate and won Best Novice at his first tournament. His debate skills and the research and organization of information he learned benefitted him in his high school academics. He went to Brown for college and got a Ph.D. from Oxford University in England. He worked with the National Urban Debate League, the Federal Bank and started a charter high school for low income students, who raised their academic performance to become collegebound.When he was four, we were both in college and working parttime jobs and were having trouble making ends meet. Grant Wood AEA set our son on a path to being a successful and contributing member of our society. Please do not cut any funds or services provided by the AEAs. School districts do not have any or enough of the kind of professionals employed by the AEAs. The AEAs are also the neutral third party when there are disagreements about EEPs between the schools and parents. Having a professional and neutral party involved is essential. Why are you considering gutting public schools and services for children in any of our schools? Where is your commitment to the people of Iowa, their children, the social and economic future of Iowa? When I moved here, Iowa was known nationally for its good school system. Please go back to valuing and supporting the education available to all Iowa children.
02-20-2024
Ryan Chambers [NA]
CON
Please vote no!The reasoning given for these proposed changes is flawed and the proposals are extreme. Take the time to do a bipartisan study to determine the best course of action. You will see that the AEAs provide phenomenal service to our schools and students.At best, if this moves no further, we will see more brain drain from our state. That helps no one, particularly our most needy students.Please listen to your constituents. Vote no.Thank you!
02-20-2024
Sharon, Joe &Zoe [Family]
CON
My family received services from AEA from the time our daughter was 3 years old till graduation. These services changed and evolved with my child throughout her studies. I would ask that you slow down take a year to make a real evaluation of the entire AEA system. The supports for student, staff and administrators of all schools will loose some form of support. There will not be adequate staff in smaller school districts to help. We need these professionals in the schools with boots on the ground not attending a meeting by zoom. So many services in our schools do not have the face to face real time spent with kids and things get missed. We have a Mental Health crisis in Iowa for our students already we do not need to make things worse. Please consider voting against this bill. Thank you
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I urge you to oppose this bill as written. Develop a task force with highly qualified Iowan educators to gather data and make a databased decision regarding changes. This bill as written will have a negative impact on our children.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
It is in the best interest of all Iowa children to create a task force (consisting of stakeholders, educators, and legislators) to provide guidance for improvements to Special Education. David Tilly, former Deputy Director of the Iowa Department of Education, and Brad Buck, former Director of the Iowa Department Education, put forth very meaningful suggestions on how to move forward to improvement of the AEA's.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please do not cut special education and mental health services for our kids! We must support families and students.
02-20-2024
Mark Schmedinghoff []
CON
Iowans have made it abundantly clear. Iowans do not want this bill. Iowans want the AEA system to continue to serve students well, as they have for many years. The question now is, will you, as legislators, listen to Iowans, or will you side with the outofstate consultants who drafted this terrible bill?The fact that this disastrous legislation is even getting a hearing indicates that our legislators aren't listening to Iowans anymore. Prove me wrong.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am not in favor of this bill. It is going to make it nearly impossible for the AEA system to hire and retain good providers to work with kids. If providers are concerned that they will not have a longterm position, or that they will get reassigned to a position not within a reasonable distance of their homes, they will look for work in the private sector, and Iowa education will be left with poorer quality employees. This change will have the opposite effect on childrens outcomes.Please say no to the bill and take some time to investigate how much change is really warranted. While you are looking at this, also consider the training and qualifications that Special Ed teachers should have. The kids they teach are the learners that need the most individual and creative help these teachers ultimately have the biggest effect on test scores. The AEA is a wonderful resource for both general education and special education teachers and families. A hasty decision to push this through could potentially do more harm than good.
02-20-2024
Katie Wade []
CON
I am opposed to House File 2612. We need to stop the bill and study all the aspects of what the AEA provides. We only have one chance to get this right. We need to invest the time to make sure we are doing what is best for Iowa's children. AEAs provide critical resources to schools and teachers, and being the child of an AEA employee, I see how hard they work day in and day out. This is happening too quickly, and it needs to be paused. This bill continues to diminish local voice, reduces economies of scale, creates unrealistic timelines for decisionmaking, and shifts additional oversight to the Department of Education Division of Special Education. Please reconsider this bill. Thank you for your time.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
This is a blatant power grab that will hurt rural districts
02-20-2024
Wendy Parker []
CON
I have worked in special education in Iowa for over 30 years as a teacher, building administrator, district special education director, and AEA special education director. Special Education has slowly made reforms over those 30 years. The worst years were when we were completely compliance focused and student results were ignored. Both the DE and AEA were focused on compliance and tortured schools with a thunderstorm of paperwork; at one point every IEP was reviewed and returned numerous times for edits that made no difference to the services in the IEP, just dotting Is and crossing Ts. So much instruction was lost for students while teachers agonized over making paperwork perfect. We finally moved away from this when we realized the more perfect our paperwork was the less students were learning. We became much more focused on students with IEPs growth and realized that, while compliance is important at times, a focus on compliance only hurts our students. I fear so much that this plan will take us right back to the days of compliance. The DE will dictate a paperwork compliance approach and a focus on instruction and access will take a back seat. Believe me, it is much easier to look at paperwork for compliance than it is to monitor if instruction is effective. This requires the oversight to provide actual support in classrooms and this plan will result in none of that. Please watch this 10 minute video about where I believe we need to be headed (there is so much more to reform besides the AEA). We need to table this entire plan until a comprehensive study is completed that includes all stakeholders. https://youtu.be/NQNeRiFIh4?si=r2OkIh3sAUIZp5sg
02-20-2024
Leah Olson [Parent, voter]
CON
Please vote NO to this bill. Instead engage with all stakeholders to evaluate and understand accurate data sources and the impact that any changes would have on rural schools.
02-20-2024
Beth Dedic [Heartland AEA]
CON
Please do not advance this bill. Slow things down and put in place a task force that can analyze all of the noted areas of concern. Allow the task force to make recommendations based on accurate data, test scores, costs, services, etc. Make sure we are doing what is right for ALL children and ALL schools.
02-20-2024
Elizabeth Hill []
CON
Please stop HF 2612 and conduct an independent study to ensure wellinformed decisions for Iowa's Area Education Agencies. Our elected legislators are entrusted to make thoughtful choices, especially regarding our children's education. The bill grants too much control to the Department of Education and relies on flawed information. This poses a risk of disrupting our integrated model, causing delays and gaps in services for Iowa children. Prioritize our children's wellbeing and reconsider the potential negative impact of HF 2612. Thank you for your consideration and all that you do for Iowa.
02-20-2024
Lynn Latimer [Retired educator ]
CON
Educators need the support from the AEA to do their best job. The resources provided are incredibly useful for their curriculum. Not just for special education but also for literacy, mathematics and media support. They are an important component of every childs education. Please consider helping them make improvements as needed instead of overhauling the entire system.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [AEA]
CON
We need to keep the AEA to better serve our students with special needs. I was a Resource teacher for 29 years and helped many students with the help of the AEA.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
As a mother, grandmother and former Pediatric nurse who cared for many children who needed services from AEA in Iowa, I strongly support the work and current organization of the AEA. It brings hope and expertise to children all over the state who need help to become successful adults.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Citizen]
CON
Please DO NOT cut Iowas Area Education Agencies that serve Iowas youth!
02-20-2024
Gina Hausknecht []
CON
I strongly oppose HF 2612. Our AEAs provide vital, necessary support to Iowa's kids, including those with the greatest needs and those with the least access. This bill is not founded on comprehensive, responsible, compelling evidence from appropriate stakeholders. If there are efficiencies or improvements possible, this bill is very much not the way to achieve them. Cutting services and hoping for the best is not the answer. This is another bill that will make it harder for teachers to do their jobs and for kids and families to get the services they need.
02-20-2024
Susan Benderson [Linn County Stonewall Democrats]
CON
Consultants were hired to recommend changes to Iowa's AEA organization, but failed to consider important aspects and impact of the changes, especially on rural communities. Go back to the drawing board, get input from the communities who are the true stakeholders whose children are the beneficiaries of the service provided. I strongly urge you to vote NO on this bill.
02-20-2024
Kari Christenson []
CON
Please vote no. Constituents have not asked for this, nor do they want this. Please slow this process down and seek a comprehensive review of AEAs to be conducted over the next school year so decisions can be made based on accurate information. Thank you.
02-20-2024
Sarah Sellers [Educator and Parent]
CON
As a current educator, I strongly oppose HF2612 as it disproportionately harms rural districts, which outnumber urban districts in Iowa. Even with additional funds, rural districts cannot afford the services provided by the AEA under the current bill. If improvements are necessary for AEAs, a comprehensive study by Iowa experts can bring thoughtful, databased changes.
02-20-2024
Linda Rouleau-Carroll, Ed.D []
CON
Against the passage of this bill for several reasons:1. Moved to Iowa 30 years ago from California. I was impressed with not only the people, the innovative and advanced governance, and especially the school systems, which includes the AEA.2. I retired from education after a career of 35 years. I taught in elementary & secondary for 14 years in CA. In Iowa, I've worked in 3 different districts. I've been an elementary & middle school counselor, assistant principal, principal, director of teaching and learning, and bureau chief at the IDOE, from where I retired.3. I currently teach and supervise graduates in a program to become administrators, I supervised student teachers, and I teach English to adult immigrants and refugees.4.In every position (past/present) I have used consultants from the AEA a list which I will share at the meeting.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Parent]
CON
Please vote no on this bill. Lets instead conduct a review of the local AEAs and gather stakeholder feedback. As a mother that values education and the services our AEAs provide I want to see us slow this down and gather input from all stakeholders. My own children have benefited from Early Access services as well as hearing screenings and I cannot fathom where we would be without those services. I know that our states AEA team members work tirelessly to support students, families and schools. If we take these services away who will step in to provide this support? How can our rural districts truly serve students? Who will speak up in the best interest of the students, even if it means disagreeing with the district? There are many questions left unanswered if this bill passes. Therefore, I encourage you to vote no.
02-20-2024
Steve Gude [retired public school speech-language pathologist]
CON
I am a retired school speechlanguage pathologist who once worked for Keystone AEA in Northeast Iowa, so I have had firsthand experience with our state's Area Education Agency system.In my view, this has been, and continues to be, a good arrangement for providing both special education and general education services in Iowa. It allows services to be spread over a larger geographic area, thus especially helping smaller districts who might have trouble affording the hiring of necessary personnel and purchasing of materials. It seems to me to fall into the category of "a solution in search of a problem."Please oppose this bill when it comes up for a vote. Thank you.Steve GudeDes Moines
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Thank you to House members who had the courage to make some adjustments to the original bill. However, this bill in its current form still does not meet what is needed to support the education of all students in Iowa. Please continue to support the development of a task force that is made up of Interested parties, and those that are directly impacted. After those results are determined, then move forward with direct recommendations and plans to further improve the quality of education and Iowa.
02-20-2024
Pat Stenzel [Retired Educator/Iowan]
CON
I appreciate you listening to Iowans. I have read, listened to and tried to understand information presented by those in support of restructuring the AEAs and essentially our educational support system. I find I cannot agree with what is happening here. What should have happened and still should happen is major stakeholders such as parent, school, AEA and other educational representatives from IOWA sitting down at a table and working this out. I will never support moving our team based system into one where the current hire has to clock their hours in a school district for billing, and having the DE provide a menu of what can and cannot be delivered to schools for services for teachers, children and families. Please stop this bill and any other bill, amended or not, that involves changing our current AEA system
02-20-2024
Tony Reid [Retired]
CON
Whats the rush? Lets start by finding out if there really is a problem, because the governors data doesnt prove that there is. The answer to this question will require a lot more questions and a lot more data. Then if problems are identified, lets carefully analyze the cause. Is it really the AEAs, or is it something else? Special ed kids are worth getting the answer right. Then lets figure out possible solutions, and that should include pilot testing different solutions. Meanwhile, lets restore last springs $22 million cut, and raise teacher salaries so we can compete nationally to hire enough special ed teachers. Oh, and lets not turn this all over to a DE run by someone who knows nothing about education or special education, which has far less transparency or accountability than an AEA.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Parent]
CON
As a parent whose child received INTERVENTIONS in the general education setting prior to his Full and Individual Evaluation for Special Education, I watched the AEA system do its job to make sure the decision to find him eligible for Special Ed was done with FIDELITY and based on multiple sources of DATA. My other child also benefited from the other services our AEA offers our district in the form of Science Kits, general ed consultants, and gifted programming. I ask that a TASK FORCE be formed to assess the governor's claims regarding the AEA's shortcomings. I ask that assessment be done with FIDELITY, based on DATA from multiple sources, and with a variety of nongovernment CONSTITUENTS at the table. As in education, I would expect objective and measurable markers of success be determined with (and prior to) any recommended interventions given to AEAs.
02-20-2024
Sherri Imoehl []
CON
Thank you for asking for feedback and listening to your constituents in beginning to amend the Governors bill. AEAs are an integral part of the educational system in Iowa. This is too big a decision to rush before a thorough and comprehensive study is completed with stakeholders present. Please take time to completely understand the system before making changes that I fear will have many unintended consequences and negatively impact education for generations.
02-20-2024
Melissa Smith [Citizen]
CON
This bill is not good for Iowa. AEAs should be allowed to support all of Iowas children. The services they provide are crucial for Iowas education system.
02-20-2024
Cheryl Kremer []
CON
Our AEAs provide important services and resources to our rural schools. They ensure rural students can access high quality educational materials as well as get the special services they need.
02-20-2024
Ramsey Welch []
CON
Reducing funding and imposing additional unnecessary oversight on AEAs will severely impact the services they offer. Public schools, already facing financial challenges, rely on AEAs to provide highquality, engaging resources to engage students including simulators, robots, digital microscopes, and large specialty equipment. These services benefit all students, and AEAs play a vital role in supporting our most vulnerable students. Cutting AEAs and increasing oversight will make their critical work more challenging. Please conduct a comprehensive study before dismantling the AEA.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [UnityPoint Health]
CON
No cuts for our children!
02-20-2024
Dorothy Schwendinger [Individual ]
CON
AEA is doing a great job for Iowa. Why dismantle it. Why try to save money on the backs of some of our most disadvantaged citizens. Our governor has such distrustive ideas to gather money in state coffers and then give give it to the rich tax payers of Iowa who never have paid their fair share.
02-20-2024
Martin L. Peterson []
CON
Please do not strip Iowas AEAs of their services. I have taught in Iowa high schools for 39 years and was lead instructor of the Morningside College alternative teacher licensure program for 12 years. I constantly made use of Northwest AEAs services in both positions for academic contests, instructional materials, curriculum development, and educational technology support.I fail to see the purpose in tearing down things that work. This bill needs a lengthy public discussion for parents and educators to ask questions as to motive and to relate positive experiences with their area agencies. Please dont rush this through without adequate study, public input, and transparency.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Parent & Republican Voter]
CON
Please vote no on both the HSB713 and SSB3073. Its obvious from the bills language that legislators still don't have a clear understanding of a.) the true problem theyre trying to solve, b.) the role of the Dept. of Education (that of compliance), and 3.) the roles of the AEAs. The DE doesn't have a licensed executive director, nor the staff to undertake any more responsibilities. Granting someone (with no experience as an Iowa educator) more power to oversee the AEAs, please tell me how that will improve outcomes for special needs students. The Guidehouse report used to draft the Governors first bill, has been debunked for not telling the full story, by former DE staff! Legislators need to listen to their constituents and do whats right for kids. Dont be in such a hurry to push something through. Do right by the youngest and most vulnerable of Iowas citizens, vote no. And do right by the parents who need all of the the AEA services for what's best for their kids. Vote no.
02-20-2024
Patrick Judkins []
CON
I do not support this bill as written. As a parent, I continue to be concerned about the lack of alignment that this bill is causing between school districts, AEAs, and the Department of Education. There has not been consideration taken to the current functioning of the system, and the effect of limiting the scope of AEAs ability to serve districts. This bill continues to seem like a rush to fix, versus taking the time to assess the issues and find solutions that all Iowans can agree with. Due to the rush to put a bill together, pieces may be left out that once written out will never be recovered. My fear is students and teachers will be impacted, and that is not good for Iowa.
02-20-2024
Vicky Hill [Educator]
CON
Please halt HF 2612 and conduct an independent study for wellinformed decisions on Iowa's AEAs. Our legislators, entrusted with decisions for children's education, should reconsider the bill granting excessive control to the Department of Education. Thanks for your consideration.
02-20-2024
Gayle Hoepner [Retired teacher]
CON
I am a retired teacher I taught ESL in Ames for 30 years. Over the years I reciveived support from AEA 11, through the library services, ESL professional development, direct service to certain students who benefited from AEA. Many of those services would not have been available through our individual school. Please keep the AEA.
02-20-2024
Jane Jensen [Heartland AEA]
CON
Please collect more data and evidence to determine the nature and size of the problem that has been flagged with Iowas SpecialEducation services and the AEA system. Moving to make sweeping changes before fully understanding the system and all of its moving pieces will cause confusion and chaos. Please be cautious and targeted with your actions and their intended purpose. From what has been made available to the public and how our experts in education have responded, it appears to be obvious that changes are being proposed without knowing what actually needs to be addressed. Public schools need support from the state. They are currently faced with an impossible task to educate our children. Be thoughtful and generous in your actions. Vote no and take the time necessary to fully understand the nature of Special Education in Iowas public schools and determine what our children need to be successful.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Parent, Taxpayer, Voter]
CON
As a parent of two children receiving special education services, I'm writing to beg you to slow down and reconsider the direction you are taking. The amended HF 2612 is still too extreme, too fast, and too potentially damaging to the education of students, both general and special education across the state. Your proposal also removes local control and places it directly in the hands of the Director of the Department of Education, who has ZERO educational background, no ties to Iowa, and an agenda to destroy public education. Do you feel like you have a comprehensive understanding of the educational system, including AEAs, in Iowa so that you can guarantee that my children will not be hurt in this process?The vast majority of Iowans DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN! In fact, they appreciate the AEA system and want it to stay intact. They also know the irreparable damage this bill will do to students, education in Iowa, and communities across the state if it moves forward! Please listen to your constituents and do not demolish a system that is the envy of the nation. If the motivation is to truly improve educational outcomes for students in special education, please consider an independent, bipartisan committee to study the entire educational system in Iowa (DE, AEAs, and districts) over the next year and make evidencebased recommendations. VOTE NO on HF 2612!
02-20-2024
JOHN CARR []
CON
As a citizen and voter in the state of Iowa I am opposed to any changes to the AEA's. It's not necessary and harms the most vulnerable children in our school systems. This is especially true in rural school systems. Vote HF 2612 down.
02-20-2024
Jamie Orozco Nagel
CON
I am concerned that this bill arose not out of a true concern from the public or constituents about AEA services but because the Governor wants to consolidate services under the Department of Education. I appreciate that the House developed their own bill but I believe that the first step should be to establish what needs there might be for improvements before taking action to change the structure of the AEAs. Furthermore, any changes should be focused on what would improve outcomes for students.
02-20-2024
Tiffany [Grandparent]
CON
I have a young granddaughter who is eligible for special education services. We live in a rural area and I am concerned that the proposed changes (never mind the fact that they are illthoughtout and based on inaccurate information) will cost her access to the speech and behavior services that have helped her improve so much to this point. Please form a committee and reconsider this rash bill. As written, it stands to hurt, not help, our students in special education.
02-20-2024
Robert King []
CON
Iowan families don't want this bill.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Teacher]
CON
Do not move anything forward prior to a thorough review by a bipartisan task force that includes school district representatives, parent representatives, AEA representatives and community representatives.
02-20-2024
Kelly Ward [CRAEA]
CON
This bill is not what is best for Iowa students. Rural schools will be harmed the most by this proposed legislation, limiting access to highly trained individuals that are able to build relationship with district personnel and families. These relationships are the foundation for improving student outcomes. Working in a partnership to design high quality school improvement plans and individual education with the needs of the school and the students at the forefront. Building on those strengths to accelerate learning. Again, I urge you to vote no on this bill.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
The AEAs are essential to the success and future of Iowa. Teachers, school employees, parents and students need the resources provided by the AEAs. The AEA does need to reorganize their administration and structure for payment and employees, but not the resources available and NOT the help provided to the educators, educational staff and parents.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [[ ]]
CON
Why are we taking support away from our most vulnerable students and families and the teachers who support them (both in general education and special education). Take time to examine the AEA system before deciding something needs to be fixed and making sweeping changes.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
AEA should remain as it is. It is a great organization and has provided services successfully for many years. My daughter was diagnosed with a speech problem by AEA at 3 years old. The assistance by AEA starting at her young age helped my daughter immensely. My daughter received services by the AEA for several years which I know helped her to be successful in her schooling and her life.My daughter went onto college. Now my daughter does public speaking in her current occupation.Her success in college and her occupation is a direct result of the early intervention of the AEA and assistance with her speech issues. Our family was very appreciative of the AEA organization. The AEA should be able to continue to provide the great services as they have for a very long time.
02-20-2024
Jody Mineart []
CON
Please vote no, this bill will harm our small and rural schools. Besides affecting our small and rural schools, public schools rely on the professionals at our Area Education Agencies. In my district, the Independent School District of West Burlington, we've had Jennifer Lamm work with a task force to choose a new English Language Arts curriculum. Jennifer also comes in and helps us with teaching tips and other resources to be the best teachers we can be. Flannery Wheeler is the math consultant that works with our school and I'm proud to be on the math task force with her as we work to choose a new math curriculum for our next school year. I feel that our public school learns from these two women and I value their input and leadership.Please vote no so we can protect our resources and personnel who are experts in their fields to assist schools across Iowa.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [[ ]]
CON
Any changes made to the AEA will hurt a system that already works. Please vote no.
02-20-2024
Christine Esser [Heartland AEA]
CON
I am writing to you as a constituent from Grimes toexpress my concerns over HF 2612 and the dismantling of Area Education Agencies (AEA's) in the state of Iowa. I implore you to vote against HF 2612. My profession is in education at theHeartland AEAwhere I currently serve as a Literacy Consultant. I support twelve school districts in rural Iowa: Adair Casey, Audubon, Carroll, Coon RapidsBayard, Earlham, Exira ElkHorn Kimballton, GliddenRalston, Guthrie Center, Kuemper, Panorama, West Central Valley, and Winterset. My work experience has been in education for twentyeight years as a Language Arts Teacher, Special Education Teacher, Special Education Consultant, Instructional Coach and currently a Literacy Consultant. I have taught in the Dubuque Community School District, and consulted for Keystone AEA and Heartland AEA. In my role teaching for ten years in Dubuque, the Keystone AEA was a vital support for me as aSpecial Education Teacher. We met weekly, problem solved on students, did data reviews, IEP meetings, observations, instructional coaching and more. The support from the Keystone AEA was life changing, especially in my first years of teaching, as were the library and media services from the AEA. I used the boxed books every month for my students and checked out professional books and journals often. In my current role as a Literacy Consultant at Heartland AEA, some of the support I provide districts are for professional learning communities (PLC's), Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Multi Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), evidence based practices, high quality professional development, the Science of Reading and Writing, Standards Based Learning, literacy data reviews, curriculum selection and review, teacher observations and feedback, modeling lessons, dyslexia specialists, instructional coaching and implementation science. I meet with teachers, instructional coaches and administrators on a weekly basis for coaching, problem solving and literacy data review. Who will be there to provide this support to the rural school districts if the Education Services are disbanded from all of the AEA's? In addition to delivering PD within districts, I also provide high quality professional learning for teachers statewide in Iowa through the AEA professional learning system. This gives educators across Heartland and the state the opportunity for in person, online, or asynchronous learningopportunities forlicensurerenewal and advancement of their pedagogy. Who will provide these learning opportunities for teachers, administrators, coaches and paraeducators if the content area specialists are gone? The direct support that the AEA's provide for rural school districts is absolutelycritical for the success of students. It wasn't until I moved from supporting urban schools to rural that I could see the difference and magnitude of services that AEA's provide for smaller school districts. Reducing or completelyremoving the support that AEA's provide would crumble rural school districts and their ability to provide the best instruction and educational support for students. There is not a pool of specialists to hire in rural districts across Iowa. Rural schools are already impacted by a lack of high quality educators to hire. The AEA provides schools with support in core instruction, Special Education Consultants, Speech Language Pathologists, School Psychologist, Social Workers, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapists and more. The AEA's have consultants in literacy, math, science, social studies, digital learning, instructional coaches, professional learning and leadership, technology and more, ALL of which support rural schools. The AEA library and media services, book sets, decodable texts, ELL books, professional books, digital resources and more are outstanding! These media resources could not be replicated by rural districts or the Department of Education. It is my belief that dismantling the AEA's will cause irreparable harm to the entire state of Iowa's education system. This is an issue of EQUITY in providing the best quality education for ALL of our students. I implore you to vote NO on HF 2612 and put our students and families above the rhetoric and politics of our current state.
02-20-2024
Keri Renze [Parent]
CON
Please vote no to this bill! Create a task force with republicans, democrats, AEA staff, school district staff, parents and students to engage in a comprehensive analysis of the education system in Iowa to determine where the gaps are and how to best support students and families. Also, the Director of the Department of Education should be someone who has taught in a classroom. The person in this position should have the same degrees that are required of AEA administrators. Do the right thing and vote no to this bill!
02-20-2024
Matt Ward []
CON
This bills continues to need work. As a taxpayer I would like to see more input from those who will be impacted.
02-20-2024
Julie Williams []
CON
We need to slow this bill down and not even consider it this year. There is no need to rush this through and make careless decisions on the behalf of Iowa students. We aren't even aware of what the issues really arethe Governor's report from Guidehouse was full of nonfactual information and we can't dismantle AEAs because of it! Iowans have spoken and they don't want this bill nor do they want the dept in education having all the control. Giving funding to schools will result in inequitable services at a much higher cost. Let's focus on a task force only this year and use that to make changes for the better.
02-20-2024
Allie Koolbeck [Private citizen ]
CON
I am against this bill. It is unclear how any of these changes will improve outcomes and close gaps for students with disabilities or address federal compliance concerns. This bill also devalues local control and places a tremendous (too much) control in the hands of the department of education. Lastly, the elimination of media services removes $32 million of funding from local districts and accredited nonpublic school budgets. Districts and accredited nonpublic partners will have to use general funds to replace it.As an Iowan who attended public schools and one who will send her children to them, I am vehemently against this bill and the further privatization of education.
02-20-2024
Audrey Walker [Heartland AEA]
CON
I want to thank the legislators who have had countless conversations and read through many emails from Iowans across the entire state who all, it seems, vehemently oppose this bill. I truly appreciate all of the effort that was put forth to slow this bill down in the past 2 weeks, however, it seems that the effort has not been enough. AEAs are crucial to providing equitable services for Iowan children and if the best interest of our future (children) are not at the forefront of our government, what are we even doing here? Please vote no on this bill.
02-20-2024
Andrea Timm []
CON
AEA's are essential to the needs of all students. They provide vital support and services to children 021 in homes, childcare, private preschools, inhome childcare, and schools. All families can access services without a waiting list or private insurance.
02-20-2024
Tammy Sells [West Burlington Elementary]
CON
AEA's are such an important part of our education system here in Iowa. Just this past week I met with our school psychologist to discuss an IEP goal, had an IEP meeting with the school psychologist and social worker in attendance, and also met with the reading interventionist for an hour to discuss reading data and learn more about Panorama. I then scheduled 2 visits so the reading interventionist can come model teach UFLI, a specific reading program for my special education students. The math interventionist met with our 4th grade team to discuss winter benchmarks and help support us as we made a plan for whole class intervention and small group intervention. She then supported me with my new special education math intervention program, Bridges. And finally, I have been in touch with our occupational therapist and speech therapist to support a 4th grade student with his reading and writing goal, to include a computerized program. The AEA organizations support our schools in ways those who do not work in education could never begin to imagine. Please vote "No" for this bill.
02-20-2024
Ryan Dumkrieger [Voter]
CON
Three asks:1. Push pause and complete a comprehensive study of what AEAs actually do and how they function in order to make recommendations for improving services to general education and special education students. 2. Separate the teacher pay portion from this bill, fully fund it indefinitely, and pass it immediately. 3. Keep learning about the AEAs and their partnership with schools. The listening and ahhas happening amongst legislators is amazing.
02-20-2024
Kerri Schwemm [Citizen, Parent and Speech-Language Pathologist at Heartland AEA]
CON
First I want to thank Rep Wheeler and the House Education Committee for listening and trying their best to make changes to the original bill in a short turn around time. I also appreciate your recognition for the need for continued collaborative conversations.The only part of this bill that I can support is the development of a task force. This must be comprised of bipartisan legislators; local education agency representatives, AEA representatives, parents, and community members. Making any changes prior to the completion of such a task force is comparable to a mechanic replacing the engine of your car before knowing the possible cause(s) of the problem.
02-20-2024
Roxanne Cumings [Parent, Grandparent, Educator, Registered Voter, Believer in representative government ]
CON
I am opposed to HF 2612 and implore our states legislators to listen to the thousands of informed voices, across our great state, who are warning of the damage this bill will cause to our education system in Iowa. Please amend this bill to convene a bipartisan commission to make recommendations to suggest improvements to our AEA system rather than to dismantle a system of supports on which our children, families, educators and school districts rely. There is absolutely no reason to make decisions using the governors flawed and biased report. Her feelings toward public education are clear..if there were ever a time when we desperately need the system of checks and balances designed by the founders of our country, it is now! Please, legislators, you have the power to save a system that IS working so please do so. Our kids, our families and our public schools are counting on you! Thank you for your service as a legislator.
02-20-2024
Jenny Butler []
CON
I am a public school teacher currently teaching at HowardWinneshiek CSD in Cresco, IA. I have been a public school teacher for 16 years. Those years have been evenly split between teaching in general education and special education positions. AEA resources and personnel have been and continue to be invaluable to me, my students, my students' parents, my colleagues, and my administrators.All public school students are general education students first. AEAs provides support in utilizing MultiTiered System of Supports in order to maximize student achievement and support students' social, emotional, and behavior needs. These needs have been increasing exponentially in recent years. Asking teachers and schools to support general education students without the support from AEAs is absurd and will certainly lead to poor learning outcomes and most likely increase the current teacher shortage as teachers will find the expectations overwhelming.When I taught in an English Language Arts classroom, I utilized AEA media services to provide a variety of literacy materials for my students. Providing choice and varied reading levels on an as needed/wanted basis is critical to engaging students in reading. In using the Keystone AEA media services, I could search for student requested materials or materials that I needed but my school didn't have and have them delivered to my classroom usually within a few days. As a special education teacher, I use the media services to locate differentiated curriculum that will meet my students' varied needs. This includes social skills, adaptive behavior, and autism supports, not to mention the various math and literacy manipulatives and intervention materials that are available.Keystone AEA helps our district with professional development and supports content area teachers with trainings that keep our staff at the top of their profession.The Keystone AEA staff is an integral part of our district. I have students who work with occupational therapists, physical therapists, psychologists, and social workers. I regularly consult with AEA staff to support the writing and implementation of students' IEPs, to design interventions for nonidentified students, to assist with communication to parents about evaluations and functional behavior assessments. If we lose the services of the AEA staff, my job would become overwhelming and impossible to do well. Our students would lose access to the excellent resources that are provided through the AEA.AEAs ensure all students, regardless of location or background, have access to highquality educational opportunities and resources. They bridge the gap between rural and urban schools and support underserved communities. AEAs offer all of Iowas schools the ability to access specialists, equipment, and resources, ensuring equity among large and small schools in urban and rural areas.Classroom teachers, education support professionals, and administrators must fill in for the services removed from those provided by our AEAs, specifically in rural areas where contracting out is not an option. That means school employee workloads increase exponentially.I sincerely and respectfully request that you listen to the stakeholders that would be directly impacted by this bill and use your vote to support AEAs and public schools.
02-20-2024
HUGH KELLY []
CON
I encourage you to please reconsider supporting this, because I benefited from services AEA provided when I was in elementary school in seeing GA speech therapist and physiotherapist that was provided by the AEA. I am afraid that if this bill in its current form becomes that kids with disabilities will not be able to receive services they might need through the AEA. I hope you keep ththese concerns in mind when deciding if you support this bill. Thank you.
02-20-2024
Hillory Jaco []
CON
I want to voice my strongest opposition to this bill. While some improvements have been made to the initial AEA bill, this still needs vast improvements. While it is good that this version of the bill protects funding for Special Education, it still does a huge disservice by not fully funding Media Services/Technology and Education Services. All students are general education students first and a special education student's education relies on strong resources in Education Services and Media Services. The tools provided by those two areas are fundamental to ALL students and help ensure positive outcomes for kids.The funding models for the AEAs need to stay as is so they can capitalize on economies of scale to deliver services in the most equitable, efficient and cost effective manner possible. This saves taxpayer dollars and ensures highquality services and offerings.This bill does NOT improve outcomes for kids, but will cause irreparable damage for generations to come.
02-20-2024
Dan Carver [Individual]
CON
I teach computer science to elementary school students which has been a priority for the governor and this state. As I have grown the computer science program at my school, I have relied heavily on the AEA for help, guidance, and professional support. They have supplied me with resources like robots for my students to code, with indistrict training on best teaching practices for students using computers, and regular updates with the latest news from the field. And it's not just Heartland AEA, but I've been able to connect and network with technology and computer science teachers from all over the state, thanks to the coordination of the whole state's AEA system. You see, while computer science has made fantastic growth over the last few years, it still can be a lonely job, as I am the only dedicated computer science teacher for grades K5 in my school. But with the AEA's help, I can continue to grow as a teacher and do more for my students.I know that the argument to my story will be that under this House bill, my district can still choose to contract with my AEA, if they want. I know the comeback will be that under the House bill, the AEAs can continue to offer those services to me. But I also know that is only a halftruth. Because the services that I need from the AEA to keep teaching will only exist if every district continues to contract with the AEA and the funding keeps flowing. While my district may choose to contract with Heartland, if other districts don't, there won't be the money to keep all the offerings of the AEA. As the money starts to leave, so will resources, the robots, the trainings, and the staff. And I'm going to be left to teach computer science all by myself, regardless of what my district chooses to do.You can't say that the AEA can continue to offer everything but allow for the funding to leave. I've seen this too many times in my 18 years of teaching. This bill doesn't kill the AEA immediately, but it sets up a slow and gradual demise. It starts a grim circle where one district pulls its money, the AEA will make cuts to services, which causes more districts to pull their money, which will cause more cuts, until there's nothing left.Legislators have the opportunity to support education, support teachers, and support students simply by doing nothing. We teachers will be far better off with the status quo then we will be with these changes to the AEAs.Do not continue this bill.
02-20-2024
Beth Weber []
CON
I urge you to not move this bill forward and vote "no". I have used AEA services for my son. He experienced hearing loss which effected his speech. We were able to assess speech therapy. We would not have been able to use speech in the private setting due to our insurance not covering the service. AEA has helped monitor his hearing and he continue to receive hearing screenings at school and we have used the hearing booth. Growing up in rural community, I am concerned how these changes would effect our rural schools and communities. Iowa is made up of some great communities this bill would defund public education, which then eventually would kill our small rural communities. I ask you to do a task force with all the stakeholders at the table.
02-20-2024
Sara Perry []
CON
We are asking you to stop this bill and slow down, so we can take the responsible time needed to conduct a credible, thorough study to guide what reform is truly needed in advance of a bill coming into law. I appreciate you working on a Task Force, but we hope this is all we do at this time. We do not need a bill to do this critical work. The risk of making mistakes on this one is far too high, and the trust our communities have in our legislation will be broken for years to come.
02-20-2024
Cathy Mann []
CON
Please do not pass this bill regarding the AEAs, I am in the public schools everyday and I see how much the AEA does each and everyday. It would be detrimental to the students, parents and the schools themselves. The damage would take decades to repair of ever. It makes no sense to take a part a system that has served schools for 50 years. Thank you for your consideration.
02-20-2024
Susan Atwater [Mom and Grandma]
CON
STOP! The AEAs help ALL students! The Department of Ed is not prepared or equipped to provide the services in a timely manner. STOP hurting Iowa children! Save the AEAs!
02-20-2024
Claire Pittman []
CON
I am opposed to this bill. Many of our schools, teachers, superintendents, and parents, do not understand the repercussions this bill would have on how their schools function from day to day. Many of our schools receive internet service, cyber security, and other vital resources from the AEAs. Not to mention customized professional development, as our coaches and leaders are local and know our school districts. I propose stopping this legislation in favor of a comprehensive review of the AEAs and their services.
02-20-2024
Kate Peterson []
CON
Vote NO and stop all AEA bills, amendments, or otherwise. These bills should not be passed. The public outcry from the families, educators, and professionals that support special needs students over the last month and a half has been in unison. We the people, in the state of Iowa, do NOT support any changes to our AEA system. A comprehensive review involving all stakeholders affected is the only ethical way to determine what special education reform modifications need to be made. Consistency is the absolute most important piece of Iowa's special education system and is why it is more effective than most other states. To disrupt a solid, stable, and consistent system, with the public speaking out daily saying NO, would go directly against what a democracy is. The people of Iowa are in charge. The people of Iowa support and protect their most vulnerable population with resiliency and ferocity. We will not stop our outcry, we will not agree to these terms, we do not support these bills. The funding going back into the Department of Education (back to the government), under no supervision of an educator from Iowa that knows the importance of the public education and special education systems we have in Iowa, backed by a study conducted from an out of state company that also knows nothing about Iowa education, seems rather concerning. Why direct all the funding back to the government? Why remove citizens abilities to serve on boards that govern the spending? Why is the public being shielded from complete transparency? Why is there a fee for service model that would end up costing more rather than less? Why is there an agenda to disrupt our special education system so quickly and detrimentally, without any input from the people affected? Why do the parents not have a seat at the table when it is mandatory, we be allowed at the table for our children's IEP meetings? Something does not make sense here. Until we have a very clear picture of the real reasons behind why this is happening, with actual quality data to support it, the answer is simply no. No, these bills stop here.
02-20-2024
Dawn Schechtman []
CON
Iowa's AEAs are so important. Though we appreciate this improved bill there is still many concerns. The services provided by the AEA are vital to education and especially to rural districts. The media and technology resources and services would be very difficult to find and many districts do not have access to or can afford private services. If the urban districts no longer use the AEAs, the smaller rural schools will struggle when they already do not have enough funding. AEAs offer specialized services to all districts that benefit all students. The access to specialists, equipment, and resources is provided equally to all public and private schools. The loss of these services would put even more stress and work on already overloaded teachers and administrators. I appreciate your consideration and the time and work you are taking on this bill. Please consider the huge needs of rural schools and teachers across Iowa. Thank you for your time and consideration.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please stop this bill. These changes have significant implementation issues and a host of unintended consequences. Support only a study of the whole education system in Iowa and then make calculated changes that directly address well defined problems.
02-20-2024
Laurel Zoet [NWAEA]
CON
Please consider tabling this bill until a full study of the AEA's can be completed to ensure all stakeholders have a voice on this life changing ledgislation. I truly appreciate the time and consideration each of you have given this important bill, however, there is still a lot of work to be done. Our AEA's are a valuable resource to Iowa schools and we need more, not less, of the supports to provide direct services for students struggling with mental health and behavioral needs and with helping to prepare our youth to have the skills necessary to be future ready. The services provided by our Education Services and Media departments are essential to help support the literacy and math skills of all students to make Iowa schools a national leader in academics. Please vote no so we can get this right. Thank you.
02-20-2024
Tara McGrath []
CON
While I like that the teacher pay is separate now, I dont understand why we are still entertaining this bill. The majority of people are against changing the AEA. When will the Legislation listen to the people who elected them to serve by voting the way the citizens want? Why are you listening to outside influences?
02-20-2024
Patricia Otto []
CON
I'm against changes to the AEA bill that cuts special education and mental health services for the children in Iowa. The majority in this legislation appear to be for the birth of all children but there is not much interest in children, or their education, after they are born. This is not acceptable to me.
02-20-2024
Emily Negi []
CON
I would like it to be publicly noted that I am against bill HF 2612. As a seasoned educator and Professional School Counselor and parent, I have seen firsthand how our AEA's tirelessly serve the evergrowing needs of Iowa's students. English Language Learners, students in need of special education services (including my own daughter) ,and those in need of mental health services need our support in the form of the CURRENT AEA service model. This bill is a thinly veiled attempt to cut funding which will badly hurt the most vulnerable Iowans. We are better than this and we value our students, young people, and educators and associated professionals more than this. We must act according to our true values in Iowa and defeat this bil.
02-20-2024
Karen McFarland []
CON
Please leave Iowas AEAs as they are now with no changes to structure or oversight or funding. The AEAs have a proven track record of being beneficial to teachers,students and administrators and there is no need for change. Revamping the agency is not something that the citizens of Iowa desire. Please listen to your constituents!!!
02-20-2024
Anonymous [United Community School District]
CON
This is my first year in the school system. A very rural school system. I am a school nurse. It has not taken me long to see how invaluable the services provided to schools by the AEAs are. I fear for our educational systembut mainly our kids to have more resources stripped away. Please vote no.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
The AEA system does not need to be fixed. There has been no clear problem defined; the data the governor has cited is flawed. Why are we putting our faith in an out of state company that puts out flawed information? The state of Iowa knows how to educate its children. The AEAs serve both public and nonpublic schools; all students will suffer if this bill becomes law. The director of the Department of Education has no education experience, so why should we put our childrens future in her hands? Instead, let the intelligent educators of this state do their work to help all children. I implore you to kill this bill and let Iowa educators get back to educating. You will lose educators if this bill passes, and many of them will choose to leave the state to find somewhere that values their expertise.
02-20-2024
Virginia Beecher [Retired Educator]
CON
In my nearly thirty year career, I found the AEA services to be invaluable. I used many resources from them including materials and instruction to help my students improve their reading. I also used their guidance in handling special needs students and had great success. I am not sure why the AEA has become a target this year and fear this legislation will have a negative impact on education statewide. If the impetus for these changes has come from some out of state organization, then my comment to legislators would be why are you trusting non Iowans to determine what we do in education? I do not believe privatizing services or letting schools choose is the end game here and am opposed to this legislation as written. Do better and do your homework.
02-20-2024
Shannon Parrish []
CON
Please support the AEAs not limit them. AEA's provide many valuable services to children, families, school staff, school districts, and beyond. This bill will hurt rural districts the most, take away local control, and most importantly will cut services to children.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please do not support HF 2612. As a classroom teacher, I use many resources provided by the AEA. For example, I utilize Mystery Science, and I regularly check out media resources. I also use print services. I rely on Ed Services staff and Special Education staff to provide guidance and coaching for whole class instruction and individualized supports for students with IEPs. I also rely on the AEAs online PD offerings to earn renewal credits and complete my mandatory trainings. I think this bill will decrease efficiency and limit access to quality supports that teachers need. My colleagues and I will be far less effective if this bill passes, and our students will suffer.
02-20-2024
Melissa blohm []
CON
This bill hurts Iowas kids and teachers. It makes me sad to see a system that has been built from the ground up being bulldozed. Having the department in control isnt whats best. Cutting media isnt whats best. Cutting aea admin isnt whats best. Please dont support this bill do whats best for the kids of Iowa.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am writing to urge you to vote NO on proposed changes to Iowa's Area Education Agencies (AEAs). Our AEAs play a vital role in supporting our schools, teachers, and students, and any alterations to their structure could have detrimental effects on our education system.Iowa AEAs provide essential services that benefit all students, including English language learners like many of our newcomers. These services range from language support to professional development for teachers, ensuring that all students have the resources they need to succeed.By maintaining the current structure of AEAs, we are not just supporting individual students but also strengthening our entire education community. Changes to the AEAs could disrupt the crucial support systems in place and hinder our students' academic success.I urge you to vote NO to protect our Iowa AEAs and safeguard the future of our education system. To ensure that all students have access to the resources and support they need to thrive.Thank you for considering this important issue. Let's keep our AEAs strong for the benefit of all.
02-20-2024
Debra Brokaw [x]
CON
This bill will have a direct and negative impact on rural schools, particularly concerning their ability to afford essential services. The district my kids attend, Monticello, heavily relies on the valuable support provided by Grant Wood AEA, and this bill will jeopardize the availability of crucial services for students.I firmly believe that every student, regardless of their geographical location, deserves access to quality education and support services. My four kids who are still in school deserve this! The proposed bill seems to pose a threat to the very essence of providing equitable educational opportunities, particularly for my kids who attend a rural school.Recently, I attended a forum where two superintendents spoke about services from AEA moving to a fee structure. They made it clear that this would unquestionably hurt students in their districts. AEAs can provide more services because of the large scale of the organization. Even if the money is given to the districts, it wouldn't be enough to support the wide range of services that would need to be contracted.Furthermore, the proposal to move professional development to the Department of Education is not what's best for students. The districts want local control and access to their professional development. The AEAs go into their buildings and provide them with professional development that is tailored to their specific needs. The Department of Education will not be able to provide this type of personalized PD for districts with ongoing support for the implementation of their efforts like the AEAs can.Please oppose this legislation.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [SEP Schools]
CON
Do the bipartisan task force that in ludes schools, teachers, AEA, community, and stakeholders first.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Although some changes were made, it is not enough. Stop the bill and do not move it forward. Take the time to properly study the system and conduct a review of special educational services and outcomes with the right people at the table, including Iowa teachers, administrators, and AEA staff. The voices of Iowas citizens has been clear, we are not in favor you this bill.
02-20-2024
Katie Vander Sanden []
CON
I again implore you to vote no on the AEA bill. All students need the AEA. No changes should be made to the AEA without a bipartisan study made up of legislators, teachers, parents, mental health professionals, and superintendents from all parts of Iowa. The cost of cutting the AEA would be too great, Do what is right for the children of Iowa and vote no.
02-20-2024
Sharon Moss []
CON
What will happen to children who don't get the services they need to thrive? In a country as wealthy as this, there are plenty of funds to help them learn how to navigate their place in the world. I hope they don't have that chance taken away from them and their families.
02-20-2024
Samantha Perry []
CON
I strongly oppose this bill. Should this bill pass, thousands of jobs would be lost statewide and this bill turns educational services into a competitive bidding process and students will not get the services they need. That is not what our schools or students need. This bill is not good for Iowa educators or students and families. Please support the Iowans you represent and do not vote to pass this bill. Do not have your legacy be letting down Iowas children and families.
02-20-2024
Maria Hasken-Averkamp []
CON
Keep in mind, rushing this bill has so many farreaching potentially negative impacts that cannot be anticipated without a thorough review and study of the current AEA system. This bill affects all Iowa public and accredited nonpublic schools and their communities. It is crucial our legislators recognize Iowa's educational supports such as AEAs shouldn't be pulled apart at the seams hoping it will result in better outcomes.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I'm concerned how this bill will negatively impact Iowa's special education & general education students. +Fee for service model will be harmful to kids in rural and smaller districts+Transfer of oversight to DE raises concerns for local control and meeting the needs of students in a timely manner+Changing media services will limit students access to resources and not be as cost effective as current system+Thousands of Iowans are speaking out against this bill. Please hear us. Please vote NO to this bill.
02-20-2024
Gretchen Eastman [Lifelong Iowan]
CON
I have big concerns about taking decision making away from locally elected AEA boards and putting it all in the hands of a political appointee.I don't see how centralized control of professional development will improve student achievement. Our AEA'S have been providing researchbased training for as long as I have been teaching, which is 33 years. They co tinge to be responsive to changes in education. For example, we received training on AI through our AEA.The state needs to pause passing any legislation that changes our AEA system before doing a real analysis of the system by Iowans and stakeholders.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Once again, I strongly encourage you to vote against this. It will do more harm than good for Iowas children. Many success stories have been shared on multiple platforms with many different legislators. The current bill will also be harmful to those living in rural areas where services are not available outside the AEA. Please listen to the vast majority your constituents and vote no.
02-20-2024
Stephanie Anderson []
CON
This is a bad bill plain and simple. Its a rushed legislative mess that takes away local control and will only hurt smaller districts. This is a blatant power grab and is not in the interest of Iowans. I strongly urge you not to pass this bill.
02-20-2024
Jennifer Autera [Public school]
CON
This bill is still a No! It still leaves to many unanswered questions. Our most vulnerable students are at risk. Every child is at risk. It needs to be more about whats best for children and less about how to move everything under the DE. The AEA has and is helping numbers of children, families, teachers. I would like to see more transparency and less of the agenda that is being pushed. I would like to see who will be involved in the task force. It should consist of administrators, teachers,AEA personnel and parents. I ask that you listen to the people who are opposing this bill. The parents who have children who will be affected by this bill. The teachers that work closely with the AEA to support the children. Please vote No!!
02-20-2024
Laura Horn []
CON
I know that this bill has undergone changes, but the fact remains that the bill, as it stands now, isnt really any better than it started out. I live in a small town. I teach in a small district. It sounds good that the money ends with the district, but the reality is, the money wont be enough to cover what the AEA provides at no cost to the districts. I am strongly against these bills for several reasons:1. There isnt enough time given to ethically look at data. 2. The data that has been looked at isnt the full picture.3. In the 20+ years I have taught in the Iowa public schools, the AEA has provided services with professionalism and has provided so much more than the district could provide. I taught in Nebraska prior to moving to Iowa, and the ESUs didnt provide nearly the services the AEAs have. They have been vital to the success of our district.4. I strongly disagree with someone who isnt from Iowa, who hasnt worked in education, and doesnt know what the local districts need having the sole oversight power. What my district needs isnt what Des Moines or bigger districts need. If someone hasnt lived and worked in the local district, they should NOT be making the decisions.Please do NOT pass these bills. Let the professionals the AEA people who have been in the classroom and know what teachers and students need collaborate with the local districts to provide the needed services. The AEAs as they have stood for over 50 years are VITAL to our public schools.
02-20-2024
Maggie Woznicki []
CON
It is unclear how any of these changes will improve outcomes and close gaps for students with disabilities or address federal compliance concerns. If our governor and state legislators are truly interested in making significant changes to our education system to improve the lives of Iowa students with disabilities, lets slow down this process and use a data informed, humancentered approach and rely on the voices of those impacted.
02-20-2024
Kyle Guertin [Riceville CSD]
CON
AEAs provide valuable resources to all schools in Iowa, especially the rural schools. Our district relies on our AEA to supply teaching materials, professional development, technology, social work, among many other items. This bill will put a financial burden on many districts that wish to continue to receive these services if no longer provided by the AEA. My support is for the AEAs and to keep them as they are. This bill will be detrimental to rural schools, our students, and staff.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
This bill is based on shaky data at best. The AEAs identify students for services. If students are not making growth and are behind, it is due to implementation of their plans. Implementation has been impacted by this administration's continued cuts to public education. The AEAs work tirelessly within the systems to make sure students have the appropriate supports in order for students to be successful. Cutting services and reallocating funds so approval goes through the department of education is going to make it even harder for school buildings to get supports in an efficient manner.
02-20-2024
Jill Andresen [Mississippi Bend AEA]
CON
As an AEA employee, I have serious concerns about being employed by a school district. Often there are times when I have to advise schools regarding special education law, suspension decisions, etc... What would happen if my recommendations in accordance with IDEA, are opposed by district administration? Being an AEA employee, we are far enough removed to be objective assisting districts with appropriate decisions; yet close enough to live, work and know the needs of the people in the communities to which we serve. Further, as an employee of the AEA, I have support in extensive professional development and continuance of required CEUs to keep my license. School districts may not be able to or choose not to offer this. This would negatively impact the quality of services districts have available to them and subsequently to students. As an AEA employee, I have a "warehouse of experts" available to me at all times to help me serve my districts better. I have a particular set of skills but NOT all the skills needed for all students. From hearing, speech, mental health, early childhood, reading, math, physical and behavior.. it truly takes a warehouse of services ready and available when a district needs them. In rural counties, where does one find a needle in a haystack quickly unless you have a warehouse of services and experts? Please vote NO on the AEA bill.
02-20-2024
Chris Rolwes [Cedar Rapids Community School District]
CON
Iowas AEAs are a model of efficiency, offering robust professional resources and services to students across the state. This economy of scale means rural and urban area students have the same opportunities for growth and learning. Media and IT resources and services are just two hardtofind services available across the state through AEAs. Many communities do not have access to and cannot afford private specialty consulting services without our AEA offerings. Our GWAEA is currently offering classes on how to use Artificial Intelligence in instruction. How are we supposed to stay on the cutting edge educationally and instructionally if each district has to provide these services? AEAs ensure all students, regardless of location or background, have access to highquality educational opportunities and resources. They bridge the gap between rural and urban schools and support underserved communities. AEAs offer all of Iowas schools the ability to access specialists, equipment, and resources, ensuring equity among large and small schools in urban and rural areas. AEAs offer specialized services not typically available within individual school districts, such as early childhood education, special education, career and technical education, and professional development for specific subject areas. Classroom teachers, education support professionals, and administrators must fill in for the services removed from those provided by our AEAs, specifically in rural areas where contracting out is not an option. That means school employee workloads increase exponentially. Any changes to the AEA's should be done after a significant study along with input for stakeholders. Thank you.
02-20-2024
Denise Perez [Parent]
CON
I urge our legislators to vote no on this bill. This weekend I was able to attend an AEA discussion held by CPEAR and Learned just how much our AEAs help schools, students and families. These bills will create chaos for our public schools. The services provided by AEAs cannot easily be replaced by fee for services, especially in rural Iowa. It is fiscally irresponsible to make school districts replace the consolidated services and supports provided by AEAs. The fact that AEAs, schools and parents were NOT consulted is problematic at best.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Education]
CON
We need to have a Task Force review AEAs before passing any bill. The Task Force needs to identify an actual problem with AEAs in order to determine necessary solutions. All this bill would do is create bigger problems without feasible solutions. This isn't about "kicking the can down the road", this is about acting responsibly.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I implore you to cast a "NO" vote on this bill. As a rural Iowa educator, any changes to the AEA greatly and disproportionately affect rural districts, teachers, and ultimately students. If AEA services are removed, those services like printing or equipment or books I might use in my classroom must come from somewhere else. My district does not have the funds to adequately fill the gap removal of services from the AEA would leave. And I certainly do not either. Please do not jeopardize the services our IOWA students need and deserve. The AEA system in Iowa is outstanding. Please do your due diligence, slow down, really look into it, and then make an informed decision.Thank you.
02-20-2024
Chris Dicus []
CON
Although this bill is a significant improvement on the original bill and the one in the Senate, if this bill moves forward, there will be negative consequences to our educational system. Instead of pushing a bill through, the priority should be to determine what, if any, specific things need to be done to improve the AEA system. One way to prevent the inevitable negative consequences of moving a bill forward too quickly is to stop the bill and instead do a full, comprehensive review of the AEA and the educational system. Only after a comprehensive review is completed and evaluated should further steps be considered. Please stop this bill, and the one in the Senate, and focus on gathering the full facts and input from stakeholders while taking time to do a thorough job. Moving forward, without a full understanding of what works and what doesn't will harm Iowa's strong educational system. Please do not let that happen!
02-20-2024
Jennifer Santiago []
CON
Please vote no on this bill. There is no reason to rush this legislation and it has a large possibility of interrupting the continuity of care students are in the process of receiving. Please do the right thing and create a bipartisan task force to fully study the AEA process instead of dismantling it based on an out of state voice. Please do the right thing for all of our children and slow down this process in order to really understand the impact it will have on Iowas children.
02-20-2024
Carolyn Stephenson [n/a]
CON
The overwhelming support of Iowans for their AEAs should be heard and honored. The vast majority of parents, teachers and administrators who have testified, support the current structure and functions. Privatization of media services and professional development, and legislating state control through the Dept. of Education will damage a key structure of public education in Iowa.
02-20-2024
Patricia Sheller [None]
CON
AEAs have done a good job helping Iowa kids for decades. The Governor's proposals are based on a faulty study from out of state. Leave our AEAs alone!
02-20-2024
Martin Mulligan [concerned citizen/taxpayer/voter/southwest Iowa resident/occupational therapist/community advocate.]
CON
FirstI would like to thank the members of the house for giving the public another opportunity to express their views on HF 2612.I urge you to vote NO on this measure.Our local legislators talked about slowing the process down at their meetings in order to have a thorough review with representation from all stake holders involved: students, parents, SPED staff, classroom teachers, principals, superintendents,DOE people and some AEA staff.With due respect having entities nominated by legislators alone will not be representative of a valid ,transparent and accountable process.It feels like we are putting the cart before the horse.
02-20-2024
Kelsey Bowers [AEA]
CON
This bill does not address the voices of Iowans. Do create the task force this version mentions, but ensure that ALL stakeholder parties are represented and that the goals of the task force are focused on the improvement of services, not the dismantling of a longstanding, proven system of success.
02-20-2024
Madeline Grothus []
CON
Iowas AEA system is a model for efficiency for serving all schools/students/communities. Because of the system in place, our rural schools across the State are able to access the same services and supports that the Urban schools do. media and IT services are valuable and necessary services that allow for access to ever changing resources and at an equitable level for all schools. These services are personally valuable and necessary for me as a SLP. If these monies fall to the schools in future years, the negative impact on student learning/access to LRE/necessary supports would be huge. Districts cant and wont be able to replicate these services. professional development to our school partners and internal AEA staff would cease to exist. Again schools cant and wont be able to replicate these necessary and valuable services. This is a huge reason why Im proud to be an AEA SLP. I am able to access professional learning that allows me to work at the top of my license with new evidencedbased services. overall school employ workload would increase significantly. Teachers and administrators and school support staff are already juggling too many balls. By making these changes to the AEA system we risk burdening an already overloaded system at the cost of human happiness and mental health. Please consider all these items when discussing this bill in the open forum. Please hear the thousands of Iowans who oppose this bill. We can be more thoughtful if we take the time and put forth the due diligence this legislation deserves. And we can stop the negative direct impact this will have our learners, schools and communities. Madeline Grothus6820 Timber CtBettendorf, IA.
02-20-2024
Penney Morse [United Methodist Women]
CON
If the governor and the Iowa legislature want to improve educational outcomes for Iowa students, start with input from Iowa parents, educators and professionals in a thoughtful process focusing on working together to improve the delivery of services. The current bill to reform the AEA shifts decision making from locally controlled boards to to a director in the Department of Education. Local districts and accredited nonpublic schools will lose $32 million in funding with the removal of media services. This bill appears to offer less accountability and shifts control to the state. Local parents and educators know what is best for their students. This bill does nothing for improving the education of Iowa students, but does look to cut funding for educational services.
02-20-2024
Odalys Garcia []
CON
My family and I moved to the U.S. when I was in second grade. We moved to an extremely small school in Royal, Iowa. The school was so small that they did not have an ESL teacher. Because of this, the administration wanted to put me in special education simply because I did not know the language. Luckily, some members of the AEA advocated for me and were able to provide the correct services for me. Today I am a sophomore at Iowa State University studying in elementary education. I currently working as an office assistant and an academic coach for the university while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. I often wonder if this would still be my current situation if the AEA had not advocated for me and if I had been wrongfully placed in special education.
02-20-2024
Amie Smith []
CON
I am Republican and I still have serious concerns with this bill. Small and rural schools are still at risk with feeforservice. Local control is still being taken away from AEAs and handed over to our Department of Education whose decisions are based on someone who does not have a degree in education. Bring all stakeholders to the table for meaningful collaboration and equity in representation such as Democrat legislators, Republican legislators, school district personnel, families, AEA staff, and employers in our state. We need SEL in our schools. Fortune 500 companies' top qualities in employees include soft skills which include SEL and our Iowa employers want these skills in our employees. We want our Iowa money to stay in Iowa and not going to outofstate private organizations for any type of private practice in our schools.
02-20-2024
Helen Kennedy []
CON
This restructuring is going to negatively affect rural schools, students and communities and smaller school districts taking money, professionals and equipment from them.This plan does nothing to improve special education services or help special needs student with services and equipment, nor does it help with mental health issues.Hiring 58 FTEs as task force members to oversee that State and Federal compliance is being met is redundant as administrators of AEAs have always complied with State and Federal mandates. There has been no proof that AEAs were not in compliance. Making the AEA board members (all local volunteers) advisory, takes away local control and a power grab by the government.Why are administrators required to get additional licensing in education when almost everyone of them has spent their entire careers in education/special education, with Ph.Ds and/or Masters, and must report to the director of DE, who has a bachelors in political science, isnt degreed in education at all, let alone special education. Her only teaching experience is teaching English in South Africa for 9 months. Anyone can teach English to nonEnglish speaking, even without a degree.You have received thousands of responses from constituents, students, parents, teachers, against this bill. It is your responsibility to your district to listen and vote as they have pleaded with you to.The Governor wants this new setup to be managed by a private business. Why are Iowa taxpayer dollars being managed by private businesses instead of a State of Iowa business?The Governor paid $1 million Iowataxpayer dollars to an outofstate company to help her write her AEA bill. They knew nothing about the Iowa education system or AEAs. The report the Governor quoted was not even a comparable report, but for $1 million dollars you can find something to back your cause, even if faulty.If you really care about helping the special education students and the mental health of Iowa students you will vote NO on HF 2612. Dont sell out our Iowa kids.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Why aren't legislators listening to a large number of Iowans who are very concerned about the harm that will be done by proposed changes to the AEAs? Republicans in the legislature Stand up against the Governor who is willing to destroy education for the sake of politics.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
AEAs in Iowa do so much to support the needs of students but they also support the needs of teachers. The classes and materials provided by AEAs are invaluable. Districts cannot possibly provide resources such as those in the professional libraries or the excellent online resources for both students and staff. Teaching is hard and it is getting harder all the time. Help our teachers and the students they serve by keeping the AEAs strong.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Special Education Teacher and AEA Mom]
CON
(As of this writing, there are 457 public comments: 1 vote FOR the bill and 456 AGAINST the bill. (There were 4 other pro votes but the comments say no to the bill) 99.8% DO NOT WANT THIS BILL)The state of Iowa requires teachers to be knowledgeable and certified. We are only allowed to use research and evidencebased practices with students. Tell me why the same does not apply to the state of Iowa for making educational systemic changes. Shouldnt the legislators have to make decisions based on research and evidencebased practices? That is not happening with this bill. The report that is being used against AEA and the test scores that are being used to mislead the actual state of special education have been presented in a skewed manner to fit the narrative of one political agenda. Many of my educational colleagues and myself have been able to read and analyze these results. If the Department of Education is not able to correctly read a report nor analyze a series of scores on a simple standardized test and report out with fidelity and accuracy, I am genuinely concerned with their ability to make decisions determining the achievement levels for schools/teachers/students and handling educational funds in an appropriate manner. Why would we take this away from the AEA when they have not misrepresented nor misused funding?If this bill is truly and genuinely for the betterment of our Iowa education system and its students, there would be no reason to rush a decision. We all agree we want the best for our students, so lets take the time to do the hard work and find out what truly is best for our kids. These kids are our future legislators, doctors and nurses, educators, and overall work force. These people will be impacting your life as you age. What kind of decision makers and caretakers do you want in our state in the not so distant future? Should this bill be pushed through, it will take years and millions of taxpayer dollars to fix it. If you vote this through you definitely arent listening to your constituents. Everyone has their eyes on this bill. Iowan voters are not stupid and are willing to vote outside of their party to get someone who will listen and hold up the values that Iowans want to keep.
02-20-2024
Jolene Bierbrodt [ISEA]
CON
In my 26 years of teaching I cannot even begin to count the times that I have used the services of our AEA. They have so much knowledge and are always willing to share ideas of best services for the kids. It saddens my heart to think that any of you might think it is a good idea to mess with how the AEAs work. How many of you have visited a school or one of the agencies while the many different professionals are at work. I also am a Grandmother to a special needs child. She is seven and will never walk or talk. While I feel that she and the students in her class learn much from each other she will never be able to test at her age level, even the doctors she sees know that. Why would you punish AEAs for her not testing at grade level. She never will. If her parents can understand that why cant you. Why would you punish people that are working to make her the best person she can be. Please think hard about not passing this bill. It will not help kids that have special needs but will hinder them very much. Thank you for listening. Jolene Bierbrodt
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Iowans keep telling you to kill this bill and you keep amending it. Stop!
02-20-2024
Deanne Hobbs [Resident of Buffalo Center]
CON
Please vote NO on the AEA bill. Please go slow and gather more research from rural Iowa schools and people who will be affected. It will be detrimental to our schools. We need all of their services! Iowa constituents are counting on you to vote NO.
02-20-2024
Colleen Knipper []
CON
Please vote NO on this bill unless further amendments are made.This bill is an improvement as compared to the governors, original proposal. I appreciate that teacher pay has been separated out; that the implementation timeline has been pushed back; and that a task force is being proposed. However, I still have major concerns with this bill. There are substantial systematic changes outlined that do not consider recommendations from the proposed task force. I think it would be much more beneficial to listen to task force recommendations gathered from a variety of stakeholders before moving forward with any system changes. I am also strongly opposed to the centralization of power with the department of education and removal of local control, especially since the current Director of the department of education has no teaching experience and no experience in Iowa schools
02-20-2024
barbara Krumvieda [citizen of Iowa]
CON
AEA,sare vital to public schools and our children in Iowa. Please do not destroy them!
02-20-2024
Ashley Laudick [Iowa Speech Language and Hearing Association]
CON
The Iowa Speech Language and Hearing Association (ISHA) believes that until there is a bipartisan task force that includes local stakeholders, there should be no authoritative changes, or changes to services until the completion of such a task force. ISHA continues to strongly oppose this legislation until input from individuals who work within the AEA as well as those who utilize their services (children and families in Iowa) are heard and considered. It is ISHA's goal to support children and families with communication disorders to the best of our ability. There has been no compelling evidence to suggest that another system outside the AEA can successfully and efficiently provide those services. We remain OPPOSED to this legislation.
02-20-2024
Cynthia Newton [Parent, SPED Educator, Ed Advocate]
CON
The AEA's are imperative to the success of our Iowa schools, both public and private. I ask that you vote not and continue to work with making any legislation a fiscally responsible solution for Iowa Schools.My story as a special education teacher is unique and I owe my success to the AEA consultants who have supported me for the past two years. I'm a master teacher with 15 years of experience. With the high need for special education teachers, my district hired me as a special education teacher on an executive licence which has now transferred to a conditional licence. I will be done with my Strat I SPED certification in the fall. Even with my vast teaching experience, I had limited knowledge of the IEP process, documentation, assessment and progress monitoring that goes into the position I hold. I had kids to teach, data to collect, and systems to learn so that I could legally fulfil my duties as a special education teacher. Without the AEA and the systems of support in place, I would have not been able to do my job and serve my students with fidelity on a day to day basis. Iowa is so extremely fortunate to have such a system in place that impacts every single student in every single district in some capacity, from general education, to special education, to media services, to the professional development of the teachers in front of them every single day. Please do your due diligence and work through this legislation further to serve our students, our teachers, and our education systems.
02-20-2024
Laura Horton [Educator]
CON
This bill is not in the best interest of children. Please slow down and do a study do determine if there really is a problem that needs addressed. There is so much false information behind this bill. Please listen to your constituents and as Iowans do the right thing.
02-20-2024
Mary L Strom [retired adult educator]
CON
I am speaking from my experience as an Adult Literacy Coordinator (now retired) NE Iowa Community College, Dubuque.The needs of adults seeking employment and entering technical training in the healthcare and industrial training programs are varied and ongoing. It makes sense to provide educators from Kindergarten through 12th grade with specialized materials to enhance learning. One shoe does not fit all. Our schools benefit from the AEA lending library concept of professionals and materials which support the classroom teacher. The AEA system saves dollars while enhancing services for our children. This is not the time or place to cut services.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Special Ed Student need the extra support from Special Ed Consultants provided by the AEA. Please take time to do a comprehensive review instead of making drastic changes to an AEA that is already proving great services.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Surgeons don't often do exploratory surgery before n kwing what part of the body is the issue. They do diagnostic testing and imaging or study behavior patterns before performing surgery. This is exactly what this bill is doing except it's opening up every extremity and 'hoping' it fixes the issue. Hope is not a strategy and this whole process deserves to have diagnostic testing and imaging before performing surgery. The AEAs are pivotal services in schools and need to be left alone until an independent commission made up of various stakeholders can study them make recommendations for improvements. If districts don't want to utilize their AEA, we have to ask why and improve the system. This bill is wanting to perform extensive surgery and out the system in a full body cast when it may just need a bandaid. I am in full opposition to anything more than an independent study at this point going forward to make changes during the 2025 session. The loves of kids, teachers, and families are on the line here and the issues need to be studied before a decision that carries so much weight is made. Thank you for your work this far and we continue to ask you to slow it down more and study the root causes before dismantling a system.
02-20-2024
Farrah Olson [Advocate]
CON
The people have spoken clearly throughout Iowa through emails, posts, and social media, that they do not agree with any bill proposed that impacts the AEA. Our voices have been loud and clear. I am no sure how much more would be needed to stop the bill when the constituents have spoken loud and clear. There will be many ripple effects from the changes. Please put a taks force in or leave the AEA out of this bill. This plan is rushed and affects many areas of the AEA, espcially the funding and giving conrol to the DE. Please vote no.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Sidney Community Schools]
CON
I do not support this bill. Give back local control! I cannot fathom how someone who has lived in the state less than a year can be trusted to run and oversee our education system.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I strongly oppose this bill. I have been a special education teacher in the state of Iowa for the past 24 years and have had two of my own children served through IEP and supported by the AEA. I could not do my job of supporting entitled students without the ongoing support of the AEA.
02-20-2024
Marian Wiedeman []
CON
I live in Winneshiek county and my children and a grandson all benefited from the services of AEA. I am greatly concerned about the proposed changes being considered for AEA.Iowa has many small rural schools districts. Transitioning media and educational services to payperservice would hinder the efficient delivery of resources and professional development. Allowing for AEAs and our school districts to share positions ensures that rural districts have access to qualified professionals that they need and deserve.Decisionmaking should remain local as they are the ones who best know the needs of the students in their own districts. AEA is working well for our schools. Careful research, information gathering and LISTENING to local educators, parents and school administrators needs to take place before considering any proposed changes.
02-20-2024
Valerie Sitzmann []
CON
I would request the Education Committee form a bipartisan committee of stakeholders meet to study the AEA system before passing a bill. Please vote no to moving this bill forward. I am afraid of the effects this bill passing will have on the education system in Iowa and the students of the state. As as classroom teacher, I utilized the educational consultants at Northwest AEA and the extensive media library all teachers and students had access to through our AEA.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [None]
CON
Please do not support the changes to the AEAs without taking a deep look into the services the students and families of Iowa currently receive. The proposed changes break apart a system that is functioning well. Small changes will have lasting impact and the people of Iowa want to see this done right. If changes need made develop a task force to determine what that is before making changes that cannot be undone. Time is a factor in this decision you take away support for teachers they have less time to focus on their students and work. You have time time to do this right please take the time. Thank you!
02-20-2024
Kayla Marbach []
CON
Again, there isnt proof that these changes will provide better educational outcomes for our students. Consider a comprehensive study of the AEAs including parents, educators, stakeholders, AEA staff, etc. before passing a bill that has not been well received by the majority of Iowans.
02-20-2024
Angela Johnston []
CON
I am against Reynolds proposal to cut AEA
02-20-2024
Flannery Beals []
CON
Please vote no! If you have a child or loved one with a disability you know how catastrophic this will be to the quality of services they will receive, especially if they attend a rural school. If you do not have a child or loved one with a disability, I would implore you to listen to those who do. Listen to the parents, educators, administrators and school board members who are fervently fighting for a purposeful study. We are almost unanimously opposing the passing of a bill so haphazardly. This bill does not have data to substantiate it will improve student achievement. This community of people is fighting so hard because we know what is at stake. We know this will negatively affect our students, meaning it will negatively affect our future. We know all three original pieces of the AEA system are imperative. We know special education services, media services and educational services go handinhand when students are supported as a whole. You cannot support students with disabilities without the other two pieces. Additionally, we have heard about "administrative bloat." The AEA administrators are competent and dedicated to our students and have the skills and resources necessary to support them. They have the degrees and certifications that make them the most qualified for the job. It feels weird to have to remind anyone of this; however, if there was ever a time to say it, it would be right now: we have elected our legislators to represent us. It is my understanding the governor has been putting legislators in what seems like impossible situations since the beginning of the session, from creating this attack on public, private and home schools (because it will negatively affect all three) as surreptitiously as possible to calling legislators into her office to answer to her if they do not support the bill. This inapt behavior is indicative of her clear disdain for Iowa voters. This bill is not a red or a blue topic; there has been an overt disapproval from Republicans, Independents and Democrats alike on social media, at legislative forums, and most importantly, in every single legislator's inbox. In January, when the governor discussed the AEAs, she said several things that were completely false or were stated with the intent to deceive; however, she said one thing that is true in every respect: Iowans are passionate about our kids. Please demonstrate your passion for our kids and their academic and personal success by voting no and instead advocating for an indepth review or study. The future of out students is depending on it.
02-20-2024
Laura Clausen [Community Schools across the state]
CON
This bill will serve as another blow to small school districts across our state and have a direct impact on students and families. Media services for example help educators have access to braille books, books printed in high contrast for those with visual needs, access to make posters for all general education students to know the various expectations in areas of the building and on and on. Teachers can put books in hand to expand background knowledge or provide a glimpse into what life in another place looks like. Access to sites like culturegrams, PebbleGo, mystery science, etc enhance childrens education. Please, I beg of you, vote no. Vote how the OVERWHELMING majority of the citizens want you to vote. We are making our voice heard and as elected officials I trust that you will consider what the vast majority of people want.
02-20-2024
Joel Gehling [Iowa resident/voter]
CON
I urge the members of the Iowa House to vote NO on HF 2612. This bill will fit the AEAs. AEAs that have, for decades served the children of Iowa. The AEAs are so important to give all children in Iowa the opportunity to the best life possible. We have many problems in Iowa, but the AEAs are not one of them. The proposed bill is still very rushed, flawed and another attempt to privatize key functions and sell out Iowa to special interest groups.
02-20-2024
Linda Nelson []
CON
AEA's provide critical services to Iowa's schools. It is critical that AEA professional services and Media Services remain in services provided to Iowa's schools.
02-20-2024
Marilyn Stirler []
CON
While the current bill has some improvements from the governors original one, there are still many concerns such as (1) moving funding to fee for services that loses the economy of the current system and will make staffing for AEAs unstable and 2) approval power for professional development given to the DE which historically has never provided just in time supports or service like the AEA does. Loss of local control in decisionmaking is a big deal! Please do not move this legislation forward until there has been a thorough process to identify the specific improvements needed and until parents, teachers, school administrators, AEA staff and administrators and legislators in the structure of a bipartisan study team make specific recommendations. If changes are not correctchildren will be hurt and so will their families and teachers.
02-20-2024
Jordan Robert Shannon []
CON
How many times must Iowans have to show how wildly unpopular this bill is? The overwhelming majority of Iowans do not support this, and it will hurt this generation of kids, as well as all future generations. Please listen to your constituents and vote no for HF 2612
02-20-2024
Tina Whalen []
CON
First, I would like to thank those involved with the preparation of this bill for listening to the voice of the people. While this revised bill is by far an improvement over the first bill introduced, there are still some critical features that cause concern.1. This bill continues to remove something that has made Iowa Education so speciallocal control. It took me time to understand what that really means and why it is so important. Local control encourages creativity and growth. It allows people to imagine something better than then make it happen. Taking that away produces cookie cutter behavior and discourages individualized education which is what special education is all about. 2. This bill creates a chasm between the urban and rural school and the extent of services offered. Rural schools will struggle to maintain the current level of services and meet the diverse needs of their students.3. If the goal is really to create a better system and you feel the need to do this through legislative action, shouldn't it be done carefully and thoughtfully? The current timelines, even in the new bill, are unrealistic to make decision about something so vital to our state.4. Is it wise to shift oversight to a division of the Department of Education that does not yet exist? What happens when roles in government change or someone leaves a key position? That seems to be very shaky structure for something as complex as special education which is very complex and legally bond by both state and federal rules and regulations. Again, this seems ill advised especially without careful planning and understanding of all aspects and layers of what is the special education system in public education. Finally, I would like to ask, "Why is this an issue at all?" If the issue money, be honest and say that. Don't create unnecessary alarm without just cause. If it is about inflated wages to a few top administrators, say that. If you do not believe highly educated PK12 individuals with years of experience should have a wage over $100,000 counting all their benefit, SHAME ON YOU! Someone who has dedicated their life to PK12 Public Education, worked nights and weekends to earn advanced degrees and spent years honing their skills, and are now mentoring, teaching, and serving in the capacity of an AEA employee, should be compensated for their work appropriately. No one blinks at a state subsidized College Professor receiving wages much hire that that but because it is JUST PK12. Please proceed carefully and I pray the conversations and decision will be made for the right reasons, using the right information, and bipartisan.
02-20-2024
Kari Turnis []
CON
Although I work for the AEA, I am writing as a concerned citizen. I thank you for listening to the concerns of the people of Iowa and making changes to the Governor's original bill. However, it's still not enough. The vast majority of people across the state are completely against any big changes to the AEA system. Even the proposals in the current bill would be disastrous for students, teachers, and districts across the state. Centralizing power at the DE does nothing for local control. I am very concerned about the disconnect that will occur without Ed Services and Media. I urge you to please listen more to the people of Iowa and put a stop to this bill.
02-20-2024
Ann Hardy []
CON
Please vote NO on HF 2612. An independent and thorough study by AEA stakeholders with a focus on data is the best way to determine how to improve our AEA system. Cutting services to schools by cutting AEA media and educational services, and moving more administrative control to the DoE is not. As an AEA OT I frequently check out materials for trial for the students and teachers. This could be anything from a curriculum for self regulation, a weighted vest, wiggle seat, an adapted reading kit or a switch activated iPad. Our Media library has all these items and much more to support students of all abilities. Our educational service staff support schools to improve general education instruction through teacher trainings, collaboration with school administrators and teams to improve data driven instructional practices. Without this knowledge its difficult to renew your teachers license, yet not instruct your students. How will centralizing control at the state capitol and away from local AEAs and school districts improve student achievement? This is a power grab by our state government, not a sincere approach to making Iowas schools better. Please stop HF 2612.
02-20-2024
Sara Chorpening []
CON
Please listen to your constituents and vote no.
02-20-2024
Sarah Nelson [Central Rivers AEA]
CON
I urge you to reconsider the proposed bill and instead focus on strengthening the existing AEA system. Passing this bill would have significant negative impacts on Iowa's children, families, and educators. Let's find solutions that address concerns without harming this invaluable system.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Taxpayer/ voter ]
CON
Thank you for slowing down the progress of this bill .Please consider a comprehensive review of services prior to making changes, we are not there yet, but it is a move in the right direction. The bill still appears to have changes attached. Please keep our teacher salary separate. Teachers do need more pay, it just shouldnt be tied to AEA. I am still concerned that the department of ED has control in what is provided, shifting away from LOCAL CONTROL. Why not support public schools, improve funding, not reduce funding to AEAs. A way to look at this REVIEW data INTERVIEW stakeholders, OBSERVE the process TEST / evaluate
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I have used AEA services as a child and the preschool I cochair depends on these services to assist children and get them the help and resources they need to start their school life in a positive direction to help them thrive throughout the education system. AEA services are so vital and changing how those services are offered or who they are offered through is going to leave gaps that our children cant afford to be subjected to.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Private citizen]
CON
We need our Area Education Agencies. You will be taking much needed services for the rural schools.
02-20-2024
Abby Weiland [ ]
CON
Please vote no on this bill. We dont need a bill to form a group to study the AEAs. The AEA system is complex, multifaceted, and integrated. It simply cannot be fully understood in the span of a few weeks. Yet the damage of making changes, as this bill proposes, will have ripple effects for years to come for education in our state. Listen to your constituents and vote no.
02-20-2024
Katie Roling []
CON
Please oppose HF 2612. There is no evidence that making any proposed structural changes to Iowa's AEAs will result in improved student outcomes; in fact, it is quite likely that delivering media and educational services via a feeforservice model will actually decrease access to all supports, due to the impact on agency funding. Transferring unprecedented power to the Department of Education eliminates local control for education and will result in a less responsive system, tied up in bureaucracy and politics. Current AEA services (special education, media, education services) work in tandem to meet student needs, and right now these supports are equitably available across the state. This bill fundamentally changes how AEAs were intended to work on the basis of absolutely no relevant data. Please engage in a true comprehensive review involving ALL stakeholders before making further decisions.
02-20-2024
Danielle Hakeman []
CON
I have yet to see any evidence that any part of this bill will have a positive impact on special education in Iowa, which is supposed to be the problem we're solving. Please stop this bill before irreparable damage is done to a system that is clearly highly valued by parents, educators, and current and former students. I am so confused as to how this bill, in any form, is still alive after the significant public outcry following the original bill and subsequent amendments. The people are speaking loudly and clearlywe do not want these changes.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please do not reduce resources that benefit the children of Iowa and their education.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Public school teacher]
CON
As a teacher I NEED the AEAS.
02-20-2024
Cari Teske []
CON
The original drive behind this legislation is purportedly to better support students with disabilities. This is an unsubstantiated and a rather bold claim. In fact, it is unclear how any of these changes will improve outcomes and close gaps for students with disabilities, or address federal compliance concerns. We need to slow down this process. AEAs and districts cannot plan for the upcoming school year, set their budgets, hire staff and make decisions about how to work with this new system in the next four months. We need to study this more before moving forward. Keeping everything the same for one year, increases the likelihood that we dont make matters worse for our students, families, and schools. This bill devalues local control. While districts get to decide how to use the special education and education services funding, the Iowa Department of Education still has overreach. The AEAs are open to improvement opportunities, but we must be thoughtful in our approach. We would recommend a review of the AEAs be conducted, with representatives such as superintendents, parents, AEA staff, and other key stakeholders at the table, utilizing the data we all agree on.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [None]
CON
I do not support this bill. It is not a good idea for the kids. The professionals do not express any liking of the bill the way it is.
02-20-2024
Karena Haage [Keokuk Community School District]
CON
I plead that you will vote no to this bill. I have found the AEA services in my school district to be essential for students. The AEA works in so many diverse areas of our schools. they provide necessary speech services starting at an early age to benefit students. The amount of services that the AEA social worker and consultant have provided is immeasurable. They have provided me and the students in my school with support daily. The AEA also provides training services that assist many diverse teachers and paraprofessionals to aid them in becoming better teachers and leaders in our school. Passing this bill will have a negative effect that will harm our students throughout the state. If you truly care about our students please vote NO! Thank you!
02-20-2024
Erikka Vosmek []
CON
Iowa needs AEAs. Students, families, and schools rely on their vital servicesspecial education, educational services, and media and technology. Slow this process to get it right. Study the AEAs in order to enact a continuous improvement plan. Do NOT dismantle the system.
02-20-2024
Lindsey Rupp []
CON
Though improvements have been made, I do not support this bill moving forward as written. Any changes to the AEAs at this point are shortsighted and based on misinformation and a lack of understanding into the interconnectivity of services provided to Iowas students, teachers and administrators. If the purpose of this bill is to improve special education outcomes, I am yet to be convinced that any changes to the AEAs written in this bill will achieve that. Do a comprehensive study of special education in Iowa, then determine how improvements can be made.
02-20-2024
Megan Hicks [Prairie Lakes AEA]
CON
I am concerned about the effects this bill will have on our ability to provide equitable services to our children with disabilities. I support the creation of a task force to study the AEA system and then make changes. The fee for service model is concerning in that small districts will be impacted significantly. There may be no students needing therapy services when the decision is made in the spring and midyear the district may have a new move in student. At that point, if they reach out to the AEA for services, the AEA may not have the staff to send someone to that district. The district will then be scrambling to hire a private contracted company and if they can't find anyone, especially difficult for rural districts, how will the child receive services. I am concerned about the privatization of services. Our AEA system has worked tirelessly to provide quality, evidencedbased therapy services using a pushin approach and coaching model to enhance student performance. Our occupational therapy services are among the best in the nation because we are able to provide what the child needs. Our AEA system was created to do just that, at a lower cost. Please consider looking at this system for another year before making any changes.
02-20-2024
Kim Blanchard [Special Education Teacher]
CON
As a special education teacher I am opposed to HF 2612. The services I have received from our AEA in the area of special education and general education have been instrumental in improving my practices as an educator. Students with disabilities are general education students first, and we cannot close student achievement gaps without robust AEA support in both special education and general education. Please slow down the legislative process related to this bill and bring AEA and district representatives together with this committee to figure out a collaborative approach to improving student outcomes for all students.
02-20-2024
Mary S [None]
CON
Please stop this bill. I have been reading public comments and have not seen any submitted which encourage dismantling AEA's. This organization has helped thousands of our kids. There needs to be a true study and data to show how many kids have benefitted and successfully been helped and were able to exit the program. Please listen to the people who elected you and research the true facts. There are many untruths out there. The Department of Education head has never even worked in Education. She cannot truly understand the NEEDS of educators, students and their families
02-20-2024
Anonymous [NWAEA]
CON
Please vote no for this bill. As an AEA occupational therapist, I have concerns for the control of AEAs going to the DE. This is a large undertaking for a department that is not yet developed or equipped for this responsibility. We currently have experienced, knowledgeable, and responsive supervisors to support our work and ensure that we are providing FAPE to all learners. I also have concerns for schools being able to choose services from private companies that likely do not follow the educational service model to support students participation in their Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). AEA direct service providers receive ongoing training to make sure that we are providing services this way to abide by all FAPE laws through collaboration with IEP teams to help children best participate in their day without unnecessary time away from instruction.
02-20-2024
Carrie Van Zanten [Heartland AEA]
CON
I urge you to continue to educate yourself by reaching out to educators about ALL of the ways they are supported by the AEA from service providers (i.e. SLPs, OTs, PTs) to special education consultants to lovingly and graciously support new and veteran SPED instructors, to general education reading and math specialists to media services which provide printing services at a lower cost than many school buildings can offer. ALL of the AEA supports are vital to help Iowa schools best teach and serve ALL of their students general education and special education. Proceeding with a payfor services bill will drastically reduce the type of supports available to schools and will disrupt services as everyone scrambles to adjust to the everchanging structures caused by the instability of the payfor service model. Please don't strip AEA employees from the students, families and schools we've dedicated our lives to serving. This bill doesn't serve students; it is an disservice in every way.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Iowa Retired School Personnel Association]
CON
I taught 33 years in the high schools of Iowa. The AEAs were so helpful with providing services for special needs students.Keeping track of new laws in Career/Technical Education rules as well as writing curriculum as well as meeting other Business Ed. teachers in the Keystone AEA1 would not have been done without the guidance and expertise of our coordinator. Small schools cannot afford to hire extra people and we already have to travel quite a ways to get help with specific state mandates.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [None]
CON
Please oppose this bill.
02-20-2024
Miranda Kracke [N/A]
CON
I support our AEAs and am against what is being proposed!
02-20-2024
Mark Krob []
CON
Its absurd to me that any ideological quest for budget constraints or (potentially tragically inefficient) State oversight should come at the expense of our most vulnerable children. To anyone with a conscience or common sense, party loyalty should be irrelevant to the consequences of what is being considered here. This is not something that anyone who works if these fields would recommend. Please, please, please reconsider moving forward with this ridiculous legislation.
02-20-2024
Erin Jenkins [Anamosa CSD]
CON
AEAs support almost every aspect of rural public schools. AEA's consultants have tremendously impacted our students' achievement through their coaching on our MultiTiered System of Support. The AEA services are vital to us long before any child enters special education. Our consultants have helped develop our system to prevent students from needing special education services. Teachers are more confident than ever in providing evidencebased instructional practices because of the collaboration and coaching from our AEA. Please consider the countless lives of our rural children who would no longer have access to highquality experts because their schools cannot attract those teachers and experts because of their location. Losing the services of our AEAs is an equity issue. As a parent, my children benefit from access to our AEA experts, and as an educator, my students and colleagues benefit from ALL of the services our AEA provides. Please do not destroy one of the best components of Iowa's educational system. Please do not take away our AEA support.
02-20-2024
Michelle Vaughan [Educator & Parent]
CON
Please vote no and preserve our AEAs. Please take the time to make databased decisions focused on improving outcomes for ALL students. Do this through a study of all aspects of Iowa's education system the Department of Education, AEAs, public and private schools. AEAs throughout Iowa are valuable partners in providing high quality services to school districts and all stakeholders including ALL students, parents, teachers, support staff, and administrators. Cutting or only partially funding AEA services, including Education Services and Media/Tech Services would be devastating to our local districts. Please listen to your constituents. We are not in favor of this bill.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am strongly opposed to HF 2612. The AEAs in Iowa are phenomenal and greatly needed to assist children and teachers in Iowa public schools. I taught for 40yrs so I know first hand how important their expertise is and was in helping teachers with students who had behavioral , educational, speech and language issues. They are also invaluable in providing in services and specialized information for teachers.
02-20-2024
Deb Kelley [Parent/ sub teacher]
CON
Please do not vote this through. You are going to hurt the kids who need the most help.
02-20-2024
Holly Anderson []
CON
Vote NO to HF 2612! Iowa's students need the AEA and the support it offers to educators, families, and kids. As both an educator and a parent who has needed AEA's services, I have seen first hand how valuable the AEA is for our youth and Iowa's future. This bill is a mistake and a very dangerous and harmful one at that. Vote NO and protect Iowa's students, especially those most vunerable and in need.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Nothing about this bill in its current state gives me confidence it will truly help any Iowa student in a rural district. As a citizen whose children will attend a rural district, the idea of removing AEA services on this scale without any sort of study on current use, without support of superintendents of rural districts, without support of former education directors in Iowa, without full public support worrys me more than words on this page can describe. I benefitted greatly as an Iowa student from AEA services. It is my hope than one day my own kids can reap the same benefits from AEAs in their own education.
02-20-2024
Nila [Clark]
CON
I do NOT support this bill. Our children will suffer tremendously if this passes. I support the AEA and all they do. So please listen to the people and do what is best for our children and their education needs. VOTE NO to this bill as it will do more harm than good!!! Thank you!
02-20-2024
Chad Blanchard [Educator]
CON
As an educator in Iowa for 20 years I beg of you to please vote no against HF 2612. I appreciate some of the amended legislation found in this bill, but an AEA fee for service model will create "winners and losers" in regard to the school districts in Iowa. This will negatively impact special education teachers, general education teachers, administrators, parents, and students in Iowa. This bill does not go far enough in protecting the general education services AEAs provide that school districts desperately need. All students (including students served with IEPs) are general education students first. Students with disabilities cannot remove learning gaps without the support of both special education teachers and general education teachers. Iowa's teachers need both AEA special education consultants and general education consultants supporting them within robust AEA systems.
02-20-2024
Jackie Meyer Martin [Heartland AEA 11]
CON
I oppose this bill. I do want to take this moment to thank you for hosting this hearing to listen to the public and gather more information. I work for Heartland AEA as a speech language pathologist. The services AEAs provide can not be quantified and they permeate districts and communities in unseen ways. We continue to grow, learn, and adapt to match what schools needs and to best serve these communities. Needs are constantly changing every day/week/month/year. New students move in, new needs are identified and AEAs have the ability to flex and meet those needs were they are. Altering this organization will alter the support that is able to be provided and will create inequities and unforeseen challenges that students don't deserve.
02-20-2024
Thomas Carver []
CON
The AEA's provide vital services to the students (which means the future of Iowa). Any change that puts those services in the hands of a free market system will favor the larger populated areas and make it more difficult to obtain those services in rural areas.
02-20-2024
Jean Kaul-Brown []
CON
Registering my opinion against this version of the bill to change the AEA structure without really understanding why. Why are we rushing this without further study and cause? I think the suggestion of former Department of Education Deputy Director David Tilly is a great one:"I would like to propose the creation of an independent bipartisan commission to comprehensively study AEAs over the next year and make recommendations for improvement. This commission should be created by statute this session, and the commission should propose a bill to enact their recommendations, due by January 1, 2025. The services of the Legislative Service Agency should be made available to the commission to assist in drafting their bill."Please do not advance this bill.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [College Community Schools]
CON
AEA's are very important and they are presently effective the way they are. Many important benefits and programs would be eliminated by this bill, even the amended version.
02-20-2024
Beth H [Parent ]
CON
Please stop this bill for our children and families. Changes that are being proposed will affect our children. Gather the facts before moving forward. Listen to the advocacy of so many that are against this.
02-20-2024
Rebecca Havens []
CON
Please do not pass this bill. It will hurt our children. I am in full support of our AEAs. As a teacher, I have seen firsthand how much help and expertise they pass on to so many teachers and families. I truly believe many of our children in Iowa will not get the help they need without our AEAs.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Northwest Area Education Agency]
CON
This bill is the epitome of poor governance, especially when 99% of the Iowa constituents do not approve of the bill. The undue stress and worry this has caused for myself and so many others is completely unnecessary. I still do not know what my future holds in the field of education. If this bill passes, be prepared for many other's to exit the teaching profession. One cant make a living in a constant state of worry and concern for their job security. The teacher shortage will only get worse. The biggest question that many of us have is why this bill is being pushed through so quickly? What is your agenda behind this? Because it isnt for the students with special needs. It isnt for the rural schools. It isnt for the public schools. Its for no one but your own people. As a Republican educator (a rarity in this profession), I can honestly say that the Governors education agenda is only pushing me further away from supporting her. Quit using the AEAs as your scapegoat for the performance levels of students with special needs! Have you even considered that the public schools special education programs and administration need to be held accountable? Wake up. Become EDUCATED!
02-20-2024
Jeff Beck [Parent/community member ]
CON
I have been following the developments related to HF 2612 and while I'm glad to hear that modifications are being considered, I think much more research and analysis should be done, along with consulting education professionals in our state that understand our systems. Based on what I'm hearing from the education leaders and teachers I know there is close to unanimous opposition to the vast majority if not all of the proposed changes. I would encourage all those in the Iowa Legislature to listen to those who have been devoted to educating our youth as their life's work. I hope adequate time and energy will be devoted to this issue before legislation is passed forcing changes on our schools that they don't want.
02-20-2024
Tom Harskamp []
CON
As an educator with more than 23 years of experience the fundamentals of this bill are bad for kids all around. The smaller districts wont be able to provide services and larger districts will most likely monopolize the DE with the volume of students with IEPs and high needs. AEAs can be proactive and reactive to the needs of students and districts.
02-20-2024
Brenda Gerdes []
CON
Vote No on HF2612. This is a bill file that impacts nearly every family from all 99 counties. AEAs are an integral and integrated organization of our educational system. Even with the past several years of budget cuts they have been able to continue to provide excellent services to schools and families across Iowa. This is evidenced by their customer satisfaction surveys as well as their impact helping Iowa rank 3rd across the country in lowest number of special education complaints and due process cases. A state would only rank 3rd for lowest complaints if their constituents felt they were helping. Misuse of a NAEP score that is not taken by all k12 students does not reflect Iowas student focused approach to special education which exits students from special education once they have closed the gap leading to lower percentage of students needing special education. Misuse of statewide standardized tests taken once year does not reflect the Individual Education Plan progress each student makes toward their individualized goals nor does it recognize that over 80% of Iowa students receiving special education graduate with a high school diploma in 4 years. When one data set does not tell the same story as multiple data sets combined tell well that data point is significantly inaccurate and is thrown out. In addition to the fee for service model inequities will be broad sweeping if this bill moves forward. I implore you to vote no and request a bipartisan comprehensive review of the AEAs occur before any more amendments or bills are put forth. A review by Iowans with Iowans for Iowans. You kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews as well as mine are counting on you.
02-20-2024
Julie Neff [Parent]
CON
As a parent of a child who received services through the Heartland AEA, I am opposed to this legislation. Governor Reynolds failed to include any stakeholders in her decisions to gut services for children, take control and funding away from AEAs, and endanger the wellbeing and education of every child in Iowa with an IEP or 504 plan. Change is good, but it's a not good idea to use an out of state consultant while also ignoring Iowa parents, teachers, AEA Administrators, AEA specialists, and even members of her own political party.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
This bill is rushed. Any attempt at reform for education should be done with all stakeholders present. I think its dangerous for Iowa lawmakers to take a bill that they didnt even write and try to pass it as a law. This law isnt about parents freedom or bettering education. This bill is another attempt by Kim Reyonlds to destroy public education. She will stop at nothing to destroy public education in Iowa for goods and republicans are on board with this. Public funds should only go to public schools.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Voter]
CON
This bill still does not provide for adequate services for Iowa's general education and special education students. The level of oversight proposed is unneeded as AEAs are already overseen by elected boards. Media, technology, and special education services are all beneficial and help to provide equitable services across Iowa for students.
02-20-2024
Emily Josephson []
CON
Please protect the resources for students, teachers and families that are provided by the AEA. Protect public education.
02-20-2024
Samantha Sierer []
CON
Please vote NO on this bill. I know you are receiving pressure from the governor, but there is not accurate data to support moving this legislation forward. Its reacting to a problem when there isnt one and this bill will create even more problems and inequities within education in our state. Where is the data that shows this system is failing? The data used in the private report was flawed and inaccurate. Thousands of Iowans do not support this bill and voters have not asked for this change. AEAs provide efficient and equitable services for the families and school districts in Iowa. Our AEAs are a model for other states. AEA services and supports will not be able to be provided as efficiently with this bill in its current state. AEAs already have accurate oversight through their board and also in part by the DOE. Oversight by only the DOE director will not make our educational supports more efficient or effective. Our current DOE Director does not even have an educational background. Our AEA administrators have much more experience in education than our DOE director. This bill has been very stressful for districts and AEA staff. As the bill is written, it does not guarantee job security for AEA staff and we are already losing wonderful educators due to the uncertainty with this bill. Please stop this bill and if you would like changes to be made, take accurate time to study services, accurate data, and actually bring AEA employees, parents, and school districts to the table to discuss and problem solve where positive changes can be made. If this doesnt happen, there will be negative effects on students in Iowa for years, and even decades to come. Please vote NO!
02-20-2024
Ami Leath [Voter]
CON
Please no further amendments. Stop this bill. Take time to do a study and make databased decisions! Do not dismantle AEAs as they are essential in partnerships with LEAs!
02-20-2024
Bill Dowd [Concerned Taxpayer]
CON
This is neither the time nor the manner to haphazardly dismantle the AEA system, nor to hand the reins over to a Dept of Education with a leader that is not prepared nor credentialed to lead the efforts to provide our Special Ed students with the tools needed to reach their greatest potential.
02-20-2024
Janelle Kralik [Parent/Educator]
CON
First I would like to thank you for listening to those who have reached out to voice their opposition on the proposed AEA bill. As a parent of a former child served by our district AEA and a teacher who has worked with them for many years, I ask you to continue listening to your constituents and vote NO. Their services have been an important part of Iowa education for 50 years! Instead of instantly tearing it apart, please take the time to conduct a comprehensive study that involves people from our state to determine what changes, if any, need to be made. Please don't let the children and families of Iowa down.
02-20-2024
Victoria Chiles []
CON
Please stop this bill and NO MORE Amendments. I ask that you conduct a study without a bill moving forward. Im asking on behalf of my Grandchildren and all of our children in Iowa. Thank you!
02-20-2024
Amy Pattee [Teacher Librarian/Educator]
CON
The tax levies that provide funding for media, technology and educational services and the economies of scale model is what allows all school districts access to all AEA services and provides equity of supports for teaching and learning. Removal of this funding structure will only create a divide between smaller school districts and their larger counterparts. This amended bill in no way will result in better test scores and services for special education students. Additionally, it does not provide more local control, but rather provides an incredible amount of power to the Director of the DE and DE. This bill, like its predecessors, is clearly about money, power and control rather than what is best for Iowas children and school districts. There is ZERO EVIDENCE that by dismantling the established 50 year AEA system of supports and replacing it as proposed in this bill will increase student achievement. PLEASE LISTEN to the thousands of parents, superintendents, teachers, tax payers and voters advocating against cutting AEA funding, services and local oversight. PLEASE REPRESENT the MAJORITY of your constituents as you were elected to do. We need you to be OUR VOICE in the room.
02-20-2024
Nicki Siemens [Heartland AEA]
CON
Please slow down! Please vote No. Please listen. The future of education in Iowa depends on it.
02-20-2024
Laura Leonard []
CON
I continue to remain opposed to this bill. I implore the legislature to complete a study of the AEA system. Bring school districts, parents and families, as well as AEA employees to the discussion.
02-20-2024
Mary Melchert [Jones County Democrats - Northeast Iowa]
CON
Why must we overhaul the AEAs without first giving the "supposed" task force a chance to figure out what problem it is we're trying to solve? Clearly, the idea of AEA closures (to be clear, that's what reform, reorganize, dissolution, dissolving, eliminating or reducing overhead = closures in Gov Reynolds language)has been OVERWHELMINGLY refuted by Iowa voters from one corner of the state to the other. If we are representing a democracy in Des Moines, that would mean our representatives should be voting for the constituents they represent. In this instance, their votes should be "NO" to this critical issue for Iowa. There isn't a single student in Iowa's public or private schools that hasn't benefitted from the support of the AEA.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please work with the AEAs to identify improvement opportunities. They will certainly look for ways to close any gaps. Burning a vital and valuable community resource to the ground without even giving them an opportunity to fix whatever you seem to think is broken is irresponsible. Rural communities will suffer where special education and mentally health resources are scarce.
02-20-2024
Denise Miller [Denise Miller]
CON
Stop the dismantling of the AEAs.This is an invaluable organization whose vital services support kids, parents and teachers.They are experienced professionals who work as a coordinated team to meet the special needs of our children. Two of my children were in the talented and gifted program and my grandson used the speech pathology services. If there are improvements that need to be made they should be done with all parties at the table working together, not rushing some plan and assessment made by some out of state group who knows nothing about Iowa. Stop this process. Our kids deserve better.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [DCG]
CON
Vote No on HF 2612. As an educator, I cannot imagine losing all the supports AEA provides for general and special education. The media services as a teacher were invaluable. The supports from AEA help me grow tremendously as an educator and school counselor.
02-20-2024
Heidi Purk []
CON
Please stop this bill, no more amendments. Please conduct a study without a bill moving forward.
02-20-2024
Nancy Fry Dvorak []
CON
Do not pass this bill! The AEA is a valuable support to teachers, children and administrators in Iowas public schools. This is another effort to penalize the public schools in Iowa. Republicans already took 150 million dollars from the public schools in Iowa to give to private schools. Its time to actually do something for the public schools in Iowa and that is keeping all the AEAs of Iowa operating as they have been for the last 50 years. Just say NO to Kim Reynolds and her efforts to upend public education in Iowa. Once again, dont pass this bill in any form!
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Heartland AEA]
CON
I think the AEAs are so important to so many people in this state. There are so many lives that are touched from birth to age 21 by the many professionals in special education, media and education services who support the teachers that support the students and families. For 50 years this system has been working and working well. I don't understand why we are making a problem when there isn't one. Things have been working efficiently and effectively and there have been no major concerns until a target was centered on the AEA's. I don't agree with the AEAs not being able to own property either. If they can't own property, where are they supposed to house their media collections? And the equipment for the printing etc that they are doing to support the schools? Where will the soundbooths go? AEAs screen the hearing for thousands of children, yes, many of them are in the schools, but many more are ages birth to three and screened for issues BEFORE they go to school. How will that occur without the buildings? I was always taught that it was more fiscally responsible to OWN something rather than lose your money by renting. Shouldn't the AEAs use Iowans' tax dollars in the most responsible way? Where are their staff going to work or be able to print things to share with families and schools? Many schools are so limited on their space that staff are already working in closets or out of their cars. By taking away their offices, you will limit their ability to help schools, teachers, students and families even more. I also disagree with moving supervision of the AEA's under the DOE. Why do we want to create more bureaucracy in an agency by needing to create a special education department when they are doing fine with their AEA Boards and accreditation processes now? It doesn't make sense to me to have all of them under the supervision of one person who has no working knowledge or background of the educational system in the state of Iowa? If the legislature wants to make a task force to study the effectiveness of the AEAs, then let's get to work! Things don't always have to be complex, let's make it simple. Just do a task force to see if anything else is needed. Taking away resources would be a mistake that could take years to reverse.
02-20-2024
Nancy Veldhuizen [NA]
CON
There is too much at stake to rush this bill through. The AEA system is extremely valuable to students, parents, and school staff and the services they provide cannot be easily replicated.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Parent]
CON
Dear Representatives,I am asking you to listen to the public and NOT pass this bill.While, I believe our system can always be improved, I believe it could use some stitches and not an amputation. Please dont compare our states unique system to others that have vastly different components, and automatically assume ours is sub par. Take the time to conduct aproper review of special education services across our state.Bring Iowa teachers, administrators and AEA staff together to conduct a legitimate study of how to improve services and impact outcomes for our students.Thank you!
02-20-2024
Jessica Pottebaum []
CON
Please stop this bill what data do we have to indicate that these proposed changes will improve student achievement? Please work with all stakeholders to do what's best for kids in Iowa they deserve it! The public outcry should lead you to believe that those who work in education or have children in Iowa schools know what's best. Please listen to those who are in the trenches!
02-20-2024
Elizabeth Kosmicki [Individual]
CON
Thank you for scheduling a public hearing so that the people of Iowa can have our voices heard. Thank you also for holding it outside of regular school hours so that more educators can be present in person. I am asking you to please vote NO on HF 2612. Rather, please take the time to form a bipartisan task force that will carry out an indepth study in order to truly determine what changes will result in the best outcomes for students. The future of our children is too important to make rushed decisions about.
02-20-2024
Lucille Moen []
CON
For 50 years, The AEAs have done tremendously good work in helping families with special needs children. Without the AEAs many Iowa children would have been unserved or underserved. Many of those services are often difficult to place a dollar value on. But in addition, schools have received many other services and benefits, such as guidance, printing and many more.A consultant team located in Des Moines cant begin to address the needs of special needs students throughout the state.The rationale and need for the creation of the AEAs 50 years ago continue to exist. I worked as a speech/language pathologist in Iowa before the creation of the AEA's and for over 25 for Heartland Area Education Agency. I also am the parent of a special needs individual . Changing the structure of the AEA's would be detrimental to the entire educational system
02-20-2024
Drew Bowers [Parent]
CON
Stop this bill
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Pleasant Valley Schools ]
CON
I do not support this bill. Government is over reaching and should leave this to the schools and school boards. The AEA is a well polished organization that we benefit from greatly. Listen to the parents and teachers and stop getting into something you dont understand.
02-20-2024
Adam Sierer []
CON
I urge you to vote no to HF 2612. This bill hurts Iowas AEAs and by extension Iowas students. The AEAs provide a host of services to local school districts to help students and teachers perform their best. Iowans are supportive of the work AEAs and against the changes included in this bill. Please vote No to HF 2612.
02-20-2024
Jeanna Kakavas [None]
CON
Iowans do not want this bill. Iowans want support for our kids by Iowans not by private businesses from out of state. Please do a comprehensive review of AEAs. Please do not open special education up to private businesses and privatize public education. low's AEAs are a model of efficiency, offering robust professional resources and services to students across the state. This economy of scale means rural and urban area students have the same opportunities for growth and learning. Media and IT resources and services are just two hardtofind services available across the state through AEAs. Many communities do not have access to and cannot afford private specialty consulting services without our AEA offerings. This bill will only hurt students. This bill will cause Iowans to loose jobs, and move out of state. This will damage relationships between providers and students which will cause students to have declined improvements. It will only have the opposite as to what it claims and it will compound any problems with special education we currently have. The speaker of the education committee mentioned that he went to two similar IEP meetings in two different AEAs and they were very different and our kids deserve similar services. I dont understand how this Bill will ensure a higher standard of service than what is currently available, when some student may only have access to teletherapy with a different provider every year, when AEAs and private companies cant possibly staff positions without knowing who will be asking for their services. AEAs offer specialized services not typically available within individual school districts, such as early childhood education, special education, career and technical education, and professional development for specific subject areas. Classroom teachers, education support professionals, and administrators must fill in for the services removed from those provided by our AEAs, specifically in rural areas where contracting out is not an option. That means school employee workloads increase exponentially.This Iowan does not support this bill
02-20-2024
Shannon Patrick []
CON
Thousands of Iowans have spoken about their experiences being helped by these agencies, and I haven't been able to find a single comment in favor of changing them. What problem is this bill trying to solve?
02-20-2024
Jill Curry []
CON
Please do not defund nor change the services the AEAs provide. I use their services often as an Educator and they have been invaluable in providing these services to increase my professional knowledge and thus help me better serve my students. AEAs were not brokenthey do not need fixing. Asking school districts to figure out who to have provide services if AEAs no longer provide them is a poor use of time and resources. AEAs are already doing this. Remember the whole managed care debacle 10 or so years ago? That didn't work either. This would not help Iowa and is a bad idea. I am against it and I hope you will not allow it to pass. Thank you. Sincerely, Jill Curry, Iowa School Counselor
02-20-2024
Al Roderick []
CON
Very disappointed that the Republican trifecta in Iowa government continues to create/promote legislation contrary to the needs/desires of the Iowa people and doesnt solve the continuing problems with environmental effects (e.g., water, land), educational funding (public primary and postsecondary), mental health, child care and other basic needs.
02-20-2024
Kelsey Lode [Self]
CON
I continue to oppose the proposed changes to Iowas AEAs. The current system, while not without flaws, has been viewed as a paragon of educational support nationwide for some time. While improvements in student outcomes and educational equity are welcome outcomes, we must first engage in problem identification and problem analysis before we begin to explore solutions. Slow down the process in order to make databased decisions that involve all relevant stakeholders without risking the supports that Iowas students and teachers rely on.
02-20-2024
Doris George []
CON
Please stop this bill and engage in due diligence by conducting a comprehensive review that involves Iowans in the work. Including stakeholders in the process will generate far more buy in and investment than putting a stamp of approval on a claim made and manufactured by an out of state company who was paid to create it. It's like handing out a guilty verdict without ever holding trial.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please do not vote this out of committee for the following reasons: 1) This proposal will not work for the majority of schools in Iowa; 2) Oversight by the State Department of Education will not produce the anticipated results; and 3) At a time when many teachers are leaving or considering leaving their profession, now is not the time to reduce their support.
02-20-2024
Ashley Link [Educator in Iowa]
CON
First off, I want to thank the house education committee members for listening to Iowans and using feedback from experts in the field to make a better bill than the governors original proposed legislation. With that being said, I still have yet to understand how any of this legislation directly impacts student outcomes. I dont understand how changing the AEA system so abruptly will result in any positive changes for students with disabilities. Im still waiting for an an actual problem to be identified in outcomes for students with IEPs. I would like to see quantifiable data indicating that students are not making growth on their IEP goals, which is the appropriate metric to be using to measure progress for students with disabilities. As part of the federal IDEA criteria, local districts are required to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities. Id like to see the data indicating state complaints indicating that districts have violated FAPE. I believe that number is very low compared to other states. I fail to see how the AEA system is to blame for failing students with special education if they are indeed receiving a FAPE to meet their educational needs. Im not stating there isnt a problem to be fixed, because there are always ways to improve systems. I dont think its logical to propose solutions to a problem that hasnt been clearly defined. Its irresponsible to implement solutions based on hearsay and misleading information without taking the appropriate time to identify and analyze what problem/s MAY exist within the AEA system. We are talking about making irreversible changes to the quality of education services (more than just special education) that our most vulnerable students receive. I know there is pressure to make something happen, but our children deserve the best and deserve an education that isnt affected by hastily made permanent decisions. I love the idea of a task force including key stakeholders to truly implement the problem solving process and identify real problems, analyze the problem, and propose solutions that are matched to address a need. I think it is absolutely necessary for the sake of all kids to hit the pause button on any immediate changes and to implement the task force. My final comment is around my concern with giving the department of education any additional responsibilities as they cannot keep up with their current roles. Ask any educator in the state what they think about the DEs rollout of the ACHIEVE IEP system. Id love to give you more information regarding the hardships Ive encountered with the system and how untimely the feedback is from DE employees (23 months on average when my tickets need to be fixed by the DE and cannot be resolved by our AEA data specialists). That also can negatively impact student outcomes when there are constant glitches in the system and this can affect an educators ability to see student performance data. Please reach out to me for more information. I also would like to say that I think a state director of education should have a degree in education at the very least, but also preferably an individual who has experience working in public schools since they are expected to oversee educators, many of which have advanced degrees and expertise in the field.Thank you for your time.
02-20-2024
Kelly McMahon [Individual ]
CON
Our AEAs are essential and should not be cut. Our general ed teachers greatly benefit from support and services that help them best need the needs of their students with IEPs. Under the federal IDEA law, the support AEAs provide students with MTSS in attempts to avoid staffing children with IEPs, as early intervention can make the difference.
02-20-2024
Abby Lynn []
CON
I ask you to stop the AEA Bill and seek a comprehensive review that includes all stakeholders. We only have one chance to get this right for students in Iowa. This bill will harm rural school districts. Services will no longer be equitable for all students in Iowa. This week, as an AEA employee, I have supported a rural district with language and literacy concerns for a student, supported IDEADA implementation plans, engaged in SDI professional learning work, and planned statewide Early ACCESS professional learning. Without the AEAs and our current purview of services, who will do this work?
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Iowas Area Education Agencies are a crucial, effective, and efficient piece of our strong PUBLIC education system. Weakening this important organization and the critical handson assistance they provide to school districts (especially smaller and rural districts) will contribute to the decline of our once nationally leading public school system. I urge you to vote NO on this bill.
02-20-2024
Jerica Ballard [Education ]
CON
As a school social worker, I see the diligent work being done everyday by AEAs in public schools serving students with disabilities. We work fervently to promote successful educational outcomes and have aligned ourselves and our services to meet the needs of teachers, students, and families in the school districts we serve. This bill does a grave disservice to our most vulnerable of students. I implore you to vote no on this bill. I challenge you to serve your constituents instead of your political loyalties.
02-20-2024
Tracy Petersen [None]
CON
Please listen to the voters who have sent you to the state house and vote no on this measure. The public response has been loud, clear, and strongly against changing the current AEA system without taking time to do the necessary research. All of Iowas children deserve an equitable education and that is why the AEA system works. Vote no on this measure. Thank you.
02-20-2024
Carol Warmbier [retired AEA School Social Worker]
CON
I spent my career working as an AEA School Social Worker in many small districts in North Central Iowa. I am sure that this bill, even with current admenments, will disrupt services to schools and students. The fee for service model will not work in rural Iowa. AEAs in Iowa are a highly sophisticated and well coordinated system that has worked in rural areas. The idea that one could accomplish what is currently being done by AEAs across the state without the existing framework, is not realistic. The bill alters the flow of money and leaves ultimate control with the State Dept of Ed.. There is no way this plan will improve student outcomes or assist schools to provide a better education to students. The current system is not broken. Study what needs to improve and address results. Please throw out this bad bill. Thank you for listening to Iowans. Relationships matter.
02-20-2024
Robin Ginapp []
CON
The support that the AEA gives to families in Iowa is SO Necessary!!! Secondly the support it gives in our schools is Necessary as well! We need to stop tearing down our support for our families and schools and actually Help them!
02-20-2024
Emil Dvorak []
CON
Do not pass this bill. The AEAs are very important to the future of education in Iowa. Say NO to Kim Reynolds and her plan to derail meeting the needs of Iowas children. Vote No!
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Say NO to this bill.
02-20-2024
Emily [Foster Parent]
CON
Please look at this bill closely and vote NO!! As a former foster parent 20 years ago, and most recently a Family foster placement for foster care. 20 years ago, we had NO resources for children placed in our care in rural district without traveling hours, if we got that we were lucky, and the waiting list was unreal!! As a Family Foster Placement recently, we have ZERO resources, we get NO funding for these kiddos and are expected to care for them AND provide them the resources they may need out of our own pocket. However, NOW we do have these services through the AEA!! If you need OT, PT, Speech Therapy, Early Intervention, Trama therapy the wait is 1618 months at a private sector that we pay for on our own. The AEA is instrumental in proving these services for FREE IMMEDIATELY WITH NO WAIT! These services from the AEA have been instrumental in the success of our children that have been in Family foster placement due to the cost (no fee), convince and relationships we have built with the AEA and connections they have helped us make with the local school districts. Please take a moment and think of how many systems are going to hurt even more. The foster care system is broken and this is only hurting those children even more.
02-20-2024
Allison Schaeffer [Parent]
CON
I strongly oppose this bill. My son used the services provided by the AEA for over 17 years, starting with early access and the development of an IFSP. Once he transitioned to the school district, our team of AEA consultants and teachers annually worked and reviewed his IEP. When setting those goals, test scores were not used. That was not what he was working to achieve. He was working towards graduating, getting a job, being able to get his drivers license, being able to be an independent person. Test scores mean nothing. This bill does nothing to serve children and students with special needs. Their needs are individually documented and assessed according to their plan. The AEAs partner and support those needs. If there are concerns regarding budgets and how AEAs are funded, then please convene a bipartisan commission to review and make recommendations to improve those concerns.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I would like you to vote NO for this bill. This is not what is best for Iowa kids. It is already creating unnecessary chaos for education in our state and will continue to do so. Few for service is not what is best for Iowa school districts, especially rural schools. Please oppose this bill.
02-20-2024
Amanda Dunsky []
CON
I first want to say thank you to our House Education Committee for taking the time to hear all stakeholders out in the matter of the AEAs. After reading the bill, I am hoping that our elected officials will continue to hear and work with their constituents on this matter. There are a few points I would like to discuss as I strongly oppose the bill overall. 1: A comprehensive review is a first, right step, in determining what changes, if any, need to be made to the AEA system. A review would provide more understanding and show constituents and leaders what the AEA does well, and what could be better. AEAs are not against improvement. I think we can all agree that AEAs and their employees number one focus is student outcomes. 2: I strongly oppose any changes that will hinder our rural schools from receiving access to the current services that the AEA provides them, including, educational services, media services, and other vital supports. Keep in mind that the AEAs were created to provide rural schools with resources they otherwise would have trouble getting access to. 3: I strongly oppose phasing out educational services to a pay for service system. First, this restricts access to literacy, math, educational leadership, and other consultants that they currently have access to at any time. The governor has a separate bill that requires schools to implement Science of Reading (this is something that I strongly support). If the Science of Reading bill passed and the AEA bill phases out educational services, schools would no longer have the access that they currently do, to Literacy and Leadership consultants that help support this work, without having to pay for it. It does not make sense to pass one piece of legislation and not give the support necessary to schools to implement it. 4: Educational Services focus on all students, systems, and outcomes within the districts. Who will support schools (especially rural areas) if they have to pay for services they currently have access to without building it into their budget and having to figure out approximate hours, etc? 5: Many of our Educational Service employees also lead professional development that schools request and provide this service at no cost. Are you going to ask schools to now pay for services they currently receive for free? 6: AEAs currently provide continuing education classes for school employees for license renewal or classes that districts have requested or want to enroll staff in because it aligns and supports their district professional development plan. Who is to provide these services? 7: I strongly oppose the idea of districts having less local control. I would like to see data on states where their department of education has sole oversight of all districts and is seeing an increase in their student outcomes. The AEAs and the DE currently collaborate on oversight, why would it be more beneficial to have no collaboration and less local control? Again, I truly appreciate the work that has gone into this bill. Please continue to listen to all stakeholders to ensure that what is decided is based on what is truly best for all students, schools, and communities. I am asking that every decision or change made to this bill that you consider the unintended consequences before voting on something that so greatly impacts our students. Please put people over politics.
02-20-2024
Lauren Roman []
CON
I am against this bill. I was born and raised in Iowa, and after attending college in another state, chose to transfer back to Iowa. I am a junior at Simpson College, on a prephysical therapy track. My end goal is to be a pediatric physical therapist, in part because I was inspired by the physical therapists I observed at Grant Wood AEA. I have always planned to stay in Iowa after college, and hopefully raise my own family here. But listening to the governor and some legislators talk about teachers and AEA providers as failing children, over paid, negligent, and the list goes on, makes me question if this is really where I would want my children to grow up, or where I would want to build my career. I attended excellent public schools, and benefitted from many of the AEA services that are in jeopardy in this bill, including science kits, literacy units, math manipulatives kits, printed visual materials, safe online resources, and technology. The most memorable service was the Grant Wood AEA CISM team. They provided mental health support to the students and teachers at my junior high when a student died from cancer, again when a high school classmate suddenly died from a medical emergency. Your job is to do what is best for Iowa. Removing or drastically changing how schools access any of these things without having wellresearched reasons is not whats best. In physical therapy, a comprehensive diagnostic process is used to determine the problem before creating a treatment plan, and that plan takes into account a persons physical abilities, health, and goals to ensure a positive outcome, and minimize risk. Shouldnt the same be true for education? Iowas future is looking to you to do the right thing. Kill this bill.
02-20-2024
Kyra [Wilcox-Conly]
CON
Please eliminate all but the trash force study from this bill.
02-20-2024
Alicia Rasmussen [Parent, AEA Physical Therapist ]
CON
Please stop this bill. Instead, form a task force of Iowans who are experts in the field who can evaluate potential problems and collaborate with all stakeholders to find solutions. As a schoolbased physical therapist (PT) working for an AEA for over a decade, there are so many unseen repercussions of this bill in all AEA service areas. Here are some (of the many) likely repercussions if changes are made specifically to PT services: 1) Contracting PTs will be difficult in rural areas 2) Most PTs likely not be experts in schoolbased PT as the only instruction given is 2 hours of lecture in a 3 year doctorate level PT program 3) Service delivery could be delayed for infants and children and resources for families will not be available in a timely manner 3) Training of staff and families will be more difficult potentially leading to more litigation for districts 4) Collaboration with families, staff, and students will be inconsistent and less efficient 5) Students and families lose an advocate. Example: If a PT is contracted by the district (instead of an employee of an AEA), they could potentially lose their job if they side against the district. AEA staff can advocate for the student without that fear. The data the governor has presented is incomplete and misleading, at best. Shifting power to the DE has additional negative consequences. Please stop this bill.
02-20-2024
Dr. Bill Poock [Grant Wood AEA]
CON
Thank you for working to slow down this bill. Please take time to create a comprehensive stakeholder group to work together to help make our AEA system more efficient. I oppose the centralized power move to the Department of Education. The interim Director Snow does not have an education background. How can she make decisions for schools across our state? Please do NOT advance this bill. Take TIME to identify the real problems and work collaboratively to create solutions. The passage of this bill will have long term negative consequences for all of Iowas students.
02-20-2024
Molly Petersen []
CON
Do not dismantle a system that hasnt been fully evaluated. Please leave out AEAs as is for another year while you examen them. This is a system that has worked for so many children I know and these AEA employees have been such a valuable resource for myself and other teachers.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Heartland AEA]
CON
While HF 2612 is an improvement from the Governors proposed bill, her amendment and the current Senate amendment, the House bill still shifts critical fiscal and human resources further away from students and educators while having little to no impact on improving outcomes for students. Please consider starting with the creation of a representative Task Force to truly study the AEA System and ensure that accurate data and information is gathered and considered, include families and educators to identify concerns and creating solutions to any identified concerns, and move slowly and strategically to ensure that changes are not made to Iowas integrated educational system that will have the opposite effect of what is desired.
02-20-2024
Mike Upah []
CON
The effect of this bill seems to be to increase cost, dramatically reduce local control, and put AEAs in a much more difficult budgeting situation. The changing justifications for this effort are an important indicator that time to assess is needed to avoid unintended outcomes.
02-20-2024
Heather [Teacher]
CON
Cutting any part of the AEA will not close the gap. The gap has grown for many reasons. None of which is solely due to the AEA or teachers but parents and society. You want to close the gap? Start where the gap starts, in the home. Parents raising their littles is where it starts, the lack of raising their children and fostering development is where it starts. I pray you make a God driven decision. I pray you come up with a wellthought out plan to help parents do better. Children aren't coming to school ready to learn, that's on parents not the teachers. Teachers are to HELP parents by teaching their child. Teachers can't teach if students' basic needs and healthy boundaries (screen time etc) aren't met. Prayers for your decision making skills.
02-20-2024
Tim Roman []
CON
I appreciate that the House is listening to constituents. I believe that the message has been clear leave AEAs alone. If there are improvements to be made, Iowa already has the people needed to identify and make changes. We dont need new laws to do that. Legislating these changes takes away local control, and creates a risk to rural schools. If larger districts in an AEA choose to provide their own media/tech services to prevent uncertainty with budgeting, the staffing and infrastructure needed to continue those services wont be there. Where are rural districts going to find an affordable substitute for AEA services? They just dont exist outside the metro areas. Schools and AEAs are both waiting in limbo for this to be resolved. We are going to lose good educators if this uncertainty continues, and Iowa doesnt have enough the way it is. Scrap this bill.
02-20-2024
Kimberly Nunez [Board of Education ]
CON
I vote con on this bill. There needs to be more research on this bill from education experts and stakeholders in our own state. This would not be good for our rural schools. As a retired educator, I was able to use the services the AEAs provide in my own classroom, with my regular education students, with my talented and gifted students, as well as utilizing the services with my own children. Please trust and listen to the actual educators in our own state.
02-20-2024
Edie Goodwin, PT [Retired]
CON
I strongly urge that you vote "NO" on HF2612. Please sit down with Iowa's principals, other administrators, superintendents, teachers and parents. Together, look at the long list of services that the AEA provides. Can each school district afford to provide these services on their own? Can they hire this many individuals so their students receive the federallymandated services that are required? What would this cost each district? Would they have to lay off teachers in order to provide these additional services? What about media services, curriculum help, instruction as new state mandates roll out, etc? Review all AEA services. Add up the cost. The AEAs are an efficient, streamlined, effective entity who can provide the same quality services to small districts, as well as large ones. Thank you.Edie Goodwin, PT(AEA Physical Therapist for thirtytwo years.)
02-20-2024
Marsha Pilger []
CON
It totally confuses me why you people think that you must fix something that isnt broken. HF 2612 Is the most ridiculous thing Ive ever seen. To inact a bill of this nature Would be to disenfranchise the majority of students across our state, and impair them from vital services necessary for their wellbeing and the wellbeing of Our state and country. Not every rural community has the ability or the resources To function on a statewide basis. To remove the resources available to local school boards and organizations which depend on the educational expertise provided by the AEA is to restrict the ability of all students to be treated fairly. Im totally against this, Bill and I hope you will have a change of conscience and support me in my efforts to stop this bill from moving forward.
02-20-2024
Holli Counsell [Central Rivers AEA]
CON
Thank you legislators for your work, but I do not support the changes proposed. Please stop making amendments and end this bill! Without the AEA infrastructure we cant support students. AEAs are vital to ensure equitable and accessible services as well as materials for ALL children no matter where they live. No other agency can provide the indepth and scope of services we provide and deliver to families, schools, and students. Nor would they be able to do so in a more cost effective manner. Local decision making and control needs to remain local. As an Early ACCESS Educator I provide services year round. Our work and services do not stop. Many families cannot afford to seek outside therapies. Some families do not have transportation or do not live close by. The waitlists are long. Children need early intervention NOW to close the educational gaps. My children and other children who live in rural communities deserve all of the same access to services and materials as the students who in larger communities. Please do not cut our funding and services! Our children deserve better! Vote NO!
02-20-2024
Kelly Danilson [Parent & Educator]
CON
I strongly oppose this bill. As a parent and educator, I have experienced firsthand the need for our AEA with my own family and countless students. The AEA provides many services that our schools are not equipped to offer. If services are stripped, the kids will be the ones who suffer. The talk of contracting out for services is a bandaid solution. Where are all these services you mention located??? Are they all throughout the state of Iowa??? If rural communities dont have providers close by, then what??? Are there enough providers available??? If not, then what??? How much will their services cost??? We are already cut short year after year in SSA. Can schools even afford these contracted services??? If not, then what??? Ive been an educator long enough to know that if services are not available, you would assume educators will fill in the gaps and can simply add more to our already overload plates. Do more with less. Because of this mentality, you are driving educators out of the profession in our state and hurting our kids!!! If you truly want Iowa to be the best state it can be, then you have to invest in our children. The AEAs invest in our kids!!! They support in ways you cant even begin to imagine!!! Stop making bills that will hurt vs help. Our children deserve so much better.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
This bill should be stopped now. The children should not continue to be a ploy in the political game. Republicans continue to try to profit off of children while privatizing more programs. This hurts the rural areas that you all say you love so much.
02-20-2024
Gina Durfee [Individual Lifelong Educator]
CON
At Green Hills AEA, I partnered with a local nonprofit just this week to offer professional learning for school staff in one of the smallest districts we serve. We went in person, interacted with, and provided genuine inperson learning and support opportunities. This district could NOT afford to buy this service from anyone, even at a reduced cost. The morning was spent talking about how trauma increases the likelihood of disease in later lifeand ways to mitigate the trauma, which will help our mental health crisis (In the long term). If you tie our hands, we cannot offer this service to a small district or any district. That hurts kids.
02-20-2024
Anonymous []
CON
While I appreciate the recommended development of the task force and the goal of continuity of service, we still yet do not know exactly what problems this bill is trying to fix. Rather than engage in the continuous improvement process by first clearly identifying the problem with AEAs, it seems that the Governor, Representatives, and Senators are instead choosing to provide solutions that seem like stabs in the dark. If this is truly about student performance on one assessment measure, then there is nothing in this bill directly tied to improving student achievement. I fully support a task force to assess AEA services and performance, and would welcome changes that directly support our most vulnerable learners. I urge you to vote against this bill until more qualitative and quantitative data are available to understand the impacts of currently proposed changes and to understand what changes might actually be needed.
02-20-2024
Anonymous [Heartland AEA]
CON
We do so much good work for many various schools (54 Public School Districts, 32 Accredited Nonpublic Schools and 3 Shelter Care Sites). Please let Media Services at AEA continue helping the large and small schools! I currently work at Heartland and feel I have an impact on students across the state. Creating and printing tests, annual reports, yearbooks, newsletters, posters, banners for the schools. Let AEA continue the valuable work we do in Media Services! Thank you.
02-20-2024
Rania Robb [Parent, teacher, employee]
CON
I am against this bill the way that it is written. Fee for service is not an equitable way to find and match services to students and learners. We need a task force to identify the specific problems with the AEA And methodically work to address those set of concern within the existing structure. AEA provides services that help support the learning of every child in every school in every district in every county across the state. Please consider finding those concerning areas and, addressing them directly not dismantling an entire system that so many children, families, educators, administrators, community members depend on. The local control allows for the quick adjustments necessary to meet the needs and concerns of the students in real time. Please work through this book such that there would be no distortion of services. Any cut of funding would negatively impact students in special education and general education. Please dont drop the support the AEA offers teachers.
02-20-2024
Josh Mauer []
CON
No
02-20-2024
Anonymous [NWAEA]
CON
Please slow down this process and conduct a thorough review of the AEAs. Get teachers, school administrators, and families involved in conversations. Vote NO to AEA cuts!
02-20-2024
ANDREA Springer [Self]
CON
Don't fail our children in an election year. We will remember. We need our AEAs fully funded and as they are. If you had children, and they needed help in school, the AEAs is where your school looked for help.
02-20-2024
Barbara Lauterbach []
CON
I am a retired Level 3 Special Education Teacher. My students and I depended on the AEA services of Speech Therapists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Teachers of the Blind, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, Psychologists, Behavior Specialists, and more. These AEA providers had a wealth of knowledge of multiple disabilities, were skilled in meeting the unique needs of my students and were a valuable resource for both educators and parents. I would not have stayed in Special Education if I had not had the support of AEA personnel.If Iowa wishes to attract and retain Special Education teacher they need to keep AEAs.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
The AEA needs to be left intact. It provides many needed services at a much lower cost to school districts than privately contracted services. The proposed changes may actually cost taxpayers more in the long run and provide less access to needed services for the children, teachers, and parents in every community in the state.
02-21-2024
Greg Dunn []
CON
Please vote against this bill. Theres too much at stake, especially for smaller districts, to rush through changes without a thorough evaluation of the implications. Lets define the problem, if there is one, before we try to solve it.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am not sure law makers understand the importance of AEA services even before a child is school age. Unless a person/family has a child with delays or special needs it is hard to grasp all the ways AEA can help our youth. Children with unique needs often go unseen as regular education teachers may not know how to approach or teach the children who do not learn in traditional ways. The training special education teachers & paras receive is paramount. the school based interventionists cab provide more than counselors have time for. Without AEA so many young people will continue to hide in the shadows & with the lack mental health resources all over iowa this is one more big blow to those who we are supposed to be protecting
02-21-2024
Patricia Benson []
CON
Vote no on HF 2612. Protect Iowa's AEA's which support our students and educators.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I'm so very disappointed that our state would even consider cutting our AEA programs. This will be a huge detriment to not only our kids but our teachers and education system. We need to give our educators the tools that THEY need to give our students the best possible chance at a successful outcome in school. Please do not move forward with these changes.
02-21-2024
Emmerson Speer []
CON
As a born and raised Iowan, I have had personal experience with the AEA system both as a student within our public education system and as an educator. In my personal experience, many seem to believe that the AEA System is supposed to function only in support of special needs students. However, as a student who has attended Iowa schools, I can assure you that AEA services benefit all students in the system. As an elementary school student, I remember the excitement in the classroom when we would receive an AEAprovided Foss Science Kit. My teachers would often unbox the supplies like a present on Christmas morning. On one occasion I remember my 7th grade science teacher pulling out a box of hissing cockroaches that we got to study! I also utilized many online AEA databases throughout my years in school to complete projects and to enhance my education. Both of these services would be cut by the proposed bill. Another program I thoroughly enjoyed was Grant Wood AEA's College4Kids program. I attended all three years that I was eligible (6th8th grade) and found a love for politics and medicine. The discoveries I made in this program provided a foundation for my high school goals (getting a CNA license) and my college majors (political science and premedicine). Without College4Kids, I am not sure I would have found these passions as early as I did, if at all.I have also seen the AEA system's work from the other side as an employee of the Prairie Early Childhood Center where I worked for over two years. Many of our students came from disadvantaged backgrounds and greatly benefitted from early interventions provided by Grant Wood AEA. These services ranged from social work to speech therapy to developmental evaluations. Without the AEA system, these children likely would not have received services that were crucial to their development and success in kindergarten and beyond.During my time at the Early Childhood Center, our staff also experienced a tragic loss. Ashley, a beloved twentyyearold teacher and friend, became sick and passed away suddenly. This news came as a shock to the entire community and especially to our tightknit early childhood staff. A crisis team from Grant Wood AEA was called in immediately to provide counseling onsite to me and my coworkers, as well as to our young students. These trained professionals provided developmentally appropriate explanations to our kiddos and gave staff a shoulder to lean on at a time when we were all hurting and vulnerable. I am not sure what our recovery would have looked like or how we would have been able to adequately serve our students without the crisis team to guide us.As someone who has experienced the AEA system firsthand as a student and has seen the impact it can have on our children, I urge you to preserve the system in place. By stripping the system to its bare bones and dissolving crucial portions of the AEAs, our students will face increased barriers and a decrease in resources. As with anything in life, there is always room for improvement and the AEAs are no exception. However, the AEA system is not broken and the people in the system are some of the most passionate, selfless, empathetic, and compassionate Iowans I have ever run across. We need to preserve systems of passionate individuals that provide for all children: special needs, general education, and gifted. The AEAs cannot continue their nearly 50 years of service to Iowans under the proposed bill(s). If these services disappear, the people who suffer most will be our children, the future of Iowa.
02-21-2024
Justin Larson []
CON
Please vote NO to this bill. This bill causes equity concerns and a fractured special education and general education system. A fee for service model will destroy the economy of scale and the efficiency of AEA's. Rural schools will have decreased services for crisis response and unpredictable emergencies, as well as reduced services for teachers and students. Local control will be hindered and intime response rates will be slowed if services are centralized. A comprehensive review of AEA's is necessary before any radical shifts are considered. I urge you to do what is right for our children and the future of our State.
02-21-2024
Annette Clarahan [Family & Educator Connection Program (FEP) Program eliminated 7/30/24 Currently Housed in GPAEA]
CON
Attachment
02-21-2024
Rachel Henning []
CON
I oppose HF 2612. The current push against AEAs is moving too fast and without proper study or consideration of the impact on Iowa education. Almost every comment I have seen, from educators, Iowa citizens and parents, oppose this bill. It will lead to higher costs for schools and lower quality of services if a provider can be found at all. Our AEAs have provided services to families and schools for decades. They are one of the things that made Iowa's education system great. This bill is the wrong move to make. Please vote "No" on HF 2612.
02-21-2024
Sara Butler Shoop []
CON
I am concerned with the lack of accurate information, knowledge of how special education services are provided to students, and assumptions that those who are writing these bills "know what they are talking about". As a licensed social worker for Great Prairie AEA, I work with youth on learning the value of controlling impulses, making informed decisions, identifying root causes of problems to lead them to more effective solutions, taking time and doing their due diligence when making important life decisions. Please be legislators that model these skills for our youth. PLEASE STOP all bills pertaining to the AEA's this legislative session. There is NO need for ANY bill pertaining to the AEAs to be passed at this time as there HAS NOT BEEN any substantial investigation or review of the student achievement gap or identification of the root of the problem to best develop solutions. Take the time to do a review of the AEA system as well as school districts, Department of Education, and Board of Education (as each of these also play a part in student achievement). Be legislators that demonstrate to our youth that they DESERVE the time and energy it takes to really investigate if there is in fact an achievement gap for special education students and identify effective, sustainable, equitable solutions.
02-21-2024
Tiffany DeBow [Citizen]
CON
This bill still allows schools to opt out of AEA services for private sector. It is harmful to the smaller, rural schools who do not have the demand that larger schools have and could not afford to move services to the private sector.
02-21-2024
Keely Ruby []
CON
GPAEA Media Center provides teachers with professional development resources. We house, catalog,and ship Goldie's History Kits and OpenSciEd Kits. We train teachers how to use the Digitarium, house it, and reserve and ship to districts. We house Dewey's, Biographies, Big Books, Easys, and Young Adult Fiction. Our Kits are by subject. Story, Science, History and Culture, Geography, Math, and Music, to name a few. Our vans deliver not only Media items once a week, they deliver print orders and mail for the districts we serve. There is no way a district could house what we can provide. A centralized Media Center would be a scheduling nightmare.
02-21-2024
Larisa Kay King [Morningside University ISEA]
CON
AEAs are essential for the education of our students in the state of Iowa. As a current education major in college it frightens me that this is the state of our education system in Iowa. Working to define critical resources rather than to be working to improve our public education. Public education and the AEA are essential in public schools and defunding them would not only be a great disservice to current students but all future generations.
02-21-2024
Nancy Cross []
PRO
Thank you for your work on AEA. I am concerned about the cost per student getting it through the Public sector and our children will be harmed not receiving consistent help . Please take the next two years to check the data from an in state source to see if there are changes that need to be made. Test a larger group to be reliable and do it with the appropriate testing materials by people in education. Have a,panel made up of ALL the people involved (from parents up to superintendents) with students requiring help. leave control with the school districts, where they can be selective about what a child needs and where to get it. AEA has people from education ready to help almost all students. The money we spend today is going to make a difference for the children as adults. Let's get the best qualified leaders to be employed by the AEA. Please keep the lives of these students as consistent as we can and let them know we will be helping and getting the best help we can for them. Be sure there is a problem, then see how best to resolve it if there is a problem with the AEAKeeo in mind this would be best overseen by someone or panel of people who have a background in education to be the head.I would be happy to discuss issues with someone if they want to call. I have seen the work AEA has done for more than one child and family. Give your best effort to see if we need changes or improvements to make and keep our state at the top for quality education Thank you for your effort and especially listening to all of our concerns.
02-21-2024
Louise Kaufman []
CON
I strongly oppose any bills or amendments that will change our AEAs.
02-21-2024
Morgan Post [Mom of a struggling 15 year old ]
CON
First, can we look at what the actual goal here is? Its clearly to save money and take accountability away from the government. Its literally your job to serve Iowans and youre cutting jobs, departments and have completely destroyed the love I once had for this state. I am 39, and until 6 years ago, Ive been appalled by the lack of care, empathy and crazy selfishness. You are servants. You all should be ashamed of yourselves. No one is voting anymore because they feel defeated, unimportant, unheard and not a priority. The old white people leaders in this country need to take some courses, have an open mind and let younger people have a voice. The world isnt the same as it was in the 50s or 60s. You are destroy us. Please identify what types of private companies would be utilized with this bill. As it stands. If you read anything online about the mass closures of troubled teen industry programs, you would hopefully have an idea of what private companies can do, especially to children who are unable to advocate for themselves. In the AEA perfect? Absolutely not! Ive asked my district of west DSM countless times just to get my tenth grad son an evaluation due to his ADHD diagnosis. A counselor at Valley Southwoods refused (Tony Cox) last year. Two weeks later, my son overdosed while at school, from drugs he found on school grounds. The idea that Four Oaks is a partnership, is LAUGHABLE. The first time, no one even met with my child and didnt even know he returned to school. The officer in the district uses intimidation and scare tactics with youth that are struggling. My son is considered gifted, but still, he is denied the federal requirement of an evaluation. Valley High School even had me sign a document that gave my approval for the evaluation. It never happened and now my one time straight A son, is at Walnut Creek almost failing every class. Coupler with a very unresponsive Principal who is not appropriately informed on what mental health, substance use and the environment in which she is in charge of. We moved school districts to get away from the lack of care but who knows if Waukee will be any better. At least there are some reasonable people that represent me now.I STILL have not received any help or any evaluation despite my several asks. The AEA can do better but I absolutely do not support taking oversight away, or hiring private companies. Im already going down rabbit holes trying to find anything to help my son, and the private companies are the worst of the worst, funded by hedge funds that do not care about children. BE A HUMAN! A real live one that remembers why you started your career. Is this what you wanted? If so, I only know sociopaths and narcissists of the highest caliber that you could contend with.
02-21-2024
Sandi Montgomery [Heartland AEA]
CON
I ask that you vote no. Please listen to your constituents rather than the outside companies that want to dismantle the current AEA system. Our students, especially those in rural communities, need access to all services including media that our state AEAs provide.
02-21-2024
John Tiedt []
CON
Please do not pass this bill. This would negatively impact our education system.
02-21-2024
Melissa Johnson []
CON
In my job as a k5 instructional coach, I help to plan professional learning for our teachers which will in turn help improve student performance tied to our school improvement goals. This part of my role is just 1 of many roles in my job description (less than 10%. As a generalist serving all content, to teachers of 6 different grades levels, and each with diverse needs for support, I rely on AEA curriculum specialists to consult with me on the latest best practices in their specific fields. In just the past month, I have consulted with our math consultant about improving the purposeful practice component in our math blocks and how that should look the same and different through the grade level progression. Ive consulted with our Reading Consultant about some students receiving a phoneme grapheme mapping intervention that arent making typical progress to figure out what adjustments to help the teacher try to make the intervention more effective. We also worked together when she provided direct modeling to our staff of ways to improve engagement when using decidable text. We have an upcoming plan to consult about vocabulary and language structure concerns in some of our upper grade classrooms.ive also worked with our School Improvement Consultant and our building Instructional Leadership Team to analyze our Winter Screening data and which action steps from our school improvement plan are in what phase of development to keep an eye on our goals and suggest next steps.I never would have had the hours of time to read the multiple books and articles that contributed to these consultants knowledge bases in these areas. I need to be a generalist in my field to be helpful to my staff, but need tha specialists at AEA to support us. AEAs serve a vital role that cannot be easily replicated at the DE level nor the district level. Please table this bill and have a bipartisan committee of stakeholders (not lobbyists or politicians) do an indepth study of AEAs before making wide sweeping changes that werent being asked for by Iowans with roles that are currently being impacted by AEAs.
02-21-2024
Curt Hayek []
CON
The lack of assessment & use of Naep scores testing on less than 1% of the 74,000 special ed students in Iowa underlines this bill is without merit. The lack of collaboration with AEA boards and directors proves this is a one sided narrative that needs to be mediated at least before anything in this bill is taken as facts.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [NA]
CON
The AEA has helped many children I know, many adults I know. The way the AEA works in terms of collaboration, great services and resources provided to schools, and most importantly, seeing each child individually is very effective. I know many schools and daycare use many resources provided by the AEA weekly. At this point, it appears that there is a "solution" being made when the "problem" (if any) is not pinpointed or defined. The public has spoken time and time again against what is being referred to as the AEA bill. Please listen, shut down this bill. There is too much at stake for these students and schools to make the changes being proposed.
02-21-2024
02-21-2024
Andrea Nus []
CON
My request is to set up the task force to understand the concerns of Iowans with AEAs first, and only. Once the study is complete, then look at proposing further legislation, if deemed necessary, to resolve concerns. If passed, this legislation does not allow reasonable time for AEAs and school districts to prepare for the unknowns and still be able to provide adequate services (including mental health) to the most vulnerable in our communities as well as important resources such as the media library.
02-21-2024
Julia Bebensee []
CON
Thank you House members for trying to make adjustments to the original bill. Now you need to vote NO and stop HF 2612. Create a task force to include all relevant stakeholders (i.e. families, students, educators, school board members, AEAs, administrators (rural, urban, suburban) to determine if change is truly needed before enacting legislation. Listen to your constituents and do what is right for the children, teachers and schools in Iowa.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am opposed to the advancement of the bill. Set up a study, work together for solutions to any concerns but leave our children's future alone
02-21-2024
Gina Iverson [Concerned Iowan and Educator]
CON
Stop this bill take the time to conduct a credible and thorough study as to what AEA reform needs to be before this bill becomes law. Your constituents are not asking for this law. Iowa children deserve a thorough study of the AEA's before a law is passed that compromises the services provided to them through their local AEA.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
As a mother of two young men who are successful, because of the support they received from the AEA. I'm asking you to stop this process. If there are concerns, work together and figure out a solution thank you.
02-21-2024
Jenna Jackson [Public School]
CON
As a public school teacher, I am completely against this bill. The AEA provides numerous services that schools are in desperate need of. Public schools have not been adequately funded in years and the AEA helps fill the gaps that that lack of funding has caused. Please do not cripple Iowa public schools again.
02-21-2024
Mike Kruger [West Fork CSD]
CON
Dismantling Iowas AEAs will hurt Iowas small rural public school districts. Small rural schools already have a very difficult time hiring for positions. This will only add to the shortages that we will not be able to provide support for some of our most vulnerable students.
02-21-2024
Marilyn Anderson [Citizen]
CON
Support our AEAs! Support our schools! Support our children! Do NOT let this go forward! Complete a bipartisan study FIRST, then propose change.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
If this bill is voted in then it will hurt all students, families, and teachers in Iowa. Teachers will lose out on tons of resources and supports that we use from the AEA on a daily basis.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Hawkeye Community College-- Professor of English]
CON
As a public educator, I am against this bill. Why take away the these AEA services so that the money can be funded to the voucher program? Public education needs the AEA services to help those students who need it the most. Please do not take away the services for students that need them. Dismantling the AEA will hurt the students and districts that are the most in need monetarily.
02-21-2024
Melissa Meyer [Edgewood-Colesburg CSD]
CON
As a rural art and computer teacher, Im against this bill. Our school utilizes the AEA on a daily basis in several different capacities. Our Building Leadership Team uses the AEA to help us plan our professional development along with assisting teachers with their teaching standards and curriculum (we do not have a curriculum director in our district).If you walk into our library on a Monday or Thursday, you will find that the AEA has delivered various materials from their media library. The media isnt just books! Currently we have several different computer science computing devices checked out. Our school is making a big push to integrate more computer science as we see the importance of it. To help with this, a staff member and I are currently getting our computer science endorsement through UNI, which utilizes the AEAs as a way to hold I person instruction and collaboration. The AEAs are facilitators in this program. Without the AEA, so much would be lost in the movement of integrating computer science into our schools. Another way the AEAs have directly impacted me is by being on the special Ed end of things. I have a stepson that is special needs. He started to receive services prior to school age. The therapy that he received helped him learn how to walk, speak, and write. If these services werent easily available, Im really not sure where he would be. He currently is a sophomore and although he still at an elementary level, he has made great strides and I thank this to the AEAs and their involvement with his teachers.
02-21-2024
Susan Eberly []
CON
I am the parent of a child who is now an independent, employed, taxpaying Iowan. This would not have happened without had we not benefited from the expertise of our local AEA. So I have very personal knowledge of how important our AEAs are, and I do not support making any changes to our current AEA system. The proposed changes do not address concerns about federal compliance nor and more important would the changes lead to more effective support for students with disabilities.Because school districts need time to prepare for the coming school year, this whole process of review needs to be slowed down. And it needs to be done in cooperation with parents, AEAs, and local school districts. Using an outside consulting entity has been a colossal failure; local input is essential. While we are told Republicans value local control, there is no evidence of that here. The proposed legislation would remove $32 million from the budgets of local schools. Im not sure why Republicans want to further hamstring our schools and hurt our students, but I totally oppose this. And I am in good company no parent I know, no school district administrators and staff, no AEA staff think the proposed changes are a good idea. Please, table this legislation.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Keystone AEA employee, taxpayer, voter and grandmother]
CON
Thank you for your service as a legislator in the Iowa House of Representatives and thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my view on HF 2612. I am opposed to this bill because I believe it will negatively impact rural school districts and move too much control to the Iowa Department of Education. Although it sounds good to give the schools choice on where to purchase services with their funding the fact they will no longer be electing the decision makers for their AEA and leadership will be moved to Des Moines means the process is more political and more bureaucratic. Currently, when AEA schools need service, assistance, or support they have a direct line to people they know who can help them in real time, and most importantly that DO help them in real time. The current performance of the Iowa Department of Education does not support that type of responsive service. Regional access to leadership is more valuable than I believe is being recognized in the current conversations. Secondly, if the area education agency chief administrator license is going to require special education teaching experience I believe the it important to recognize the Department of Education chief position (who under this bill would be responsible for many things handled currently by our chief administrators) does not even require teaching experience. I do not believe the current Iowa Department of Education chief is qualified to replace what the AEA chiefs currently do on a daytoday basis for the children of Iowa. I came to the AEA system from the public sector, and I will be honest, it was a huge learning experience to understand the many facets of the education system. Changes need to be well thought out and planned. Although I can understand the theory behind this, I do not agree with removing the current leadership. Our employees have been harmed by the negative conversations directed at the AEAs. Morale is at the lowest point I have seen in my 21 years at Keystone AEA. If data proves more special education experience/education would make our leadership perform better then lets modify future requirements for licensure and provide professional development for our existing leadership. If salaries are a concern lets address that issue. Please do not implode a system that has served students, families, teachers, and administrators so well over the past 50 years. AEA staff have never been afraid to evaluate, review data, and make changes to improve performance and outcomes. Please give us the chance to have all stakeholders at the table for a comprehensive review of the system before changes are implemented. Ensuring accurate applicable data is used to make deliberate nonpolitical decisions is imperative to ensure the children of Iowa receive the best education possible. I appreciate your public service and your consideration of my concerns over this bill in its entirety. Respectfully,Teresa Bushman
02-21-2024
Lois Roth [Myself]
CON
AEA BillIm retired after 42 years as a CTE Business educator. I loved my work. It was more than a job, it was my calling.Retired now 3 years, my heart and attention remains there. In my decades of experiences I will begin by this statement.Overwhelming evidence of quick fix legislation to mandate or regulate some sort of long running need for attention / solution, typically met us educators with ONE MORE item on our platter with far less than needed professionally planned, researched and delivered instruction FOR /to the educator.?????Tempted to stop reading as here I am as yet another whining educator????DO NOT STOP. READ ON.I strived toward solutions. I met each new quick fix mandate as seriously and conscientiously as possible. (Yes even when I didnt like it)This AEA bill.Tell me you have done your homework.Knee jerk decisions NOT acceptable.HAVE YOU spoken to in the trenches AEA Special Education clinicians, inside district implementers, in district teachers AND para educators to KNOW the truth of what goes on, how funding is successfully and directly impacting kids.(not lost in some duck duck goose charade)Have you listened to them?Have you? Tell me youve spoken to MORE than one educator IN more than one district.They'll tell you what is working and what does not. FROM the trenches, not the boardroom. Have you listened to them?Have you spoken to educators who are not special education teachers BUT who have special educator students within their elementary middle or high school classrooms? How are AEA services impacting the student IN classroom? Have you asked?Have you listened?SO typical are the unintended consequences which the educator is forced to dissect and implement. Seldom is the stage prepared for high return. Educators are SLAMMED. And less exterior services, more ON the district already gasping and THAT is your best ?Make no mistake. AEAs like any agency needs to be accountable. Jerking them out of the system, piling it all on districtsDo you truly know how that may be horrendous and good or an absoluteDisaster and services are lost within the current daily circus of survival?Table this.Do not just vote n forget this.ALLOW. EXPECT specific reporting. TAKE time to do this right, NOT to just claim you passed legislation to improve special Ed or other services and then let the floundering ensue.Thank you (assuming you care enough to reach this place in this heartfelt writing.Lois J RothRetired Danville CSD 38 yearsMaquoketa Valleu CSD 4 years Ljrteachgmail.com3197505577
02-21-2024
Carol Prescott []
CON
Please do not modify the role of the AEA in public education. Children need and are getting the assistance they need by skilled professionals. Currently schools put in a request to the AEA for a students need, such as speech therapist or occupational therapist, and that need is filled. To force schools to shop for these services adds another layer of bureaucracy and takes away actual teaching time. Please, please kill this bill!
02-21-2024
Erin Conrad [Great Prairie AEA]
CON
Please slow this bill down and take the time to do what is best for all students in Iowa. Right now, the bill takes away equitable services between schools and students across the state of Iowa. The bill also shifts additional oversight to the Department of Education Division of Special Education. Schools need to have local control.
02-21-2024
Linda Linn [Parent/Grandparent/Retired Educator]
CON
HF2612 is a bill that came out of nowhere and is not needed. Iowa's educators (public, private and charter) parents and students (including homeschoolers) greatly benefit from the work of the AEA's. Our schools cannot afford to and would not be able to find the professional staff members that the AEA provides speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, special education consultants, consultants in the many content areas, technology consultants, school social workers, school psychologists and the lending library with its priceless resources.Vote NO for this bill. Our children and their success need the services of our AEAs!
02-21-2024
Amanda Elliott []
CON
Please vote NO to this bill. While i appreciate the effort that has been made with the amendments, I do not believe this is an informed decision in students' best interests. Get data through a comprehensive study before making any changes to the AEA system. Our students benefit from these services and the overwhelming majority of Iowans do not want this change.
02-21-2024
Nancy Baker Curtis [The Arc of iowa]
CON
My comments will be delivered in person.
02-21-2024
Kelly Ashworth []
CON
Vote NO! Any change to AEAs without knowing how best to make those changes will increase costs to districts, especially rural districts. The only action that should be taken is a study to determine the strengths and weaknesses and then develop a plan to address those weaknesses. DO NOT MAKE CHANGES!
02-21-2024
Megan Immel []
CON
Please listen to the people of Iowa. You don't have to vote how Kim does, she is following a nationwide plan to take apart our public schools. River Hills in Cedar Falls has been around before the aea were even a thing here in Iowa. If Kim is all about school choice our students deserve a choice too! They also deserve to have all of their services that are in their IEP by law. The state is way out of their wheel house if they think they can offer something better than something that has been around for almost as long as all of you representives have been on this earth. You can say no, do it for the most vulnerable population in Iowa.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Votet]
CON
Im against this bill and vote no! The AEA is a well ran system. As an educator it helped me learn how to collect data for my students, how to adapt my instruction to meet their needs and they were also there in it with me teaching. I cant imagine ever taking this away from teachers. Ive never met a system that works harder for students AND teachers. Teachers are already feeling and experiencing sooooo many shortages and now you want to do this for them? This will not help studentsits going to hurt them. Please vote no and stop this all together
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Parent]
CON
As a parent, we can't get rid of the AEAs. There are so many resources and knowledge that have lead to better instruction for my children. This will be devastating to the future of Iowa.
02-21-2024
Kris Wheeler []
CON
Please listen to your constituents who know their schools better than the newest Director of Education, who has never worked or taught in Iowa schools.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I oppose this bill as it is written. The AEA system is too important and serves our precious children, educators, and parents to dismantle. A comprehensive study should be done with all stakeholders involved. This is not a political issue. It involves our future. We will not forget the legislators who blindly move forward with this bill at the next election.
02-21-2024
Molly Gilmore [AEA Purchasing ]
CON
Although the timeline of this bill has been pushed back, the major points remain the same, even after what seems to be overwhelming opposition across the state of Iowa. The amendments still do not serve the best interests of students in Iowa, and if passed as is, seems as though it will most likely lead to inequitable services based on district size and location. Furthermore, the amended bill recommends a task force to study the AEAs Does it not make more sense to complete this evaluation before passing a bill to make changes? Please thoughtfully consider the long term implications of this bill on our students, teachers, and staff before moving it forward. Thank you for your time and consideration.
02-21-2024
Sandy Darveau [Early Childhood Consultant]
CON
I urge you to stop the AEA Bill and implement a task force to study and use real data.Our federal law reads that ALL children have access to a Free, Appropriate, PUBLIC Education (FAPE). Local school districts and AEAs collaborate to ensure that all children do indeed have access to FAPE. If this law is passed, children across the state will lose out on the education they need to become successful, contributing members of our communities. A task force that is Bipartisan and includes all stakeholders; parents, students, educators, school boards, LEA and AEA, AND uses real data, is crucial to getting this right for our next generation of learners. Sandy Darveau
02-21-2024
Deborah McCarthy []
CON
As a retired special education teacher, I am appalled at the way this bill would cut much needed services to ALL students and teachers. Please reconsider before passing these draconian measures. HF 2612 will especially impact small rural school systems like the one I taught in and where my 7 grandchildren are enrolled. Iowa was once the leader in public education, but our governor seems to be on a crusade to ruin that legacy. Thank you for considering what is best for our children and voting NO.
02-21-2024
patrick ahrens, md [Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Council Bluffs]
CON
My son is autistic and utilized the services of the AEA for more than a decade when he was schoolaged. Those services were invaluable in connecting him with programs and services he needed. His life would have been negatively impacted if it were not for those services. I am all for oversight and minimizing waste of any governmental program. However, taking money away from the AEA and giving it to private organizations without a good plan or knowledge of the quality of those organizations is shortsighted and will be detrimental to these young people who are the most vulnerable. Even worse, among this population, those with the least resources will be most significantly impacted. I would strongly encourage the legislative body to vote against this. Thank you for your attention
02-21-2024
Tamara Russell [Parent ]
CON
Why does there continue to be discussion on this? There are very few actual stakeholders if any that agree with this bill. As a parent of a special needs adult child who would not be as successful as he is without the support of the AEAs I am all for efficiency analysis and improvement but this is someones pet project. Just drop it and move on to what your constituents actually want you to do. Thank you.
02-21-2024
Robin Wagner
CON
Do not make these changes to the AEA, in fact support them more. If you have a child that needs these services, you understand. Evidentially whom ever is trying to do so, does not see what AEA is doing for these children that depend on them, nor do they care. We are raising our granddaughter and without the services of AEA, she would not be functioning at the level that she is now nor would she be able to function in school. With the services of AEA, she is starting to be a success story in our eyes and in school and in her confidence. When we received her in our home, she could barely read, write or comprehend math at a 2nd grade leven and she was in 5th grade. With AEA's services she is now proficient or above but this will take the services of AEA throughout her educational journey in school. There are so many of us "parents" that depend on any and all help that we can get for our kids. Why can't you understand this? I believe this is our tax dollar that helps this organization but we are not having a say in what happens to this. If our governor would take a good look at the educational system of Iowa and realize that the general public cannot afford private schools and the choices that she says are the best for this state. No mam, your decisions are not the best for these kids. We need public schools and their funding. We need the AEA and the services that we receive from them. We need you to try to see and really understand what your choices are doing. They are not the best for this state nor our kids. The best choice would be that our tax dollars would be for AEA to be left alone and supported 100 percent. Unfortunately, due to your belief, there will be so many children in this state that will fail, never know what it is to succeed in life, and that is a very big mistake. Without those services, we as grandparents, or we as parents, or we as guardians will see these kids begin to slip through the cracks and fail, knowing that if you just leave things alone this could and would be avoided. You are NOT making choices that will help any of these kids nor anyone that has a conscience. These are choices that are aimed to implode necessary services. After you hopefully fix this decision and leave AEA alone....I suggest you try to refigure your decision to take away public school funds. But we will leave that opinion for another time. Thank you for your time.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [GWAEA]
CON
Please listen to the voices of Iowa that are loud & clear. Change is possible when you listen, learn & work together. Services being cut without a plan will hurt districts, schools, families & children in the state of Iowa. Please slow down & do the work with everyone involved to develop a true plan of action to support all of Iowa.
02-21-2024
Alice Telfer [Central Rivers AEA]
CON
As I read through the HSB2612, the only thing that makes sense is Section 7 which establishes a task force. I would think you would want the information from all the items to be studied before you many any changes. You need to know what services are provided by each AEA and what they should provide BEFORE you propose changes.You need to know how the operation of AEAs are currently overseen BEFORE you mandate that it change.You need to know the current accreditation standards and the process of accreditation BEFORE you know if they need to be changed and if so, how to make it better. You need to know what services are provided by the division of special education at the department of education, the AEAs, and the school districts BEFORE you can make changes that actually make a difference on the ground. Vital information is missing to propose any changes to current law. The list of items to be studied demonstrate that you do not have the necessary information to understand any issues, problems, or areas needing improvement, much less propose changes that will actually improve outcomes for students. I urge you to do no further work on this bill until you have the information needed to write a bill based on an accurate picture of the strengths and weaknesses of the current situation and built on the consensus of all stakeholders. I believe that such a bill would work through the legislative process with bipartisan support and the support of Iowans. The students, teachers, and communities of Iowa deserve a well thought out plan, not one crafted in a time crunch based on incomplete and misleading information that ends up creating more problems than it solves.
02-21-2024
Chloe Schwarting []
CON
Please stop this bill from moving forward. HS 2612 would have devastating consequences for Iowa's students, teachers, and families. It would have an especially negative impact on rural communities like my own, that depend on the AEAs economy of scale to access resources and services that would otherwise be unavailable. More information is needed to make informed decisions that would actually improve efficiency and student performance. Please listen to your constituents, and do the right thing for Iowas children. Vote no!
02-21-2024
Danielle Kleinhesselink [MOC FV Education Association]
CON
We need AEAs to help provide services to students. We need them for further teacher learning opportunities. We also need to keep the ability for LEAs to voice opinions on standing up for such services. Please vote no for changing our current system as this could bring about many problems for our students and teachers. Please help us to put kids first by having the opportunities we have to offer for kids especially in rural areas as well as resources to assist our teaching professionals. Please truly help students and teachers, not hurt us.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [None]
CON
We are against the changes proposed for the AEA
02-21-2024
Anonymous [N/a]
CON
I dont know how this bill wont hurt small schools or private schools. Private schools do use AEA. I know the answer back is schools can opt to continue to send their money to AEA but who makes that decision, the superintendent or school board members? How is AEA not efficient when they provide a low vision teacher to multiple school districts when small schools have maybe one child in need of that service. Also are you going to ask the schools to provide services under 3 like Early access does with their special education budget? Our Medicaid population already has no where to go for mental health services, so this potentially cuts off more for them by not supporting AEA.I am a pediatrician and recommend AEA all the time. I also know that they offer therapy services only to kids not meeting education goals they are not overstepping into medical treatment/goals. Keep in mind Blank speech therapy has a 612 month wait now. Make sure you are talking to teachers, therapists outside AEA, and doctors before you push this through. Iowa is failing kids more now than when I started practicing 17 years ago.
02-21-2024
Sue Runyon []
CON
Please slow this process down and work with educators that know what AEAs do b
02-21-2024
Stephanie Patin [Occupational Therapist]
CON
I am writing to express my strong opposition to both HF 2612 and SF 3073. These bills fail to address crucial issues related to student achievement and undermine genuine local control in our schools. Here are some key points highlighting my concerns:Lack of School Input: It's concerning that neither of these bills were requested by schools nor do they reflect the desires of our education institutions.False "Local Control": The purported "local control" is merely a facade, as ultimate decisionmaking power rests with the Director of the Department of Education, who lacks appropriate qualifications and experience in education.Privatization of Services: HF 2612 includes a troubling provision for a multiyear process leading to the privatization of certain services, which could negatively impact the quality and accessibility of education.Elimination of AEA Rights: The House bill eliminates AEAs' rights to own properties, which raises questions about the future of crucial services such as multidistrict classes and audiology resources.End of Operational Sharing: The House version puts an end to operational sharing opportunities between districts and AEAs, potentially limiting collaborative efforts and resources.Lack of Stakeholder Involvement: It's alarming that the proposed task force does not include key stakeholders such as schools, teachers, or parents, undermining the legitimacy of its findings and recommendations.Risk to Equitable Services: Particularly concerning is the impact on equitable services, especially in rural districts, where the proposed changes could leave children at a disadvantage.Overall, these bills represent a step backward for Iowa's education system and fail to prioritize the needs of students and communities. I urge the House of Iowa to reconsider and reject HF 2612 and SF 3073 in their current forms. Our children deserve better.
02-21-2024
Destiny Eldridge []
CON
I do not support this bill. Please, make time to look thoroughly at where/what improvements might be needed in the AEA/LEA partnership and take a systemic approach to improvement. I implore you to table this bill until the next session. It won't take years to do a comprehensive review of the AEA system, but it will take more than a few weeks. We need Iowa education experts stakeholders doing this review. You represent your constituents; hear our voices. Please lead with integrity, side with Iowa's children, and do not move this bill forward. Thank you for your service!
02-21-2024
Wendy Hopp [IaCCI]
CON
I believe that Govenor Reynolds is only considering our AEAs from a political position and not considering it from an educational one. As she holds a degree that is politics focused, it is easy to see why she might be looking through that lens. However, if she is going to make changes in areas impacting the education of our children, then it seems like she ought to listen to educators in our state. She is clearly not doing so. This is another example of our system being failed by a politician who does not have their constituents best interests in her heart or mind.
02-21-2024
Fredrik Patin [Concerned Parent]
CON
As a father whose child has greatly benefited from AEA services, I am deeply troubled by the contents of both HF 2612 and SF 3073. These bills fail to address critical issues impacting student achievement and erode the true essence of local control in our schools. Here are my heartfelt concerns:Ignoring School Input: It's disheartening to note that these bills were not initiated based on the requests of our schools, nor do they align with the aspirations of our educational institutions.Illusion of "Local Control": The notion of "local control" is deceptive, as the ultimate authority lies in the hands of a Director lacking the requisite education background and experience to make informed decisions regarding our children's education.Threat of Privatization: The inclusion of a provision in HF 2612 for a prolonged process leading to the privatization of certain services is deeply concerning. Such a move could severely compromise the quality and accessibility of education for our students.Endangering AEA Rights: The House bill's proposal to strip AEAs of their property rights raises serious questions about the continuity of essential services like multidistrict classes and audiology resources.Discontinuation of Collaborative Efforts: The House version's termination of operational sharing opportunities between districts and AEAs threatens to disrupt the collaborative efforts and resourcesharing crucial for student success.Lack of Stakeholder Inclusion: The absence of key stakeholders such as schools, teachers, and parents in the proposed task force is alarming and undermines the credibility of its outcomes and recommendations.Risk to Equitable Services: I am particularly worried about the adverse effects these changes may have on equitable access to services, especially in rural areas, leaving our children at a significant disadvantage.In conclusion, the enactment of HF 2612 and SF 3073 in their current forms would signify a significant regression for Iowa's education system, disregarding the needs of our students and communities. I implore the House of Iowa to reconsider and reject these bills, prioritizing the wellbeing and future success of our children. They deserve nothing less.
02-21-2024
Chris Arend [self]
CON
I urge you to stop the AEA Bill and implement a task force to study and use real data. The AEA system is too important to dismantle and serves our all children, educators, and parents. Please listen to the people of Iowa, as you can see from the comments there is overwhelming opposition to this bill!
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I believe it would be a detrimental to education in Iowa to make changes to the AEA without a comprehensive independent study that details where the AEA can improve. The AEA provides school districts, children and parents vital resources, which school districts cant afford to provide.
02-21-2024
Theresa Keenan [ISHA ]
CON
Please study this further before passing HF2612. The AEA provides necessary services that are difficult to obtain in rural IA. Also, insurance restrictions make it difficult and costly for services to be provided through other means. Our children need the services provided through the AEA.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Vote no, stop this bill. Larger schools may be able to afford to cover these services, but small school districts like the one in my community cannot. Iowa needs AEAs.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Heartland AEA]
CON
Please stop or slow down this bill. Please put requirements for a study to be completed by the people of Iowa, nothing those who have not participated in how things are down in Iowa. The removal of AEA services will greatly impact the level of support for families, students and teachers in a variety of capacities. The families that's I work both in the home and in the school setting are worried, More scared about what will happen. Tears are being shed many of them saying, "we wouldn't be where we are without your help, " I wouldn't have any ideas how things were supposed to work without you.". Your decision will impact so many, please make sure your decision is based on what is important children, families, students, teachers.
02-21-2024
Valery Fuhrman [Self]
CON
Please vote NO to this bill! Do this in the right order study the issue THEN make informed, responsible decisions for Iowa. Don't move forward with a bill that has actions in it that will dismantle a solid system of service to our students and schools. The foundational data with which it was brought forward with is biased and flawed. There is no correlation to the work of the AEAs and the data provided that warrants modifying the duties, powers, and operational sharing functions of the AEA. Please create a bipartisan task force who can study the data and issues presented. Let them first ask more questions, study the financial implications, consider the impact to districts of all sizes, and have more conversations with a wider group of stakeholders. This should help you better understand the roles played by AEAs, the DE, and districts in the service of all students in Iowa BEFORE making these extensive decisions. Do not roll over the supervision of AEAs to the DE director who has been on the job less than 6 months and does not have a degree or any experience in education (no educational license, no degree, no classroom/school based experiences). Do not roll over responsibilities to a new "department" of the DE that is not even developed or staffed. There appears to be no administrative cost savings in this plan, the administrative roles are being created and funded at the centralized DE level instead of within the more localized AEAs.
02-21-2024
Jody Williams []
CON
As a retired Iowa educator, I know first hand the value of the AEAs for students, families, and staff. Please establish a bipartisan neutral committee of stakeholders before passing legislation.
02-21-2024
Cindra Poter []
CON
Please stop the AEA bill. Voters in this state have overwhelmingly expressed their disagreement that any bill should move forward. Please take the time to develop a task force to study and consider the current system before making radical changes. Parents and teachers rely on our AEAs, and our children depend on immediate and locally responsive support from our AEAs.
02-21-2024
Amy Gulling []
CON
The AEAs have been around for 50 years and they deserve a stand alone comprehensive review before decisions and policies are made. I leave you with this one question, as of last night 99% of the public comments posted were con and the registered lobbyist listed either undecided or against, what current data do you have that denotes proposed changes are necessary or needed to the AEAs?
02-21-2024
Kathy Bertsch [Heartland AEA]
CON
Please vote no on HF 2612 as AEA content and learning experts are necessary for districts to successfully implement Iowas state special education performance plan. I am a long time employee of the AEA and prior Department employee who colead the literacy work of the state SPDG grant and have a unique perspective regarding this work. Please see comments attached.
Attachment
02-21-2024
Jennifer Funk [ ]
CON
Please vote NO for HF 2612 and continue to listen to the people of Iowa that are urging a slow down of the changes being made to a comprehensive AEA system. I appreciate the listening that has happened as evidenced by the separation of teacher pay from the original bill, retaining services for students, keeping flow through monies and providing a better timeline. Yet, I go back the the question I had at the start of the session who is requesting the need for immediate and detrimental changes to such a unique and equitable system for ALL of Iowa's students and educators? As an AEA employee, I am welltrained in the problemsolving process. First, I have to have a clear problem definition to understand the need as well as to target the data to be collected to validate there is indeed, a problem. The data then guides the recommendations to remediate the problem and also to test the recommendations to ensure we are on the right solution path. To me, the bill is missing crucial and basic problem solving processes. This is where stopping the AEA bills and developing a bipartisan task force to engage in the problem solving process is needed. I encourage this to happen by voting NO on HF 2612.
02-21-2024
Jan ONeil []
CON
First, thank you for slowing the bill regarding special education and AEAs down. However, please listen to or have seated at the table people who have knowledge, expertise and experience about these important factors before making any rash decisions. The children of Iowa deserve it.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [St. Malachy School]
CON
Please continue AEA services to our kids. Do not make any changes in how Iowa students have been served.
02-21-2024
Aaron Jaco []
CON
Our AEAs are a gem, and essential to equitably providing a wide range of service to all Iowa students. No other organization or group of organizations is prepared to duplicate, much less improve on, the services of our AEAs. The legislature should increase funding for the AEAs, not reform them in the manner provided by this legislation.
02-21-2024
Amanda Brink [Parent]
CON
Dont pass this legislation until a bipartisan committee of stakeholders has finished comprehensive work ensuring all Iowa students have equitable access utilizing all AEA supports.
02-21-2024
Megan Reeves [Great Prairie AEA]
CON
Vote no on HF 2612. Allow time for an appropriate review to occur to help ensure that we aren't making rash decisions for our students and families that will have long lasting repercussions for our state. The current timeline is unrealistic for school districts and AEAs to ensure that they are able to make the best decisions for students.
02-21-2024
Lynne Currie [Grant Wood AEA]
CON
IOWA'S AEAS HAVE LONG BEEN CONSIDERED THE GOLD STANDARD IN THE COUNTRY FOR ENSURING EQUITABLE SERVICES FOR ALL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS IN THE STATE PLEASE PRESERVE THESE SERVICESI am a school social worker with Grant Wood AEA and I serve 2 rural school districts. I have been so humbled and moved by the support and advocacy that my districts have shown for their AEA services and for the current model of service delivery. It is confusing to many of us why our legislative leaders are discussing changes when the vast majority of Iowans and stakeholders have stated opposition to changing the current model.Many legislators do not have critical information about public education, and there will be unintended consequences due to this that translate to a lower quality of education for students across the state if a fee for service model is imposed. There has not been sufficient time for thoughtful discussions of how to improve components of the current model that may need improving, but that should be done from a bottomup approach, not a topdown one. Please preserve all AEA services and allow a bottomup approach to making any needed changes.
02-21-2024
Joni Ehm [Educator]
CON
Please continue to listen to the concerns of actual Iowans that would be negatively impacted by the effects of this legislation and vote no to HF 2612. While accountability is not a bad thing, creating oversight at the Department of Education centralizes power in Des Moines and takes away local control and gives it to an agency that is in no way equipped to take on that role and will only stall and delay services to our schools. Any version of this bill that includes a "fee for service" model will negatively impact our rural districts the most and deny rural students equitable opportunities.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
AEA has been invaluable over the years for our autistic grandson. I can't imagine what it would have been like without their enduring and unwavering assistance. The fact that certain state politicians want to toss it aside in one big broadbrush stroke is simply unacceptable. We will be watching closely and will remember it come election time.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Retired school teacher]
CON
The AEA support more than special educational services. The AEAs many services support TEACHERS in various ways that helps the teachers to be exemplary for all the children. Media services, continuing professional training, technology, materials, specialist help the classroom teacher meet needs for everyone. Why would we want to take this service away??
02-21-2024
Megan Weaver [parent, Iowan]
CON
Thank you for the work that has been done so far to address the concerns brought forth by Iowans. This bill still does not guarantee that our children, school districts, teachers, and parents will continue to receive the high quality, comprehensive services that they are currently receiving. I ask that you pause any legislation until a task force is put together to study the AEA system and propose changes. I also ask that you keep all AEA services in tact. There continues to be concerns about the impact this bill will have on small districts. There continues to be concerns regarding so much oversight and decision making power being given to the Director of the Department of Education. There continues to be concerns about the loss of quality services that will happen in media services and educational services under a fee for service model. These concerns must be addressed. Again, thank you for your time and effort to get this right. There is more work to do.
02-21-2024
Kim johnk [Heartland AEA]
CON
I am a physical therapist that works for heartland AEA in rural districts. I implore you to continue to research and explore our current system as a whole, including all stakeholders. This bill being rushed through and it will be detrimental to Iowas children and families. Just in the last couple weeks alone Ive had situations in rural districts that I thought to myself I dont know what they would do if they had to rely on an outside provider or some online provider to provide the needs that were presenting. The needs were immediate, and I was able to respond. During this, I had a school nurse who is overwhelmed with not only physically, but emotionally ill children feeling her office and telling me she could cry thinking about whats going on with the AEAs right now. Anyone of us would welcome you to come and observe and see what we do and how we impact students, teachers families, etc.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [School based Occupational Therapist]
CON
I appreciate all the parties working so hard on this matter. This bill is an improvement but I am opposed and have concern about funding. If AEA's only receive federal funds to support staffing position that directly work with children such as occupational therapists Then there will be funding that should be recovered to support these positions from medicaid that cannot be billed for. It is not permissible for federally funded positions to bill medicaid Currently many of these support and related services, such as occupational Therapy are already understaffed as compared to the national average and this would eliminate funds to support these specialized professionals who support families children and educators directly in the schools Medicaid is the thirdlargest source of education funding. New guidance from Medicaid allows billing for screening, assisting with interventions for atrisk GE students, etc. (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2023). This would enhance revenue to bring more quality services directly to schools through the AEA. We must fund the AEA's appropriately and continue to support a statewide system so children anywhere in the state have access to consistent quality services, per education law. I would support a task force of all stake holders to improve services for children and collaboration between schools,AEA's and medical providers The task force should include AEA direct service providers, special education teachers school administrators and of course parents.I believe that the task force must look more ways of collaboration between LEA and AEA regarding services needed to enhance student performance. There should be focus on current evidence based service delivery for infants,toddlers and school aged children within the natural environment or within the students general education setting (least restrictive environment). I believe the task force should also look at workloads for special education staff and direct service providers such as occupational therapists, physical therapists,and speechlanguage pathologists identifying the best methodology to determine workload for support services. Other states are legislating workloads for schools.I do believe in Iowa's unique system and with improvement we can lead the nation in providing excellent service to our children of all abilities! Thank you for your time on the matter
02-21-2024
Diane Howland [Resident of the Riceville community school district ]
CON
Leave AEA alone. It is needed to give our children the best education they deserve. Small schools like ours depend on the support of the AEA.
02-21-2024
Peter []
CON
This is nothing but a detriment to our education system and our childrens future. This has greatly impacted my next voting choice to better reflect what Iowa needs.
02-21-2024
Malinda Elliott []
CON
The current proposed bill does not create a system that will improve outcomes for kids nor does it support educators and families. Our governor began this legislative session, giving her state of the state address, talking about a need to improve education in Iowa. I believe we all agree, no matter what initials are behind your name that we want the best education for the kids in our state. However, this bill does not make that possible. In fact, I truly believe it will do just the opposite. In the end it puts the DOE in charge an organization currently with the leadership to truly understand education and creates more barriers for families and educators. The fee for service model creates a society of the haves and have nots. Instead, I urge you to create a study group with all stakeholders and give everyone time to study the domino effects that will happen when each change is made.
02-21-2024
Carol G McDonald [Private citizen]
CON
Modifying the current AEA structure and services is yet another blatant attempt by Republicans to further harm public education in Iowa. AEAs provide essential support services to both students and schools. The current structure works. Stop these AEA bills now.
02-21-2024
Tracy Weber []
CON
Thank you for taking the time to slow this bill down, to learn about the AEA system, and to find a way to improve our practices without decimating a disturb that does a lot of good for students and schools. Please do not give oversight of the AEA system to the Department of Education director. Changing the AEA system in that way will negatively impact services to students and schools.
02-21-2024
Judith Pfohl []
CON
AEAs have been important to Iowa education as they currently are organized. They already help many families, especially in rural areas. There is no need to change anything. If you really think there is a problem then create a committee to listen to parents of children who have been helped.
02-21-2024
Joyce Pencook [ISEA]
PRO
As a retired substitute teacher, I know how portant our AEAs are to all teachers and students. When I accepted a long term assignment in Special Ed, I had support and training at my request. Our governor and Republican Senate just want to end public education,an institution that made America stand out for all people and kept us from adopting Socialism at the turn of the last century when countries across Europe were adopting it.
02-21-2024
Sandy Lawry [Concerned parent]
CON
Put the students welfare first. The smaller districts need the many supports they receive without a high cost...AEAs were meant to spread the cost to all districts.
02-21-2024
Katie Anderson [Central Rivers AEA]
CON
I am asking that you not proceed with this bill. The AEA has oversight and the Department of Education is already a part of that oversight. This law does not address the reason it was brought up in the first place. If all stakeholders had been invited to the table in the beginning there would be no reason for a new bill. AEA employees are always seeking out new research and best practices that help all students and teachers in our state. Improvement is always at the forefront of what we do as an agency.
02-21-2024
Chris D Gleason []
CON
Leave the AEAs alone! Fund them more.
02-21-2024
Beverly Sherbondy [None ]
CON
AEAs were set up to take care of all of Iowas children. This bill defeats the purpose of the structure of the agencies. No changes should be made unless a study is conducted by qualified educators including instructors, superintendents, and AEA staff administrators. The governors contention that Iowas students are below average in performance is based on false and misleading data. If our system needs revision it should be recommended by a panel of knowledgeable educators, not the governor and out of state consultants. DO NOT PASS THIS BILL!
02-21-2024
Alex Mongiat []
CON
We have utilized the services of the AEA and really appreciate the work that they did on behalf of our son, who is on the Spectrum. Please do not take away or change how the AEA works!
02-21-2024
Angie Gansen [Parent, educator, AEA]
CON
All of Iowa is depending upon all of you to listen to all of Iowa and proceed accordingly.From the day we were all blindsided by a "review" that was actually a destructive bill we have been left wondering what the true intent of this movement was being fueled by. For 40 days it has become abundantly clear it is not about student success.Iowa can not afford for this decision to be taken lightly or made too swiftly. Stop the dismantling and shift of power and move forward with ONLY a task force to seek understanding. Everyone with boots on the ground are willing to work together for the kids but can only do that if everyone is involved.Vote for a comprehensive task force review of services, costs, and accredidations before any further decisions get put into law.If you are looking for failure, you will find it. If you are looking for success, you will find that also, but you have to be willing to look for it.
02-21-2024
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
The services provided by the AEA are critical to the students and success of the educational program in the State of Iowa. Cutting these services would be catastrophic.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Parent of school age children]
CON
Thank you so much for slowing down this bill. Although huge improvements have been made, I don't think I can fully support a bill that was created by a study that has shown several flaws. First off, it was done by an out of state company that never looked or interviewed any Iowa schools or parents that are involved with the AEA or special education services. Second, the whole idea of Iowa is not doing well is based off of a standardized test that only a very small portion of all kids with special education took. And a standardized test is the last thing that should be used for comparison since many of the children who receive special education do not perform well on standardized tests. What should be used is graduation rate or amount of children who are exited from special education based on meeting grade expected norms. Another area that is a BIG issue for me, is way too much power is given to the director of the DE. This person does not even have a degree in an education field, licensed to teach, or has ever taught in the schools. It would be like allowing someone who does not have a medical degree or be licensed to practice medicine and never having been a doctor to make the final decisions on if I have surgery and what that surgery would look like. I definitely would not trust that person, just like I don't trust the director of the DE to make decisions that would affect our children's education. At a minimum, if this person needs to control the decisions, mandate that she at least has worked in the schools, be licensed in the schools or have a degree that is related to education (not political science). The employees who report to her are much more qualified to make these decisions than she is. Our children are our future, please don't mess up a decision that affects their life by rushing into a bill that the problem hasn't been thoroughly studied in a valid way. Please bring together Iowa school employees, parents, and AEA employees to do a study and base the bill off of that study only. Iowa's children are depending on you!
02-21-2024
Lauren Vanderhorst [None]
CON
I believe a comprehensive study with input from all stakeholders is the best way to move forward. It doesn't make any sense to hastily make decisions without the correct information to guide them. Our entire educational system in our state will be impacted by the decisions you make. Please listen to those that you represent and move forward with a bipartisan taskforce. I also ask that you think you think carefully about putting an enormous amount of power in one person's hands with our Director of Education. I think this is a mistake and that decisionmaking should be left up to those who live in these communities. Thank you for your consideration on this incredibly important matter.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Self]
CON
Services to children in need of special education in rural areas will suffer without the AEA
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
This bill will be detrimental to our rural districts. I have children currently in the Monticello Community School District. I have spoken to their teachers and administrators about the impact this bill would have on our district and they are not optimistic. Please do not pass this bill.
02-21-2024
Bebe McFarland []
CON
Please leave the AEAs as they are..
02-21-2024
Liza Alton []
CON
Please do not support this bill. The Area Eduction Associations in their present from have served all schools public and private well for many years. The AEAs provide services to children and their families before the child with special needs are of school age. The AEAs are able to provide specialists in many areas and share these specialists with the schools is the area they cover. Individual schools might not be able to individually provide these services to students in their own districts. Ordering media materials for student use has been a wonderful service. With the extensive library that the AEA has they can offer extra books in many subjects for student research. They also can offer multiple copies of some books so an entire classroom can use them and the individual school does not need to purchase all the copies. As a tax payer I like knowing that some of my monies go to the AEA network to provide so many essential services to students, educators and families. As a substitute teacher I have been able to easily take the courses through the AEA that I need to keep my certification up to date. I urge you to vote no on this bill and maintain our current AEA system.
02-21-2024
Leslie Dickinson [parent]
CON
I again am wanting to express my strong beliefs AGAINST this bill. Our AEAs are needed. They are necessary for so many children....all children benefit from the many services provided by the AEAs. Taking away a system that benefits all children, teachers, and schools is dangerously wrong and will do nothing but hurt Iowa's kids. Please STOP this. Have those involved sit around the table and discuss how things can be made better....improvement is always a good thing. Please do not move this bill any further.Listen to your constituents. Thank you!
02-21-2024
Amanda Tollari []
CON
Any reduction in AEA services will harm children. We have a budget surplus. Our children deserve a well funded education system. Privatizing these services will leave the most at risk students without quality services. Teaching resources and media resources are important. Please consider our children and the resources they need.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [AEA Media, retired]
CON
This bill does not support regional services in Iowa. The study does not provide for adequate diversity of affected organizations. It completely leaves out administration of media and other services by professionals in those respective fields. The proposed funding mechanism totally disregards how capital expenditures are paid for regardless of the service area and number of schools/students that participate on a yearly basis. If your goal is to destroy media and educational services, just do that, as this legislation will simply reduce their service levels to the point no school will want them at some point in the future anyway. There isn't sufficient outside business resources in most of the state to backfill the void this legislation will create, and most individual schools will lack the resources to accomplish that alone.
02-21-2024
Cynthia Hinton []
CON
Iowa's AEAs have provided incredible services to students, parents, schools, and teachers. They have positively impacted areas of student learning, curriculum development, teacher training, classroom materials, technology use, and identification of student difficulties. AEA staff has provided support for new state mandates and helped lead educators in meeting these mandates. They have provided emotional support for students educators see this happening when horrendous events occur, such as unexpected student and staff deaths as we just had recently in our state (Perry HS). Our public education system needs this agency and all it offers. I have seen hundreds of students and staff benefit from their services. If we truly value public education in Iowa, we need to maintain support systems such as Iowa's AEAs.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Parent]
CON
Please implement a Task Force as originally presented. The AEAs are open to improvement...let's truly dig in and see what is needed. Changes to such an integral system can not be made on a whim! Please take the time to do this right the first time!My kiddo is not a special education child but has utilized AEA services such as Reading Recovery. without this, SHE would have fallen through the cracks. Close the gap for ALL kids!!
02-21-2024
Brandon Viet [University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics]
CON
To our State public officials, I do not represent or speak for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. I however, am an employee of over 15 years for this great institution and am a SpeechLanguage Pathologist. On a near daily basis I/we refer many families, infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school aged children to the state Area Education Agencies (AEA) for services. The AEA is one of our state's most valuable resources for children 0 to 18+ years of age. They provide developmental training, feeding therapy, speech therapy, language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychological therapy and special education services for EVERY child in the state of Iowa who qualifies. The services which they provide are not readily available to ALL Iowa families in the private insurance and treatment sector. Please consider the AEA just as important as Interstates 35 and 80 for the people of the state of Iowa. Rerouting or significantly modifying the paths of either of those interstates would be detrimental to our state for multiple reasons. Thank you for your time and consideration, Brandon Viet
02-21-2024
William Tilly [Former Deputy Director, Iowa Department of Education, 2012-2020]
CON
There is nothing forcing urgency on decisions about AEAs other than the Governors office and outofstate political agendas. There is no coalition of Iowa parents demanding change. There is no coalition of school districts questioning AEA services. There have been thousands of communications to the general assembly against all versions of the AEA bills, and maybe a handful in support. The only defensible course here is a study BEFORE making any changes to the AEAs. Slow the train down and lets take the time to get this right. Iowa kids are not a partisan issue. Lets figure out whats working, whats not and the best possible solutions BEFORE writing legislation. SUFFICIENT, CREDIBLE STUDY HAS NOT BEEN DONE to this point. Given the trust issues that have been created by the current reality, the best course of action moving forward is a NONPARTISAN commission charged with answering legitimate questions related to how AEAs can improve.
02-21-2024
B Gean [Educator]
CON
Please do a study of any improvements that need to be made take no action before we assess the need!
02-21-2024
Harvard Sandbulte []
CON
I do not see the logic or point of taking anything away from AEA. It is a very necessary tool for education!
02-21-2024
Bonnie Peevler [None]
CON
As a retired School Psychologist, who worked in several states, what drew me to Iowa was the AEA system. Through the AEA system, all children have equal access to services, regardless if they reside in a rural area or more populated area such as Des Moines or Iowa City. AEA services work, the legislation proposed is based upon faulty, inaccurate data. The growth made by students receiving special education services and supports is measured through their Individual Education Programs, the assessment reported by Reynolds, to measure growth, was only taken by a few students receiving special education services. We do not need another level of bureaucracy at the State Department. AEA's are regulated by the accreditation process, set up by the State of Iowa. I urge you to vote no on this meausre.
02-21-2024
Tony Wobeter [League of Women Voters]
CON
I appose the Governor's proposed changes to the AEA because the AEA Services have provided and are needed for all public schools especially in Rural areas and thousands of Iowans have found that the AEA has been helpful to them.When in doubt of making any changes ...if it not broken, don't try to fix it!!!
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
As a past principal and teacher (for 21 years), a current parent, and community member please stop this education AEA bill from moving forward. I understand things at the AEA need to be looked at and adjusted, but this is NOT the answer. Smaller public schools will not be able to provide the wonderful services they are currently obtaining through the AEA support and discounted pricing as a larger group that schools get with having the AEA. They will not be able to obtain the "best services" as they will not have the financial stability over time to maintain this. We talk about accountability, and I have been involved with various department of education led projects and if they obtain the accountability for this, their will not be any true accountability for schools. The Department of Education is too far away, and not able to monitor and support like our current AEA service people do. Please consider voting NO for this bill, but rather take a deep look into true best practices that are happening and how to modify the AEA's to improve them. Not dismantle them. Our kids deserve the best education and accountability for their learning.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Audiology Consultants]
CON
Please stop this bill, no more amendments. Please conduct a study without a bill moving forward.
02-21-2024
Marissa Flugum [None]
CON
I respectfully ask to not go through with this bill. There are so many children and school districts, (both public and accredited private!) that are helped by our AEAs. Have you fully considered the repercussions of how this will impact childrens well being? What happens to children who have existing IEPs? Do you have a plan? Let the AEA keep doing what theyre doing. Invest in Iowas future, by investing in our children. Thank you.
02-21-2024
Carol Daly [N/A]
CON
I am opposed to changes in the Iowa Area Education Agenvies as proposed in this legislation. I have personal knowledge of the great work that is carried out by the AEAs. Changes such as those proposed in this bill will disrupt essential services to Iowa children and families.
02-21-2024
Brant Kassel []
CON
Iowa republicans continue to be beholden to out of state interests and seem to always be toting a solution in need of a problem. This is no different. You haven't heard about AEA's needing reformed because they don't. This is a political stunt and has no basis in reality, let alone as a bill in our legislature This will disproportionaly affect those Iowans with the least amount of resources to be further left behind. Just because Gov Reynolds thinks it needs to happen doesn't mean it should be rubber stamped and forced through.
02-21-2024
Thomas R. O'Donnell []
CON
Please go back to the drawing board again. This bill improves on the governor's original plan, but still would harm rural schools.
02-21-2024
Amanda Hogenson []
CON
My name is Amanda Hogenson. I am in my 11th year of teaching special education. I currently work for North Polk Community School District. We need the AEA services to support students with special needs. My team has supported me through the typical jobs of AEA with performing evaluation, writing IEPs, and supporting instructional strategies for high need students. However, that is far from all the ways they have supported my district. I have had students with intense behavior struggles that AEA supported by writing behavior plans, training implementation, and supporting staff. I have also reached out for mental health support for students and family needs for students with intense behavior. I have utilized AEA for occupational therapy support for students, equipment trails to find the right fit for students, communication devices, and so much more.During my career, I have taken several courses with AEA to improve my instructional practices. Some of the learning they have provided include dyslexia training, reading, writing and math instruction for students with intellectual disabilities, behavior training, communication training for nonverbal students.Please support keeping our AEA full services intact.
02-21-2024
Carrie O'Connor [West Fork Community School District ]
CON
AEA is needed in our schools and you are doing every child now and who is going to be coming into schools in Iowa a disservice by trying to pass this!!
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Parent]
CON
Please vote this bill down and conduct a study of the AEA system. You will find that it is the most financially responsible system available to districts. You will also find that the collaboration that is inherent to the system results in best practices and efficiencies for all Iowa students. Passing any bill without doing the research first would be a disservice to our state. Iowa NEEDS AEAs. The AEAs are renowned across the country as the best system for serving students.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Simpson College]
CON
TI oppose this bill. The AEA is instrumental in teacher training, SPED accommodations, sharing resources to ensure fiscal responsibility, and generally helping the state of Iowa's educational system. This bill is not only not needed, it's detrimental to the public educational system which already took a major hit due to vouchers. We were told if vouchers went through that there would be NO NEGATIVE EFFECTS on public education. This bill is not in good faith with what the constituency was told. Iowa deserves better.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Changing the AEA has proposed in this bill will not help many of iowas children and families. Especially those from rural areas. The AEA provides a variety of resources, programs, and help to so many people. Do not take that away from anyone especially those rural communities. I have used the AEA several times for different things. They provide a wonderful service to EVERYONE!
02-21-2024
Erin Valerio-Garsow [Parent]
CON
I am struggling to understand why there is this continual attack on education in this state. The AEAs provide critical services for all areas and help to control costs across the board for educational and media services. They provide much needed professional development and special education support for students across Iowa. It is not feasible or smart to take away these services and leave families stranded who are in rural parts of the state. I am asking you all to please be fiscally aware as well as personally aware of the significant damage this change could make.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am against changing the AEA's as per this bill. My grandchildren have used their services since they started school, as well as manyothers in their small school district. Small schools in rural communities have almost no access to similar services and many parents can not afford to do this on their own. Please consider the wellfare of children in our communities.
02-21-2024
Polly Horton [Retired Teacher]
CON
the legislature is acting on the governor's concerns, they should put together a commission or other group to investigate the problem and consider how different solutions would affect the AEA system as a whole.When in doubt; if it's not broken, don't fix it.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Self]
CON
This bill is written is extreme and rushed. AEA is an integral part of our education system in Iowa. While there may be issues to be addressed, it needs to be done slower and more precise to address the actual issues at hand. The bill as written would be so incredibly hard particularly for rural school districts, which make up so much of our state. Centralizing this system will make what the AEA does so much less efficient and effective.
02-21-2024
Denise Fletcher [Proud Retired Public School Teacher]
CON
As an elementary school teacher for 38 years, I have worked closely and depended on the expertise of the AEA staff for the benefit of area students. I agree that any program can be improved, but those recommendations should come after thorough study by Iowa educational experts. It is hard to get a successful program like our state AEAs set up, but easy to destroy along with the much needed support they provide. Small rural communities won't have access or be able to afford that specialized help from psychologists, physical therapists, trama specialists, etc.Please slow down and think about what is best for all students and families in the State of Iowa!Denise Fletcher
02-21-2024
Rev. Beth Wartick []
CON
This bill is bad for students, bad for schools, and bad for Iowa. Rural and small school districts already struggle to provide services kids need to succeed, and this will only make it harder to retain quality staff. Please vote no.
02-21-2024
Lori Lane []
CON
Any reduction of services in the area of education, especially for those with the greatest needs, is fundamentally wrong. Furthermore, expecting individual schools and districts to replace these services is beyond the scope of their budgets or bandwidths, not to mention that rural areas very well may not even have comparable resources available outside of AEA. Iowa's AEA system actually makes life better for citizens, positively impacts the lives of people with disabilities, provides inimitable support for families, and is contributing meaningfully to the literacy rate in our state (yes, this is at risk).
02-21-2024
Bob Brown [None]
CON
I am opposed to HF 2612 and ask that you vote against this bill. The AEAs provide vital services to all Iowa schools and students and this bill will interfere with those services and the students will suffer. Please vote no on this bill.
02-21-2024
Jaci Jarmes []
CON
Please stop this bill. Iowa's AEAs are an important part of the local districts, providing services efficiently and seamlessly. Moving any part of the AEAs to the Department of Education takes away local control. Why are we trying to solve a problem that does not exist? Let's put Iowa students first.
02-21-2024
Jocelyn Riggert [Cherokee Community School Board]
CON
Thank you for the work you have been doing on the AEA bill. I am grateful for your responsiveness to constituent concerns and for the use of a task force to proceed with further study.I remain concerned with the effects of this bill, particularly for rural areas such as Cherokee. As larger schools eventually choose to pull out of AEA contracts (allowable in 2026), the AEA as we know it will have less resources to serve children in smaller schools (with smaller budgets) or who live in an area where specialists are harder to access.I am also concerned with continuity of providers. The AEA employs specialists who tend to stick around; they become familiar with their region, schools, and most importantly their students. What will it look like for schools and students if and when that funding shifts?I ask that you please consider these concerns as you are working on this bill. Please consider waiting for the task force findings, before making such sweeping changes to services every Iowa school and student needs.
02-21-2024
Lacey Pueggel [West Fork CSD]
CON
The AEA cuts will be detrimental to Iowa Public Schools, especially small rural schools that utilize their services and technology regularly. We are lucky to partner with our AEA on several sharing positions and utilize their services DAILY, HOURLY all the time! Everything from printing services, to classroom reading materials/learning materials to Curriculum support, to Special Education services. The AEA is a vital part of our education service that is NEEDED!!!
02-21-2024
Ali McLaughlin [None]
CON
Please continue to listen to your concerned constituents. This bill is rushed and it is still unclear to most as to why this bill was introduced in the first place. The bill will hurt schools, especially rural schools, and will have a negative impact on the education of our kids.If the bill goes through as is, teachers will be stretched even thinner and pushed further from their primary job of teaching kids. Schools do not have the resources, staffing, or time to keep up with the help that the AEA provides.
02-21-2024
Sara Even []
CON
I strongly oppose cutting AEA funding. Children depend on these services. Support education rather than diminishing it.
02-21-2024
Sara Castlebury [private]
CON
AEA's are underfunded as it is and slashing their budgets would only cause more harm. Students in need of these services should be a priority most of them are going to need some form of assistance for the rest of their lives and giving them help earlier in life can affect assistance they may need later.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Coon Rapids Bayard School District ]
CON
I am first year Special Education Teacher. If I did not have AEA support that is currently in place I would have a very difficult time supporting my students.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
The AEA is an integral part of the public school system. The services they provide are an important part of the public school system that can't be duplicated. The AEA not only provides services to staff and students, but help parents and families as well. Cutting their services would be detrimental in many ways and would hurt the youth of our future. I would implore you to vote NO to the cuts to the AEA. Their services have been immeasurable to many and would leave districts in a very difficult situation to fill positions. In looking at the best for all children, please vote NO to the AEA cuts. Thank you!
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am an Iowan who would like to voice support for AEAs and local control of education in the state of Iowa.My family has been connected with Central Rivers AEA since our youngest daughter, Marin, was born. At birth, she was diagnosed with Down syndrome. The Early ACCESS team helped our family at a time where her diagnosis seemed scary and overwhelming. From the time Marin was about 3 months old until her third birthday, our family had access to a special education teacher, Jana, and a physical therapist, Jamie.Jana and Jamie came to our home once a month. They helped educate my husband and I as parents on ways to help Marin develop to her fullest potential. Jamie provided physical therapy for Marin until she could walk. Jana connected us to speech therapy services, educational resources, and as Marin approached her third birthday, helped us prepare for the transition to preschool. Over time, Jana and Jamie became much more than AEA employees to us. They were a vital part of our care team, trusted friends and passionate about our daughters success.Today Marin is a thriving 3rd grader. She utilizes AEA services at Cedar Heights Elementary in Cedar Falls for speech and occupational therapy. It was a speech therapist from the AEA who assisted us in getting Marin set up with an AAC (augmentative and alternate communication) device in preschool when it was apparent she also had childhood apraxia of speech, a diagnosis which means her brain isnt properly able to direct her mouth in movements needed for speech. This small device became Marins voice while she learns to use her own. It showed us as parents, as well as teachers and others Marin comes in contact with, just how much knowledge she has inside.Marin has a 1:1 para educator who was trained by the AEA. Both her special education and general education teachers utilize resources provided by the AEA. I know there are more ways the school is utilizing the resources of the AEA daily that Im not fully aware of as a parent.Marin is growing as a reader. She loves to write and asks us to quiz her on addition and subtraction problems. She is well on her way to being an independent, contributing and thriving member of our community as an adult with the education that our AEAs help make possible. Every day Im thankful the AEA resources are in our community. I grew up on a farm near Fort Dodge and graduated from what was then Southeast Webster (now Southeast Valley). The beautiful thing about Iowa is that families and children in rural schools like my alma mater have the same access to resources that my daughters do growing up in one of Iowas cities because of the AEA.Please support local education through our AEAs.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [PVCSD]
CON
Please vote NO on this bill. It's moving way too quickly, and our students need the services provided by the AEA. I am not employed through the AEA, but my school district is made better by their services every single day. We can reach students of all levels because of their services. Without the support structure that exists, our students would suffer. They are an invaluable part of our community.
02-21-2024
Nicole Helmers []
CON
The Aea provides services to our students which are incredibly important. Cutting out these resources will put Iowa students AND teachers at a disadvantage. Students will not receive vital supports which are critical in their growth and success, and because of this lack in support, teachers and administrator will have no choice but to pull their time and attentions toward those gapsleaving other areas underattended. As someone who works with students needing these supports, I can say with confidence that pulling these services from them would undoubtedly create larger gaps between themselves and their peers, and would force staff to spend the academic time they NEED with students to fill the gaps in things such as speech, OT, evaluation, and so much more. By cutting AEA resources to schools, you would be putting teachers especially special education teachers at an immense disadvantage and taking away learning and growth opportunities for students as well as putting strain on their families to help fill in those gaps.
02-21-2024
Debbie Adcock []
CON
It is hurting kids in rural Iowa. Teachers do not want it. I stand behind our teachers.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I would ask that you do not move anything forward prior to a thorough review by a bipartisan task force that includes school district representatives, parent representatives, AEA representatives and community representatives.
02-21-2024
Darin Johnston []
CON
I'm not sure how many times Iowans can say no until the members of this body listen to us. To say that the AEAs need to be dismantled is ignorant at best, but smells of politics at its worst. Where was the concern in years past? Where was this body's desire to make radical changes to a system that serves ALL Iowa children? As a district, you can tell us "You'll get money back to spend as you wish", but will that money cover the MULTITUDE of subscriptionbased services we access from AEA? Will it cover all the consultants (math, science, reading, social studies, and special education) we use and the services we use? I highly doubt it. Please, show us you are listening. Prove to us that this is not simply politics of the worst kind. Show us that Iowa can still be a bright spot in the educational world.I urge you in no uncertain terms to vote no on this house file. If not for you, then your kids, grandkids, or other family members.
02-21-2024
Michelle Dowd [Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency]
CON
First, I would like to thank Representatives Wheeler, Collins and Steckman for taking the time to listen to the concerns of Iowans, especially the education community, AEA personnel, and the parents of our children. I am writing today in hopes that you will consider not moving forward with a bill but instead move forward with a study of what would be in the best interest of all Iowa's children. As I hear legislators discuss proposed changes it is apparent, they do not fully understand the services of the AEA system, and therefore I am firmly opposed to changes without a full review and study of the current AEA system. Please, take time to make responsible, databased decisions focused on improving outcomes for Iowa's children. Thank you.
02-21-2024
Tora Phelps [The Arc of East Central iowa]
CON
If this bill passes, the AEAs would fall under the Department of Education who has made consistent cuts to special education and raised standards. I am not satisfied with this and opposed to this bill for that and other reasons.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
The current bill does nothing to enhance services for Iowa students (kids with IEPs or otherwise). If we continue to want to provide efficient, effective and equitable services, this bill only gets us further away from those goals. Efficient? time spent finding services that may not even exist, in addition to a pauses on services as AEA waits for DE approval. EFFECTIVE? local/virtual providers are not necessarily up on "evidencebased practices" or what is best for the school environment. Local/virtual providers generally lean on one area of expertise, whereas our AEA consultants work with a care team, representing varying degrees and areas of expertise to best serve the unique needs or our students. Equitable? Rural schools will suffer... as will all students waiting on support from an already bogged down healthcare system. Nothing is streamlined about this approach at all. There are not guarantees for service or the level of support provided. The concern Senator Evans spoke to with 2 different AEAs supporting students with IEPs will only worsen as the care and support becomes privatized. Right now we have a partnership with our DE that could help strengthen and align services as an Iowan DE/AEA team. The more privatized services become, the less opportunities we have to work together to ensure equity of services.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [retired public school visual art and talented and gifted teacher for 30 years]
CON
Please leave the existing AEAs as they have been, but grant them additional funding in order to grow and serve the populations which are in such great need. This is a time of crisis in our state as well as in our nation. Striving to provide the necessary services for such needy and deserving public school students takes commitment, not only from our AEAs and teachers, but also our governing bodies. Please allow the AEAs to continue and expand as necessary upon those activities and evaluations as they have in the past. The AEAs are the experts, as they have quite competently demonstrated for countless decades. Finally, our society is only as strong as our educated public. I encourage you to vote CON on the bill: HF 2612.
02-21-2024
Shelly Schreck [IKM-Manning School]
CON
Please DON'T modify our AEAs! Small, rural schools like IKMM will suffer greatly.
02-21-2024
Kristine Kienzle [GMG School board]
CON
Not in favor this will force small districts to close without the support of AEA resources. We can not find staff to support students, especially in Special Ed.
02-21-2024
Martha Craig Shaw []
CON
With the help and guidance from my AEA, my disabled son is a selfsupporting, selfefficent young adult. All 3 of my children benefited from the enrichment AEAs provide schools. As a former Special Ed teacher, I couldn't have done my job successfully if not for the support of my AEA. Please vote "no" on this bill.
02-21-2024
Jenny Bosking [The Arc of East Central Iowa]
CON
Raised in Iowa, educated in the public schools, became a teacher and taught in Iowa as well at Michigan and Ohio. Chose to move back to Iowa to raise my kids in our exceptional public schools. If my children were young today, I would not make that decision. Having only known Iowa education, I always assumed that all states had AEAs. I learned that was not the case when I moved out of state. I decided that the AEAs were our secret sauce in what made our educational system so exceptional. We had access to the best minds, the most passionate people, the very best resources. Not only for early intervention (WHICH IS AN ENORMOUS RESOURCE that ultimately saves taxpayers so much money by helping problems before they become insurmountable, but for care during the educational journey. As a teacher, I appreciated the access to resources for my classroom. I knew that GWAEA was where I turned for assistance with my continuing education. My children benefited with access to speech therapy, but also for gifted and talented opportunities. College For Kids sticks out as such a powerful opportunity for both of my kids. I now work in the special needs community. EVERY. SINGLE. FAMILY. we serve has a story of the role AEAs have played to guide them, support them, provide resources, and soften the blow of the very heavy burdens they all carry. Here's my big message...Iowa doesn't have oceans or mountains or yearround weather to attract businesses to locate here or to bring families here to raise their children. Our biggest calling card has ALWAYS been our extemporary educational system. Our education system is our key to economic development! It's our secret sauce! Tearing it apart one support, one fund, one structure at a time is just plain stupid. Fund public education! We HAVE the money. Of all the things to spend more money on, public education is a nobrainer. Not only should you not cut the AEAs, you should spend more to support them. Please get to the real needs at hand in our state. Quit messing with what works. Be better!
02-21-2024
Janet Ahrens [Teacher ]
CON
Iowas AEA is the best in the nation!Why dismantle the support system for children parents teachers and administrators?Changes should be thought out real stats not selective stats used. Iowas children and education shouldnt be based on political interest groups and private companies .Vote NO for this bill!You need to support iowas children
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am a district administrator for TWO school districts in rural Iowa.Without the support of our Area Education Agency (Central Rivers), in ALL areas, not just special education, we would be at a huge disadvantage.Administrators in small schools wear EVERY hat. We need the expertise for those at the AEA to support us for curricular expertise and instructional support, in addition to the amazing special education guidance and support we receive from the AEA.The landscape of education is changing. The increased amount of reporting, safety issues, parent issues, and legislative changes administrators deal with drains administrators' time. We can not be the experts the latest instructional strategies, or the newly released standards, or data analysis tools. We NEED the AEA to help us be better for our students.Our districts have seen major gains when working with consultants from the AEA in literacy and in math. In addition to the invaluable support for special education.Please do not dismantle the current structure of the AEAs.
02-21-2024
Parker Hansen []
CON
To the members and policymakers involved in the deliberations on the current legislative changes to the Area Education Agencies (AEA) system,The proposed adjustments to the funding and operational structure of the AEAs present a dire threat not only to the sustainability of our education system but also to the very ethos of equitable education in our state. The heart of the issue lies in the precarious nature of the current funding structure for media and education services, which, as it stands, jeopardizes the AEAs' capacity to plan and allocate resources for essential staff effectively. This lack of funding security fosters an environment of instability, making it increasingly difficult to attract and retain quality professionals who are critical to the educational success of our students. The prospect of employment without assurance beyond a year is a deterrent to potential staff, posing a significant risk to the quality and continuity of education and support services provided to our students.Further compounding these concerns is the leadership and operational efficacy within the Department of Education, which has been marked by a troubling pattern of turnover at its highest levels. The frequent changes in leadership, coupled with the fact that the current head of the department lacks a background in education, underscore a disconnect that could have farreaching implications for the strategic direction and effectiveness of education policies and practices. Granting such extensive control over the AEA system to a position not grounded in educational expertise risks politicizing an entity that should remain steadfastly nonpartisan and focused solely on the best interests of all students across the state.Moreover, the push towards centralizing authority under the Department of Education threatens to erode the autonomy and local insight that AEAs are designed to provide, particularly to our rural districts. These communities, which are often the lifeline of our state, are poised to suffer most under the proposed legislation, facing a dilution of the quality and accessibility of educational services. This move stands in stark contrast to the principle of equitable education for all students, regardless of their geographic or socioeconomic status.The essence of my appeal is rooted in a fundamental belief in the right of every student to access quality educationa right that should not be compromised by legislative decisions that inadvertently create disparities in educational opportunities. I urge every legislator considering support for this bill to personally visit our rural school districts, to meet facetoface with the students whose futures will be directly impacted by these changes. Look into their eyes and reflect on the message that your vote sends about their worth and their right to an education that equips them for success in an everevolving world.In light of these considerations, I strongly advocate for a reevaluation of the proposed legislative changes. It is imperative that we align our actions with the core values of equity, stability, and quality in education. I encourage a united stand against legislation that undermines these principles, fostering instead a system that uplifts every student, provides stability for our educators, and ensures the continued excellence of our education system.
02-21-2024
Judith Graves []
CON
AEA has been very effective dealing with children/families with special needs. There is no way that trying to transfer these services to an impersonal distant system can possibly match the quality we have locally.
02-21-2024
Deb Schlechter []
CON
As a parent, citizen, and former school staff member, I support the opinion that AEA is greatly needed to prioritize the needs of ALL students, in school. Beginning with infancy children guided by AEA staff receive the necessary support and learning tools needed to assist them to successfully learn and accomplish daily tasks and with continued AEA staff support will continue to grow throughout their daily lives to succeed and live independent, productive lives as members of their community.Parents and school staff are aided by AEA support in helping ALL students be successful in school.To end AEA as we currently know it, would create a great void for children, students, parents, families, school staff, and communities.The services and classes offered by AEA staff also contribute to education needed by children, parents, families, and school staff to assist the community village to assist all on creating a learning environment from infancy through adulthood from teaching communication, coping skills, behavior strategies, reading, writing, math, etc. The AEA staff support children, parents, families, and educational staff, without AEA support our Iowa children, families, parents, and educators will lose many opportunities to create productive environments for children. Please meet with AEA administrators and work together to create a balance of education to support all involved. It truly takes a village to support each other.
02-21-2024
Matt VanScoyoc [none ]
CON
We can't leave rural Iowa behind! 1.) While I support a task force, it should have EQUAL REPRESENTATION FROM ALL DISTRICTS, rural and urban, and not a 'stacked deck'. If districts must use special education funding through the AEA, then school districts (especially those in rural Iowa) will continue to rely on the resources of their districts AEA. This is especially concerning for rural Iowa where if they are provided lesser funding (ie: attractant for qualified AEA individuals) this WILL leave rural Iowa students at a disadvantage to those districts that receive greater funding. It's business nature, greater qualified candidates are attracted to higher pay, thus they'll follow the money. This bill gives school districts more control of media services and education services money over time. I think about rural Iowa (because that's where I came from and that's where I am)...I don't see what evidence supports that districts outside the Urban 9 will be able to replicate the services they are provided today under the amount of dollars they will have access to after this Bill. The more rural you are, the more of the same challenges/disadvantages these districts will face. The AEA is there, in place, and readily able to serve. I don't see evidence that supports the private sector can be as 'connected' to serve as effectively.
02-21-2024
Tammi Mueller []
CON
AEAs help give rural students access to services and supplies otherwise not available to them without an astronomical price. The professional development offered by the AEAs create better teachers which in turn create better students, creating better schools, and helping a community stay heathy and grow which benefits the state of Iowa. Taking out a crucial link in this chain will cause the whole system to collapse leaving our state a laughing stock of the country.
02-21-2024
William Ahrens [Retired ]
CON
Vote NO!You need to support the AEAs and Iowas children not private companies Vote NO!
02-21-2024
Monica Harden [Educationally Based Occupational Therapist]
CON
I would first like to thank the House for slowing this process down and listening to constituents. I oppose this bill or any AEA bill moving forward. I'm asking for a comprehensive review with all stakeholders including AEA administrators, legislators, special education teachers, and service providers (OT, PT, Speech) to have a voice in that process to represent the needs of Iowa children in the state of Iowa. AEA bills will hurt Iowa kids and OT services and supports will suffer. There are 138 school based and early access OTs that work for Iowa AEAs. We meet once a year for professional development relevant to school practice and as a state leadership group 23 times per year, to build consistency of practice. In the past this is arranged in collaboration and support of the DE and the AEAs. We do not want this collaboration to go away! We want to continue to work together!As OTs, we are nationally recognized for our inclusive model of services and this is because of the optimized service model through AEAs that we are able to do this! We believe all kids are general education students first and we provide special education children access to their education within their least restrictive environment with their peers following IDEA law. We work alongside teachers and staff through evidence based practice models such as coaching and collaboration within their role as a student so that they can have carryover of skills and learn through participation in everyday student routines. So that they can some day be adult community members and do the same. We are trained in special education law and IDEA. We provide free, equity of services in urban and rural districts. Private and public schools. All children, no matter where they live or the resources they have, can have access to a qualified school OT. Because all students are gen ed students first, we currently problem solve and offer solutions and strategies to keep kids out of special education and in their classroom with accommodations as general education students! We share adapted equipment through our AEAs that we can check out and trial. These materials will reach a student within 2 days. We can collect data to determine if that piece of equipment is the proper fit for the student. If it is, this saves districts money on purchasing extremely expensive technology unnecessarily. If districts are given the opportunity to pick and choose services through the AEA and direct hire, districts will be at risk for retaining and hiring consistent quality educationally based OTs. With the addition of private service providers being hired through districts we could go back in time 30 years where you didnt know special ed kids names, the kids pulled out for all of their services working on skills that don't generalize to the classroom. Out of state private agencies could provide virtual services. Currently under the AEA system, OTs are embedded in schools! Teachers, staff and administrators know us, know how to find us and can get access to us for problem solving for any student, not just students receiving OT services. Private services that are paid to serve more may not look at what the student needs but what optimizes their schedules and pocketbooks. We don't currently pull kids into a therapy room. Kids are served using evidence based practices, where they can learn skills that will carryover for a lifetime within their existing routines. Learning routines and motor skills happens inside classrooms. Litigation will increase having non trained therapists working in education and not understanding special education law. This hurts Iowa kids and families!Could there be changes that help further support students in Iowa and OTs? Yes! Based on numbers from federal reports, the national average for 1.0 FTE OT in schools is 1:2000 pupils. Iowas ratio is 1:6400 pupils. Most OTs in AEAs are responsible for services to children birth to 12th grade. So this doesn't even take into consideration early access services we provide through the AEA system as well. We need more OTs through AEAs to continue to provide quality services and the equity of support in services across the state!We need educationally based OT supervisors to have a seat at the table for our unique skill set. We believe OTs should be supervised by persons in their profession in order to have an advocate and to facilitate professional growth and skills. This is a barrier to providing best practices to children. Please consider how initiating how districts obtain OT services will interfere with our consistency of practice, our consistency of providing services in inclusive settings, our equity of services to all students in Iowa, and our ability to keep those services educationally relevant to meet students ever changing educational needs. Also consider the changes to AEAs that could positively impact student supports and services in the future such as hiring more schoolbased OTs and having OT supervisors at the AEA level.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [One Vision]
CON
I have seen the value of the AEA thru my stepdaughter my grandsons and others I know. Our children will be seriously left behind without accommodations and various learning plans for ADHD, autism, dysgraphia, dyslexia, down syndrome, etc. Thecworld is challenging enough for children and young adults today. Not everyone can learn at the same pace or in the same "typical" mode. Do not pass a bill to lesson the impact the services provided by the AEA in our Iowa schools. Do not take these rights our children have for a better and complete education that sets us apart from other states. The AEA in Iowa is here to serve our children and parents thru bettering our children for life in whatever capacity they a hieve. The AEA in Iowa is impacted, needed badly and works to achieve a better life for all students as a whole! Thank you!
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Concerned Citizen]
CON
HF2612 Vote: CON/NOI am an Iowan who is extremely concerned about the education changesfor public or private schools. Both of them will suffer greatly.The governor had an outside source write this bill for you in the legislature. She is copying other states. Don't let her fool you into thinking this legislation is good for any of our students!This bill provides a way for the Governor to create the demise of public education in Iowa. High school graduates are leaving the statethey can see what is happening to the future of the state.Leave the Agencies alonelet the teachers teach and the students learn.Thank you.
02-21-2024
Theresa Lewis [The Arc of East Central Iowa]
CON
NO CUTS TO THIS PROGRAM! ANY CUTS WILL AFFECT SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS. I DON'T THINK YOU REALIZE THE FUTURE OUTCOMES OF THIS DECISION. IT WILL MEAN MORE YOUTH ARE NOT ATTENDING COLLEGE, MORE YOUTH WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT AT A LIVEABLE WAGE, AND MORE YOUTH WILL FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS, POSSIBLY ENDING UP IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.INVEST IN OUR KIDS, DON'T GIVE THEM LESS THEN THEY DESERVE A RIGHT TO A GREAT LIFE.
02-21-2024
Kathryn Sampson [formerly Kids World Child Care Owner and Director]
CON
Hello, my name is Kathy Sampson. I was a registered childcare provider in Iowa for over 33 years. I recently retired. My childcare home was located in the rural town of DeWitt, Iowa. I was committed to providing high quality childcare, so I went back to college and earned a BA in Elementary Ed with an emphasis on early childhood education. I participated in the State of Iowa QRS program, becoming the first provider in Southeast Iowa Region to earn a QRS 5 Star Rating. AEA has been an important part of my childcare career over the last 33 years. They offered several vital training opportunities over the years, supported me in providing care for childrens developmental and behavioral needs, and provided early intervention for individual children who needed assistance. They provided materials for me to share with families about child development and community resources available to them. All of the these things that AEA provided allowed me to be a better childcare provider and early childhood educator. It is important that every student and educator, in every school district across the state, at every age/grade level, has the same access to the specialized services that AEA provides.I am writing to you today to ask for your support for preserving AEA services to the children of Iowa, especially in RURAL AREAS and RURAL School Districts. Iowa Families attend childcare homes and centers, preschools and schools. In rural areas of the state, many childrens needs are only accessible through the AEA. Families rely on AEA to provide services to their children at all ages and stages of development. It is extremely important to continue to provide all current AEA services to Iowa Children.
02-21-2024
Janet Norman [Parent]
CON
I believe this bill will be a detriment for the children of Iowa. This has come about by outside entities infiltrating their agenda in the state. The elected officials have an opportunity to stand up to this financially powerful group and represent the people that elected them. Looking at the responses on platforms like this and online, it was reported that 98% of the respondents do NOT want this bill or amendments to pass. This first hearing had thousands of comments asking you to stop this bill or at least reorganize and get input from all entities. The constituency has been overwhelming in its opposition. The Department of Education leaders do not possess the credentials, experience or staff to take this on. This is a crucial time for elected officials to decide if they will represent their constituency or the governor and the out of state machine that is causing a great divide between what Iowans want or the agenda of a powerful 3rd party which harms the Republic as a whole.
02-21-2024
Bob Davis [Citizen]
CON
I believe this is a way to gut public schools in favor of Religious Education. The AEA's work very well servicing the special needs population as well as the general classroom students. The resources provided are invaluable to teachers and students. I have taught special needs populations, and it is an integral part of doing what is best for our students. For profit unregulated resources are not the way to go. I believe the Governor looks at special needs as a burden financially and morally. she treats the special needs population both children and adults as thirdclass citizens. Please remember these adults can vote as well as the families and community that support them.
02-21-2024
Patricia Mae Hoffman []
CON
If it's not broken, don't fix it. Iowa's AEAs have been a valuable resource for schools as well as teachers. In my 30 years of teaching, AEAs have supplied me with education opportunities that enhanced my teaching. They have also offered other services that have been supportive to my classroom.
02-21-2024
Jason Harpenau [Co-op Solutions ]
CON
Please stop the bill and amendment. Kids and families in Iowa need the AEAs.
02-21-2024
Holly Messenger []
CON
Although I appreciate your work on making this bill better, I still want to urge you to vote no and not take it any further at this time. As the mother of a child with significant disabilities who receives so many wonderful services from the AEA, I want this process slowed down. We need to do this right to ensure our children continue to get the best educational experience possible. Lets move forward with a task force comprised of all stakeholders, including educators, parents, and students. We cannot afford to get this wrong. I urge you to drop this bill and slow this process down.
02-21-2024
Julia Hood []
CON
I urge you to vote NO. Do not support this bill to cut AEA services. Can it be improved yes just like everything else. But it isn't broken and doesn't need to be dismantled. Listen to the people who elected you to serve and represent them. Support public education, ALL schools, and ALL students and AEAs.
02-21-2024
Dave Stickrod [retired]
CON
I worked in education for 42 years, 29 years in administration and 9 in AEA's. I was proud that Iowa's AEA's were the envy of intermediate agencies in other states. The proliferation of small and mediumsized school districts and their relative proximity to each other made the AEA's provision of the special ed., media & technology, curriculum, and professional development services well suited to the needs of the districts. AEA's were founded on cooperation and efficiency. It is counterproductive, more expensive, and inefficient to force the districts ultimately (within 3 years it looks like) to compete with each other to find SPED specialists and professional development personnel to meet the requirements of state and federal laws. Specialists in these fields will be able to continually raise their rates because of the demand for their services versus the number of people available to provide them, especially in rural areas. This is what happens now in Nebraska where I finished my career after retiring from Iowa. It was much more expensive to fund SPED services in our 3A sized district there than it was in similarsized Iowa districts I served. The bottom line appears to be that the governor is jealous of the size of administrative salaries in the Johnston, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport area AEA's. If that is the case, wouldn't it be easier for her ringkissing legislature to simply cap administrative salaries rather than blow up the entire system that has for nearly 50 years been dedicated to efficiently serving children and teachers?
02-21-2024
Joanne Moget [Parent/Grandparent]
PRO
I just want to really stress how important the AEA is. Their are so many kids that have really benefitted from their services. You do NOT give them enough credit for what they all do and what the kids accomplish, and far exceed their ability to learn.
02-21-2024
Paula Mohr [self]
CON
This bill will harm rural school districts which I care about. Our state government needs to be investing in AEAs and local schools rather than making it more difficult to serve students. I ask that this bill be put on hold so that over the next year, all stakeholders can study, discuss and decide with consensus what changes will best serve our students.
02-21-2024
Jerome Schaefer [Northwest AEA]
CON
The primary intent of the original bill introduced to the House and Senate was based on the premise that we need to improve outcomes for special education students. With this new version of the bill, and any possible forthcoming amendments, our legislators musn't lose sight of that intent. As legislators, I encourage you to keep asking yourself, "How will this improve the outcomes of students receiving special education services?". Legislation past in haste for the wrong reasons will not improve outcomes. The more sensible approach is to collect information from all stakeholders, ask hard questions, collect good data, and make the adjustments needed that would more reliably predict the intended outcome. There are no unintended consequences for slowing down and making sure we get this right.
02-21-2024
Kristin Lohse [N/a]
CON
Please vote no for this legislation. The foundation of this bill shortchanges teachers and students across Iowa. More input and research are needed to work out solutions that actually benefit all groups involved without sacrificing the educational resources our teachers and children need today.
02-21-2024
Brittania Morey [parent and citizen]
CON
I am opposed to this bill and the proposed changes to the AEA system. The services provided by the AEA system are not easily replicated by individual school districts large or small. The AEA system works well because of the economy of scale. An AEA can staff professionals in areas that an individual district would not need a fulltime person, but would, if the need arose, be able to utilize from the AEA.The idea in the bill that schools could do this on their own with the money is false. It would cost much more to try and replicate these services within the district or from the private sector, if those professionals could be found at all. And the idea that districts could share these resources is in fact what the AEA already does. Disrupting the success model the AEA's use to ensure equitable services to ALL students would be a detriment to the education system of Iowa. Schools already working with thin budgets would be forced to stretch even further. Students with special needs may be delayed in receiving services if professional assistance is not available within the district or if the district has to wait for someone in the DOE to approve the request.The educational and media services are also going to be near impossible to replicate. Curriculum, professional development, support personnel specially trained in areas not core to a school district these will all be lost.The AEAs go through reviews and accreditations. The teams of professionals in specialty areas like audiology, speech pathology, crisis management these are groups that need to collaborate and work with peers to continue with best practices and professional learning. Working in these areas in isolation as a one and only in a district, if a district can afford them, is not best practice and is not what Iowa students and families need. The Iowa AEA system is a treasure and should be left alone. This bill moves too fast.If you think reform is necessary, then take the time to talk to people doing the work, receiving the services. Talk to Iowans and stop the rush on more bad legislation that will only continue to harm our students.Do NOT move this bill forward any further.
02-21-2024
Nick Oswald []
CON
I am strongly AGAINST this bill. This appears to be merely a money grab by the Governor. She wants the AEA's public services privatized so she and her corporate donors can make a profit. If this happens, rural areas in Iowa (and their students in need of these services) will greatly suffer. Please vote no.
02-21-2024
Barbara Parker []
CON
This is an illconceived bill, which has little public support. There is no reliable evidence that any changes are needed, but, if there are improvements that can be made, it should be done only after real study by people who are actually stakeholders and have experience with AEAs. Not some outofstate expensive consultant. As a former AEA speech/language pathologist, I can tell you that there are multiple problems with districts trying to hire their own staff people. It doesn't work, especially for smaller districts, and that's why the AEAs were created in the first place. AEAs also allow service providers (SLPs, OTs, PTs, etc) to share materials, tests, etc. School districts cannot afford to buy materials for people they might hire on a very part time basis. And requiring districts to choose whether or not they want AEA services months before the new school year is also shortsighted. Students move in and out of districts all the time, and districts do not know ahead of time what their special education population is going to look like for a given year. There are so many things wrong with these bills. Please vote no.
02-21-2024
Jessica Klyn de Novelo [Parent]
CON
Please vote NO on HF2612. The most vulnerable in our community deserve adequate funding and support.
02-21-2024
Sarah Campbell []
CON
I am not in favor of this bill!
02-21-2024
Rhiannon Zrostlik-Lillquist [Parent/Educator]
CON
My name is Rhiannon Lillquist. I am writing to you in opposition to HF 2612 a bill that will hurt many, including myself, both professionally and personally.I am an educator with over 20 years of experience. I have worked as a coach, a paraprofessional, a teacher and most recently a school counselor. As for all the ways that the AEA has had an impact on me as an educator, I'm not even sure where to start.As a teacher and counselor, I have been provided with countless professional development opportunities. Oftentimes those opportunities are offered at a low and affordable price that I wouldn't have the chance to attend if they weren't offered at the AEA. For example, I was able to attend a Zones of Regulation training with a team from my school a few years back that cost me next to nothing. If I had attended on my own, it would have cost 10 times that amount. The AEA has provided training in the past so that my school could implement PBIS. Just last month on our professional development day, we had two AEA representatives give a presentation on trauma. These are just a few of the opportunities I have had through the AEAover the years.Through the AEA, I have been able to connect with others in my field by attending networking meetings. During my time as a business teacher, the AEA was instrumental in helping assist me as I developed my program of study and fulfilled other state requirements. In my role as a school counselor, those networking meetings have allowed me the time to collaborate with other area school counselors, something I don't often get to do as I am the only school counselor in my building.One of the most indispensable services my school was provided by the AEA a few years back, was their crisis team. With one swift call, the AEA was there to support us as we grieved the sudden loss of a student. The AEA helped both students and staff navigate a tragic situation, a task that I as the school counselor could not have done alone.I could go on and on about all of the services that the AEA provides, but if you have done any research, I'm sure you understand the depth of what they offer and the impact the AEA has on schools, especially those in rural areas. From providing media services and printing, paraeducator certification and professional development opportunities to occupational, speech and physical therapy, as well as crisis support just to name a few, the services they provide are invaluable.On a more personal note and one of utmost importance to me, is regarding my daughter. I am no stranger to what the AEA provides families with students who have disabilities. My family has a history of learning disabilities and unfortunately, my daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of seven. The AEA has been instrumental in the process of evaluating and implementing an IEP for my daughter. They were there to guide us through the process every step of the way. I know that I could reach out at any time with questions or concerns and they would be met with support. I want to circle back to a professional development training we had a couple of years ago when our entire staff participated in a dyslexia simulation. It was an extremely moving experience because it allowed me to see through my own eyes, what my daughter experiences and the struggles she faces daily. That simulation would not have been made possible if it weren't for the AEA. I am forever grateful for what the AEA has provided for my daughter and my other family members who have struggled in school.I also want to mention one of the talking points I have seen making rounds, this statement I have seen that says we are failing our special education students because they aren't proficient on standardized tests. I take extreme offense to that statement. My daughter may never be proficient on an ELA standardized test. And guess what? I don't care. I refuse to let a test determine my daughter's worth. My daughter is a hard worker, she is creative and artistic, and above all, she is kind. Her ability to pass a test should not be a determining factor of her success, nor should it be a reflection of her teachers, her school and most definitely not the AEA. What is most important to me is that my daughter tries her best. My daughter will never be a failure.I am astounded that anyone could look at this bill and believe that it is the right thing to do for schools in the state of Iowa. Since this bill has surfaced, I have seen Republicans and Democrats alike expressing their gratitude and support for the Area Education Agencies across the state. If Iowa's schools and students are a priority for you, please show your support and vote no.If you have other questions, please feel free to reach out to me. I am more than happy to share my feelings on the importance of the AEA and the impact it has on educators, schools and most importantly, Iowa's students.Thank you,Rhiannon Lillquist
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Family Full-Time CareGiver/single parent]
PRO
I would like to speak at this hearing on my expieriences with the public educational system and the AEA services that my son has/hasnot recieved, in the last 4 years.
02-21-2024
Shannon Naughton [Private Citizen]
CON
Our state funds have been grossly misused to examine the deficiencies in our AEA System. How can an out of state entity accurately audit what is such a fluid and unique program? Number crunching is not going to fix what shortfalls this program may currently have. Whatever restructuring is needed can only be properly determined and addressed by a local presence that can delve into the specific challenges that being in the various rural areas bring forth.Neither the House or the Senate have put forward a plan that will improve the standing and efficiencies of our AEA's. The Senate "fee for service" angle will cost more money and create less support for all students, not just the special needs children. The House bill that notes hiring 5 full time staff members and a dozen "checkers" just spends more money and adds to the bloat. Both bills include removing local Boards that currently govern how their portion of the program works and gives the decision making to an individual/s that are not local, do not see the direct needs and cannot quantify the impact of any decisions made. The members of these boards live in the areas in which they serve giving insight to needs and accountability to the decisions made. Giving that power to a singular entity will ultimately reduce appropriate support, reduce standards and delay services to those in need.I would like to see a bill that supports the current framework and brings on a small staff of 35 Iowan's to "audit" each of the 9 AEA's in our state to determine where improvements can be made, without negatively affecting services. This could be completed over the course of the next 6 months.When you have a business that has some areas needing "trimmed" you don't tear it apart and move it around before you fix it as that will only cost valuable time, more money and make it harder for your employee to complete their ultimate goal. You may also never find and be able to correct or "fix" any of the concerns.Helping the Children is what this bill should be focused on. I implore both "sides" to get on the same page and quit playing party to something that could break our already hurting educational system.
02-21-2024
Pamela Wilson []
CON
The AEA provides needed services to all schools in Iowa. If the agency is gutted, rural school students will suffer. Bigger districts can find services in their community at lower costs but most rural schools would not. I believe in the common good. We seem to be ignoring price for quality.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
The majority of Iowans are happy with the function of the AEAs. Give them more funding to improve and leave them alone. Rural Iowa needs them otherwise you will end up with worse scores on all education of Iowa students. Are you trying to make Iowa the laughing idiot of the USA? We used to be known as a top state for student education. Not anymore. . Give all schools more funding instead of cutting. It takes many teachers and staff to help these youngsters get a good education and feel safe in schools. Also NO GUNS
02-21-2024
RODNEY SHEETS []
CON
The AEA provides important support to our rural communities and schools. Just look at what resources they were able to provide to Perry after the tragedy in their schools.The Perry community announced publicly of their appreciation of the AEA's quick response and support they provided. The AEA is not just about the special needs kids in our state, but also how they support our teachers needs for resources, how they coordinate with hospitals to identify families that may need support, and then provide support and resources to families to prepare their children for school.The only reason I have heard to defund the AEA, is that our State score for special needs kids is low. I wonder how that score compares if it is broken down to rural and urban schools?And why defund the AEA and then tell schools they can receive support from a Florida company that destroyed the AEA's computer support system.!!Please do not defund the AEA.Rodney Sheets
02-21-2024
Devin Hartl [N/A]
CON
Iowa needs to use resources from our state to support our students. Furthermore, we need to utilize resources that have been working for years for the schools... the AEAs. AEAs are there to support all students, not just those who receive special education services. Let AEAs continue to do their jobs and help Iowa students.
02-21-2024
Julie Freed []
CON
I am writing as a concerned citizen to encourage members of the Iowa House to vote NO on HS 2612. I am also a retired Speech/Language Pathologist who was employed by an Area Education Agency for 27 years. During that time I also participated in several Iowa Department of Education Special Education work groups, advisory teams and committees related to varied Special Education statewide initiatives. I appreciate the effort made by members of the Iowa House to listen to their constituents and to respond with some much needed initial revisions but there are still significant concerns.From its introduction, the pace at which this piece of legislation was introduced, considered in committee, revised, and is now being moved through the Iowa House (as well as the Senate) is seemingly rushed and leads many of us to question not only the legislation itself but the process that brought us to this point in time. Many Iowans seek to have some form of a voice in their state and its laws and I believe that is especially true when it comes to the education of their children. Moving forward with this legislation in this manner with so many voices opposed threatens to break the bond of trust between legislators and the constituents they represent a value Iowans have come to expect and appreciate. New areas of the bill are continually at the forefront. Current discussions include the proposed shifting of oversight and governance of the AEAs to the IDOE as well as centralizing media/ technology services and resources. Both of these discussions are important and need to be thoughtful and informed. The idea of centralization of media/technology and instructional materials is especially concerning from my perspective and experience and would in effect be devastating for students in area districtsespecially those students in small rural areas and/or with special education needs as the local control, cost savings, availability and ease of timely access to materials/resources would greatly be in question. At this point, it appears that legislators are left making decisions to the best of their ability based on informal conversations, emails, public comments and/or forums where limited opportunity is allotted for varied perspectives to express their opinions and dialogue back and forth. While opportunities for these varied forms of communication are appreciated, they are in my opinion insufficient as the means for legislators to make an informed decision. The nature and weight of the resulting outcome of these legislative changes is too critical. Instead thoughtful and deliberate collaborative discussions need to occur between varied stakeholders with unique perspectives, experiences and information who report later to a legislative committee.In summary, this legislation is simply too important for our state to not get it right. We need to ensure that whatever is decided is not agreed upon to simply appease a political agenda or other pressures to simply pass something. It is my belief, as others have also stated, that this entire legislative process/bill should PAUSE and shift its work to establishing a bipartisan committee/task force representative of varied Iowa constituents including those who have a deep understanding of Iowa Special Education services, funding streams, urban/rural district administrators & educators, families, AEA and IDOE representatives,etc. This task force could then thoughtfully review, discuss classroom/district needs, review varied data sources as well as the pros/cons of the integrated and diverse services and supports our AEAs currently offer. All voices need to be heard and considered. The common ground for all concerned and/or who are involved in this legislative debate is our mutual desire for Iowa to provide an exemplary educational system for ALL students who enter the doors of our schools. We simply need to stop this legislative bill and work to do this together!
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Drake University]
CON
I am writing in support of the AEA, and wish to express displeasure regarding this bill as it will negatively impact the services children receive, as well as have a negative impact on their families.
02-21-2024
KEVEN MEHAFFY [none]
CON
Iowa's educational system ha gone from a national model to a national joke. You have underfunded our schools to the point of embarrassment. Our teachers use books DECADES out of date, and for the most part, spend their own money in the classrooms on our children, since you will not provide it. Now the AEA comes into your focus, and let's be honest, you want the money that funds it to put other places. The AEA does in many cases that which YOU HAVE FAILED to do for our children, and provides DIRECT support for thousands of at risk special needs children. You have already destroyed our mental health care system, and ALL iowa communities feel that result daily as we see our fellow citizens who desperately need help and care, begging on the streets, desolate and devoid of hope. You have over A BILLION DOLLAR surplus, use it, and leav3 the AEA alone. I personally, will do my part to unseat any politician in this state that is stupid enough to vote for ANY change on the AEA. LEAVE IT ALONE!!!!!!
02-21-2024
Martha Helland []
CON
I think the governor and many of our legislators lack awareness of the services provided by the AEAs. It is more than meeting the needs of our special education students. They provide the teacher trainings needed to keep our schools at the forefront of best practices. They proved the media services that enhance learning. AEAs provide the specialists to help schools problem solve specific concerns that may be unique to their school population. What the governor has proposed obviously has not been well thought out. She asked for no input from parents, teachers and administrators. My heart breaks for those concerned about what the future will bring for their typical or diverse learner. Let the AEAs continue to provide equitable services to all areas of the state. Lets continue to care about our youth and the future of our state.
02-21-2024
Brian Borrison [Mediapolis CSD]
CON
The proposed shift towards a feeforservice structure for AEA services could prove to be detrimental to our rural community. In Mediapolis, where alternative resources are scarce, the AEA plays an indispensable role in serving our children. Maintaining the strength and continuity of the AEA's staff and services is imperative for the wellbeing and academic success of our students. am deeply troubled by the potential erosion of local control over education decisions. Our partnership with the AEA enable us to make informed and responsible decisions. Handing over this authority to the Department of Education not only undermines our local expertise but also risks inefficiency in addressing the specific needs of our community.In light of these concerns, I urge you not to support any bill that could jeopardize the welfare of students and our school district. Our community's future depends on maintaining access to highquality education and essential support services.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
For the sake of our rural education system, VOTE NO on this horrendous legislation.
02-21-2024
Amanda McCurley []
CON
For nearly 50 years, Iowas AEAs have provided our students an opportunity to grow and learn. Improving and strengthening Iowas AEAs is something I most definitely support, but the ideas and approach taken by the Governor and the legislature are foolish and disastrous for Iowa. It is time to start supporting public schools properly and putting our students first. Stop slashing budgets so you can put money in the pockets of you donors and corporations.
02-21-2024
Ron Russell []
CON
As a citizen and long time resident of Cass County, a husband and father, and a career educator working in the field of special education, I urge our lawmakers to listen to the unprecedented feedback and concern over these AEA bills and "vote no." The efforts to "reform" the AEA are trying to solve a problem that really does not exist. AEAs are governed by boards, and the Department of Education conducts accreditation processes for each AEA. Consumer feedback on the AEAs is regularly positive. Disagreements and complaints on special education issues is low in Iowa, and the AEA system, starting in he 70's has effectively helped Iowa provide an education for all children, as IDEA provided a gateway for all children with disabilities to receive the education and specialized services that they need. The AEA system has provided expert consultation to districts and teachers that has resulted in improved teaching practices across the state impacting all of our students in the general education population as well as students with disabilities. You have received detailed feedback and commentary from trusted, lifelong educators/experts like David Tilly and Ted Stillwell. They have clearly pointed out the many inaccuracies and false conclusions from the purchased study from a private firm in Virginia. If we look carefully at this study, there really is not a legitimate case to support this legislation that will clearly result in negative outcomes for Iowa students. The study misuses data and comes to flawed conclusions. You have heard over and over again that our small rural districts and their students will be the most hurt by this legislation. The current flowthrough model provides a scale of economy that allows ALL students to receive the supports they need, regardless of where they live. If there are concerns for the funding model, surely, this could be redeveloped in a way that would still allow small and large districts receive what they need but without gutting the AEA system that has proved to be a shining star intermediate agency that meets so many needs of our Iowa children. There is so much to say, but my last comment is in regards to the claim that AEAs are top heavy organizations that need supervision. There seems to be great concern that Chief Administrators make high salaries over $300,000. This group of individuals represents 9 administrative positions in the state. Only 9 people. If there is a concern for the salaries of this small group of leaders, surely this could be addressed without destroying an effective system. And as I watch the Department of Education creating a whole new, expansive department of administrative consultants, and this amendment even seeking to hire new administrators and place them in the AEAs to "supervise" and ensure compliance I cannot help but be puzzled. This legislation seems poised to create a whole new layer of administrative oversight seemingly creating a new topheavy system with administrators in Des Moines creating a new kind of top heavy. And, if you look closely at the administrative structures and accurate data in regard to the AEAs across the state, I truly don't believe you will see a bloated, topheavy system. I think you will see a vast group of professionals that devote their lives to helping students succeed. Most of them drive across many districts in Iowa to make that happen. Please "vote no" to stop this legislation it is not in the best interest of Iowa students, and there only seem to be political reasons to continue the efforts to push this agenda through.
02-21-2024
Emily Borrison [Great Prairie AEA]
CON
Please stop the AEA Bill. The current bill for service model will not support our small districts and maintain our AEA structure resulting in loss of quality special education and instructional services for rural communities. Please maintain local control and do what is best for our kids.
02-21-2024
Susan Enzle [League of Women Voters of Johnson County, Iowa]
CON
I urge you to vote against House File 2612, which would reorganize Area Education Agencies.I could detail numerous objections to Governor Reynolds original bill as well as to the amendments you have made to it. While I applaud the House for holding a public hearing today, February 21, this matter is far too important and far too complex to be adequately explored in a hearing. Therefore, I would argue that until a full and thorough study has been conducted by all of those interested in the wellbeing of students and schools who are served by AEAs, all legislation should be placed on hold for this legislative term. The rationale for changes to funding streams for many AEAprovided services remains vague at best as is the idea to centralize staff and administration within Iowas Department of Education. In fact, the bill proposed by Governor Reynolds and the solutions it contained therein suggest it is likely boilerplate legislation that came from outside without any genuine study or reflection about the unique and valuable part AEAs have played for decades in our education systems, both public and private.Hence, slowing this whole process down, taking sufficient time to study thoroughly the wideranging roles the AEAs play in Iowa, the different needs of different schools, and the needs of parents and their children, would doubtless provide some clearer answers as to what the solutions ought to be to improve, rather than to destroy, Iowas AEAs. Since an honest and complete study of the AEA system could hardly be done in a few months, I repeat that this legislation should be placed on hold for the duration of this legislative session until such a study has been completed.
02-21-2024
Ann Fantz []
CON
AEA's are a vital part of the education of ALL students in Iowa. I am firmly against any and all changes that are being proposed. Leave them alone and let them continue to do the amazing work they do!
02-21-2024
Emily Michel []
CON
Iowas children deserve access to the services provided by AEAs. AEAs have always provided lowest cost services for ALL children
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
AEAs are the best and most cost effective way to provide all children the help they need to be successful learners, regardless of their zip code.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Any attempt to restrict oversight will harm our most vulnerable students and keep families from advocating for their children's equitable educational experience in the state. This bill is another example of legislation that helps no one, harms children, drives families from the state, and deters families who might otherwise have moved to the state.
02-21-2024
Sandra Marshall [Parent]
CON
Please do not support HF 2612. Eliminating or decreasing AEA in Iowa is a disgrace and we need to support our public schools and any agency that supports them!
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
A solution in search of a problem. Fine tune? Sure.Put a chainsaw to AEA's? Nope.
02-21-2024
Eva Latterner []
CON
Please vote NO and stop all amendments to this bill. Maintaining the current structure of the AEAs supports our children and the future of the state of Iowa.
02-21-2024
Nancy []
CON
I do not support this bill. 1. Students can be better served by leaving the oversight of the AEA's at a local level. Staff living and working in local communities are best positioned to know the needs of school districts. 2. The changes proposed to the AEA system will create an unstable system with districts opting in and out every year. I believe this would make retention and recruitment of quality AEA staff very challenging. Stability of staff is critical to building strong relationships which are critical to being an effective consultant. 3. The small school districts will suffer. There is an economy of scale that benefits the smaller districts. If the large districts opt out, the smaller ones will struggle to locate services and products at an affordable price point. Too much time and energy will be spent on locating resources.
02-21-2024
Sheila Westegard []
CON
Remember when Iowa public schools were among the best in the country? I am so sad and disappointed that our Governor and legislators are undoing decades of prioritizing our public schools. I sure wish Bob Ray was here to see it. My children and thousands of other Iowa school kids were served and helped by our AEA. Don't take that away from today's students.
02-21-2024
Michael Couvillon [Drake University School of Education]
CON
I am writing to express my concerns regarding proposed changes to the AEA system. Can you please respond to the following questions:Why have the AEA SPED directors been excluded from the restructuring conversations?Why move so quickly without a selfstudy or evaluation involving parents and special educators?Do you realize how these quick changes are going to hurt families and children with disabilities?The Special Education is very politically active and will take careful watch on how representatives vote on this issue. Thank you!Michael Couvillon Special Educator and Active Voter
02-21-2024
Claudia Koch []
CON
Any changes made to the management or makeup of the AEAs should be considered carefully. Please take a step back and consider the consequences. As a retired teacher, I used the help and direction of the AEA (mine was first Iowa Lakes and then Prairie Lakes) on a regular basis. Local control was important as each AEA was able to develop programs for the needs of those it served. Please, there is no need to change the AEAs.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Area agencies provide so much support to our beleaguered school staff.
02-21-2024
Kelly B []
CON
I am incredibly uncomfortable with the bill being proposed that will affect our AEAs across the State. The AEAs provide an invaluable service to our communities and our students, especially in rural areas where they don't have quite the resources like the urban communities. You have a number of constituents across the State, regardless of political affiliation, who do NOT want this. Will you listen to the citizens of this State who are affected by these decisions that don't seem to be heavily vetted by the experts that are engaged in education, have been around education for a long time, understand education and its implications of a lack of resources, and are essentially immersed in it on a daily basis? Please vote NO on this piece of legislation as it will push Iowa further down the line in terms of educational standing. We used to be #1 in the country and now it seems we simply want to reduce the resources that help our children succeed. Again, please listen to your constituents and vote NO.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Teacher]
CON
We need our AEAs for so much, especially being rural. Our funding can not support something different and I can't imagine anything in this short of time being able to be as responsive to our needs as the AEA is. It's not broken...quit trying to fix it.
02-21-2024
Kiersten Sexe [IA public school teacher and parent]
CON
I am writing today in hopes that you will consider not moving forward with a bill. I would support a study of what would be in the best interest of all Iowa's kids. I am a 5th grade teacher in a rural Iowa school and I have yet to meet someone who is in favor of a bill to change our AEAs. This bill is an attempt to salvage Governor Reynold's original AEA bill and still make changes, but the overwhelming comments from Iowa's parents and teachers is that we do not want changes to our AEAs. There are so many facets of how the AEA supports school districts that are not being thought about with a rushed process like this. Time needs to take to think through the process. We need to make sure that we are not failing Iowa's children. I support NOT moving forward with a bill. It is not what is best for kids in Iowa, parents, or educators.
02-21-2024
Taresa Fetzer []
CON
Please vote no on HF2612. First let me start by thanking you for taking the time to meet with stakeholders and listen to concerns. As an AEA speech language pathologist, I have significant concerns raised by this bill. Without the interconnectedness of all support services, general education services and media services students in Iowa will suffer. I am able to do my job so well because I have an amazing team of professionals to collaborate with. We all know each other and we all support each other. On a daily basis, I access my other AEA support staff (SLPs, OTs, PTs, ITDHH, Audiologists, etc). I access the AEA media center. I access my curriculum consultants, my psychs, my special ed consultants, my social workers. I am able to access them because we all work together, for one common cause...To support the students in our building. And I say our building because that is how we think of it. We are a member of the building teams and are there for them no matter what they need. If this bill is passed, I fear that I will no longer have a team to rely on. If I do, I fear that it will be a revolving door of staff that change randomly throughout the year. There is no way to provide great, consistent service for our students in a "fee for service" model. It just won't be as effective. Kids will suffer. Please, Please slow down this process and let's get this right! There is no going back once this bill is passed. I highly encourage you to move forward this year with a study of the AEA systems. I think we can all agree we want the best system possible. And blowing up the current system is not the way to get there!
02-21-2024
Melissa Heidesch [Citizen]
CON
I am against the bill as written and feel a bipartisan task force is needed to study the actual needs.
02-21-2024
Sarah Hale []
CON
The AEAs provide important support for our children and school staff. If anything, conduct a review before making significant changes to the program.
02-21-2024
Shakira Meyer [Concerned Constituent and Parent]
CON
Change is often a good thing, but not in the case of those proposed in this Bill!Iowa children and educators deserve to have an in depth, in state review of the AEAs to include all local stakeholders first! Recommendations and decisions should be informed by a task force of Iowans with knowledge and expertise and not an outside think tank that is pushing national policy change that does not have the local best interests at its core. An appropriate Bill this session would be one to establish a task force of all stake holders, charged with a year long evaluation of the AEAs with the goal of proposing changes to be considered in the 2025 or 2026 legislative session. Do it well the first time, no need to rush this through the process.
02-21-2024
Jaylee Hurst [UFCW Local 222IN]
CON
To Whom It May Concern,As a Representative of the Labor Workforce in the State of Iowa, we have many members of our union who utilize the services of AEA. Families rely on the support they receive from programs like AEA across the State of Iowa. Reducing the program in any way will be detrimental to citizens across the state. We need state representation that prioritizes Iowans and their families instead of hurting them with needless legislation; such as what is being currently debated. To see Iowas political representatives angle to enhance their own careers or personal agendas, instead of fighting for legislation that will improve the lives of citizens is truly disturbing. Attacking programs like the AEA shows constituents how far our representation in Iowa has strayed from supporting our communities within this great state. Please do not support the reduction of this program in any way as it harms our members at a personal level. A level that the majority of our politicians seem unable to comprehend.
02-21-2024
Abby Pepper [N/A]
CON
My son has utilized the services from our local AEA twice in the last year and he is under 4. There is still a chance he may need further help through the AEA, help that my spouse and I cannot afford if we lose the local AEA services. With the loss of public money funding public schools we may end up relying more on the services offered by the AEA. Please keep these services available for those of us who will need them. Stop taking away my child(ren)s access to quality education. Therefore I urge you to vote against changing the AEA in this way.
02-21-2024
Catherine Moore []
CON
Stream lining the AEA is not an education friendly proposal. AEA makes A/V resources availabl to educators. Schools and learning centers throughout Iowa have access to professionals, books, dvds and cds their school system would not be able to provide. Students with special needs will continue to benefit by availability of AEA resources. Pushing AEA services into programs without the training in education, social needs and broad interests in making education available for all Iowa's students is to ve avoided.
02-21-2024
Eileen Beran []
CON
Keep our valuable AEAs intact. Do nor cut funding or services.
02-21-2024
Jenny Seuntjens [Parent & grandparent]
CON
Thank you for taking the time to listen to your constituents. Please vote NO to HF2612! Please create the task force that includes representatives from large and small public and private school districts, area education agencies, parents as well as a Republican and a Democrat to come together to study this issue. Let any changes come from task team recommendations. Please listen to the people this impacts the most. Thank you!
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I think we need to do a deep dive into the AEA to see what is needed before making any changes. I have a hard time believing because one person says this is the correct reason for making a change based on an out of state study that we are doing the right thing.
02-21-2024
Luke Morlan []
CON
Please vote no on HF 2612. Still too many negatives in this version as well.1. Based on a proven to be flawed study from an out of state group.2. Still gives way too much power to the IDE and its director, who honestly is not qualified for any of this. The "approval" power given to the IDE will be politically motivated. 3. Moving too fast when there has not been a legitimate problem with the AEAs presented.4. Stick with the task force only for a deep dive with all the stakeholders. 5. Nobody but the governor asked for this. Remember you work for the people, not the governor.
02-21-2024
NatalieJean Ahrens [none]
CON
Please do not pass this bill. Doing so will negatively impact students with special needs and conditions all across our state. Local AEAs provide vital serivices and supports to kids in Iowa that allow them to grow up to be contributing members of our state. Without these services and supports that would not be possible for the many kids served by our AEAs.
02-21-2024
Sally Hartman []
CON
Unfortunately, special education students are less likely to reach their potential when the entire school is underfunded. Teachers hired by school districts are ultimately responsible for student learning. Teachers are severely hampered by the lack of state support for public education. Meanwhile the AEAs are scapegoats for the lack of student progress, when underfunding by the state legislature is the true culprit.
02-21-2024
Ryan Robison [Central Rivers AEA]
CON
This AEA bill should simply be for a task force to be created to look at the AEA system and to make recommendations to the legislature for NEXT year's legislative session. This is WAY too big of a decision to rush, as the education of EVERY child in the state of Iowa is at stake. So, let's take some time to review the AEA system and then discuss ways in which we can improve the system. Thank you!
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please consider not moving forward with this bill but rather moving forward only with a task force to study the issues. Please include Iowans across the state on your task force, those who represent all stakeholders in public education and student achievement. Please complete a thorough study and move forward with any proposed changes, fully explaining your reasons (siting clear data and evidence). We owe it to our students and their future success to make the best informed decisions. Thank you for your time and consideration.
02-21-2024
Cindy Fitzgerald []
CON
Please, please, please stop this bill. The benefits and resources the AEA provides to students, parents, teachers, and school districts are too important to toss away so casually. Are you willing to make such a drastic change to an agency benefiting Iowa's greatest resource, its children?
02-21-2024
Annette Lenz []
CON
I am reaching out to you to ask you NOT to vote for the bill proposed by Governor Reynolds to change the AEAs.This move, even with the changes (very little), will destroy Special Ed services to our students and put an unnecessary burden on our rural schools. Governor Reynolds sharing numbers about special education students failures show how little she understands how special education works. Also her hiring an out of state company to give her recommendations that she is using as her rationale to take over AEAs is simply ludicrous. How is it that Iowas AEAs have been commended and is being used as a guide for other states, but she still to change it? I understand that there can be areas of improvement, but why not work with the AEAs to make those improvements, instead of taking it over. I have heard complaints about the salaries of the heads of AEA. Did you compare their salaries to some of the superintendents salaries of the larger school districts? How about the number of students/teachers they oversee? If you look at those numbers, you will find that find a big difference with those superintendents vs AEA. Also reducing the number of AEA is detrimental for all the students of Iowa. At their inception, there were 15 AEAs, now we are at 9. To cut the number of AEAs even further will stretch services and students, teachers, and schools wont be able to get assistance in a timely manner. I have serious concerns about the head of the DE. When I look at her credentials, they are all involved with private schools. She has no public school experience. That is a huge red flag!!! When the former director of the DE comes out and has serious concerns about this bill, that should cause people to do some deep searching. This bill will severely hurt the small school districts. Our rural school districts cant afford cuts to AEA and the changes proposed. AEAs are essential to school districts and are a vital partner in serving students in Iowa. Please do not vote party line on this! Please listen to your constituents. This is moving too fast, which makes me wonder why?
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Closing AEAs state wide is a terrible plan. So is closing the majority of them and transferring any of their budget to districts. Students with disabilities need local, individualized help from experts. If AEAs are truly undeserving the children of Iowa, help them do more, dont get rid of them.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Retired teacher, Parent, & Grandparent]
CON
I am speaking as a retired teacher, parent, and grandparent. What is the objective? To improve our education of special ed students? Has that been the problem? Or are you cutting funds to an educational service that is doing outstanding work? SEPARATE TEACHER SALARIES FROM THE BILL. THE TEACHERS DO NEED A RAISE. Dont compare our AEAs with what other states are doing/spending. It is apples to oranges. AEAs have been a tremendous positive impact on our Iowa schools. Dont change without doing an instate evaluation by Iowans. Thank you for your time.
02-21-2024
Kelly Gerhardt [Iowa Taxpayer]
CON
Please slow this bill down!! Not sure why it is continuing with so many Iowans against this bill. Why is there a need to change the AEA system without a comprehensive study? Making changes before a comprehensive study can be done involving all stakeholders just doesn't make sense if you truly want to make the best decisions for the families, students and teachers of Iowa. Please take the time to do the research and make informed decisions! The children of Iowa are depending on you!
02-21-2024
Lance Foxwell []
CON
bring back the days where Iowas educational system was second to none! if we want to attract and retain business in the state this needs to be priority. so many districts rely on AEAs for support, we should be expanding their reach, not trying to strangle them .
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Mother of 5 in rural iowa]
CON
Understand the the public schools hire special education teachers. The public school provides direct instruction for special education. AEAs provide training, guidance, and related media. It is the responsibility of the school to implement the recommendations and to utilize the resources the AEA has to offer. If the teacher or school is unwilling to implement best practice the child will still fail regardless of who is providing the recommendations. This bill will dismantle the relationships and trust built between AEA implementers and admin that are foundational to tackling the hard road of change within the staff and school district which was built over years. Eliminating these AEA staff members and centralizing decisions to state government will restart that relationship building process as well as put up barriers, as many people are distrustful of big government overreach. Additionally, this bill will reduce the number of good paying jobs in rural/local communities and further drive the education level of its community members down as AEA staff leave to find sustainable jobs. I am also not in favor of out of state businesses taking jobs from hard working Iowans and leaving the state with Iowas money, especially when that money is not reinvested back into the state. I think the representatives should research and answer the following questions: Why is it that when the AEAs have gone through recent accreditation procedures, the state passed the AEAs and said nothing about deficits in their functioning or administration at that time? Were recommendations suggested and a timeline for implementation/correction made during that process? Perhaps, the Director of Education needs to be reviewed for failing to do his job if the Government needs to step in with a major overhaul and punishment of the AEA System. I do not support this bill, I will not vote for anyone who does, and I will encourage every Iowa I talk to to do the same.
02-21-2024
Bruce Townsend [Day Spa]
CON
Please stop these actions against Iowans who need assistance. The AEA has been efficient in helping citizens of Iowa who require help to reach their potential. Young people who struggle with normal classroom learning are especially in need of the assistance provided by the AEA. Let each school district determine where the help is needed.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Constituent ]
CON
I oppose any version of this bill. The DE, under the leadership of one APPOINTED person, should not have decision making authority over local school districts. Local districts should be able to make any budget, curriculum and professional learning decisions allowed by legislation NOT the DE. Kill this bill and move forward with your task force.
02-21-2024
Ann Elizabeth Glime []
CON
As a retired teacher, AEAs are vital to the success of all students!!!!
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please vote NO on this bill. Complete a comprehensive, well designed study of the AEA system with active involvement and voice from all stakeholders. Iowa's education system is strongest when districts, AEAs, and the Department of Education are strong and work together. This bill still weakens the AEA system, decreases local control, and creates inequities. This bill will hurt students and reduce learning outcomes.
02-21-2024
Margie Cahill [Heartland AEA (retired)]
CON
We need to be more open and transparent about what the problem is that Kim Reynolds is trying to fix. Why are we dismantling a system that has worked very well only to replace it with a fractured system? And why is the legislature rushing into this without first studying the situation, doing some research into defining the problem and studying solutions. Currently every district in Iowa has equal access to very well trained and committed professionals who are able to address any need or concern that any student has, or the district as a whole might have. And why are we taking local control away from AEA's and putting it in a centralized, distant location that is less in touch with the needs of each district?
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Self]
CON
I wish to ask if this (modified) bill reduces/inhibits/eliminates any of the countless other services the Area Education Agencies provide schools outside of special education and the professional development related to special education? Are the areas of support in regards to math, social skills, general literacy, etc. adversely affected by this bill directly or even indirectly. For instance, I know that the AEA provides science lab kits, which are especially helpful for science studies in the rural districts that do not have the necessary resources. These kits are for the general population of students essentially 100% of the student population is serviced through this. I want to know if this program and every similar program currently provided by the AEAs for the benefit of an entire school's population will be adversely affected by this. Similarly, professional development provided by AEA staff to teachers for their general curriculum needs. For instance, integrating literacy (reading and writing) into the math curriculum, the social science curriculum, etc. Will these supports be in any way diminished by this bill? Will this bill's special education focus allow for these services to continue untouched?
02-21-2024
Barbara Ann Helmick [League of Women Voters]
CON
AEAs provide critical services to our kids. As someone who grew up on a farm outside of Columbus Junction, I know first hand how needed these services are to rural communities. Please oppose the changes!
02-21-2024
Kathy Baker [East Marshall patron]
CON
I understand that this week the AEA bill is being debated between the House and the Senate. I appreciate that voices are being heard from both sides on this matter. I urge you to stop this bill, and to not make more amendments. I would urge the House and Senate to conduct a study without a bill moving forward. I dont believe a decision of this importance to the future of educational services can be made and implemented in a matter of months. If this bill does move forward I would urge you to oppose the bill. I believe the AEAs provide invaluable services that cannot be fully and equitably be provided without keeping the AEAs at their current level of support to ALL schools big and small.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
A root cause analysis for AEA improvement would likely be more beneficial to assess the driving factors of misalignment between resources currently available and the need from schools, families, and communities across Iowa. This bill is not the answer and demonstrates poor insight and many areas for improvement prior to legislating change.
02-21-2024
Juliette Houseman []
CON
Thank you for holding a public hearing on this matter, I am against the bill as it currently stands and still believe a bipartisan task force is needed to study the actual facts involved with the multitude of complex issues being presented due to the ramifications of this bill as it is written if passed.
02-21-2024
Danielle Martens []
CON
Please vote against this bill. No changes to our AEAs are being requested by educators or families. Let's invest in our AEAs and our school districts and educators instead. AEAs are invaluable, especially to rural districts, who would otherwise be unable to afford such a plethora of resources and trainings at low cost or even free. Let's slow this process down and really investigate how to better our special education system.
02-21-2024
Pamela Mohr [Parent]
CON
I am opposed to this bill. As of 1:00pm on 2/21/24 there are over 1000 public comments on this page. Only ONE comment is PRO this bill. Please listen to Iowans, your constituents, and those directly involved with public education and AEAs in our state. ALL public school students are impacted by the work our AEAs do. And many of our state's private school students also benefit from their services. Why is this bill being rushed this legislative session? The effect of dismantling AEA services, in any manner, will be catastrophic for our public school districts, especially those in rural Iowa. Please vote NO.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please do what is best for Iowas children and stop this bill.
02-21-2024
Claudia [Tillman]
CON
Iowas AEAs provide so much support in so many different areas for students, teachers and parents. Do the RIGHT thing for Iowans!! Fully support our AEAs!! NO cuts to our AEAs!!
02-21-2024
Anonymous [retired Special education teacher from Cedar Rapids Schools]
CON
I was a Special Education Teacher for over 33 years. AEA support and resources were available to me throughout my career. AEA assisted me as I taught students of a WIDE range of abilities! I cannot understand why the governor of Iowa would push a bill that would diminish the AEA support and resources for all the school districts across the state! Please support the students, parents, teachers, and schools of our state and vote NO on the bill!
02-21-2024
Sandra Schatzberg [retired educator]
CON
Dear Representatives,Im writing to urge you to vote no on this bill. Please listen to the constituents who voted for you to represent them. It is obvious from the public outcry on this issue that the majority of Iowans are not in favor of moving so quickly to make these major changes in our AEA system. I support slowing down and gathering a group of bipartisan elected officials, school and AEA personnel, along with the Department of Education personnel to study the AEA system and then make recommendations for proposed changes. I dont believe it is in the best interest of Iowans to put more control in the hands of state officials and out of the hands of local control. This particularly concerns me when the current director of the Department of Ed has no public school teaching experience. Lets take a closer look at whats working well and where we can improve. This will truly benefit our students and families.
02-21-2024
Matt Henning []
CON
Any bills relating to the Iowa AEAs need to be stopped. The AEA system loves and supports all students in the state. To rearrange how they are doing things is an unnecessary waste of time. They provide a huge value and service to teachers and students in the state that needs to be fully understood before any changes should even be thought about.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please do the right thing in a bipartisan way. Everything always can be improved so have the Bill reflect the development of a AEA task force that includes representations from all stakeholders. This group could then look for ways to make improvements and reinforce what's going well. The fact that we're in this situation right now based on an outofstate report from someone who was never in the state does not seem to make a lot of sense. I appreciate that you've taken a more tempered approach to this proposed action. Please take the further step and do the right thing. The children of Iowa are counting on you.
02-21-2024
Drew Kelley []
CON
I am writing in opposition to this bill. Iowa's AEA system provides critical resources that our schools can not provide, especially rural schools. The proposed cuts and changes would be devastating to Iowa's education system. Additionally, this bill serves no beneficial purpose to our AEAs. It is not addressing or fixing any shortcomings within AEA the system.Please pursue teacher and school staff pay increases in a separate bill. Protect our schools and vote "NO".
02-21-2024
Anonymous [None]
CON
This will only hurt those kids in low income school districts. We need our AEAs.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
This bill would harm Iowa kids, especially in rural communities. It would take away much needed resources from teachers and families with children in special education. We Iowans love our AEAs! Lets not weaken something so beneficial to Iowa families.
02-21-2024
Theresa Graeve [Mother, Grandmother (with grandkids currently in public schools), retired (36 years) in Iowa Public Education]
CON
Please STOP this bill and vote NO in any current form. It would be devastating to "all" students in Iowa schools as AEA services touch ALL students and districts (and other entities such as public libraries, newborn hearing screenings, ECSE, and more)in many different ways. The loss of professional services, certification and trainings to educators; media materials and van delivery; expert district technology support, etc. The AEAs have professional and highly degreed IEP teams that would not be able to be replicated by the State(DE)even if they attempt to hire some new positions and from my own experience working with the "Department" they do not have the KSA's (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) to keep our public education system running smoothly and top notch (i.e. poor data system development history). No one asked for this. The system is not broken. Don't fix what isn't broken. At minimum, halt it, form a multidisciplinary, non partisan task force that would work over the next year or longer, including Iowa experts, "real data", district educators and administrators, school boards, and AEA staff to serve and work together. We love our children, and people are up in arms because this is messing with our kids and the excellent system we have in place now that serves in so many ways. When I worked in districts prior to working 22 years at Heartland AEA, I saw firsthand how AEA personnel came in and were "part of the school and community",working one on one changing kids (and their families) lives for the better, teaching staff trainings, teaching interventions, and so many other ways. They are a caring, compassionate, integral part of our public school system.
02-21-2024
Ian Williams []
CON
I do not support this bill, as an Iowa student who has received education the AEAs have been invaluable in supporting teachers families and students. There is no need to push a bill through in a system that is working. Lets continue to support AEAs and all Iowa schools.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Constituent]
CON
The people of Iowa are collectively in agreement that Iowas AEAs (all parts of the AEAs) are not in need of an overhaul and any such effort will be an irreversible action that is detrimental to all families, students, teachers, districts, and administrators served directly and indirectly by the AEAS. Please remember that Iowans will be directly impacted by this.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Thanks for not making changes, including financial support.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I oppose this bill.
02-21-2024
Charlie Johnson []
CON
I am writing to urge Iowa legislators to oppose HF 2612. I have read the legislation and believe that it makes a fundamental error by including significant changes to the governance and funding of Iowa's Area Education Agencies before a careful study is made of why such changes might be needed. It's a classic example of putting the cart before the horse. Set up a study commission, with representatives of all stakeholders (parents, teachers, administrators, school board members, and students). Gather information, analyze the data and then consider what, if any, changes need to be made. I am a retired Iowa school administrator who worked as a teacher, building principal, superintendent and regional AEA administrator for almost thirty years. I know first hand how valuable and important the work of the AEAs is and how disruptive the changes laid out in HF 2612 would be. As a life long Iowan I urge our elected representatives to use common sense, get the horse and cart in the right orientation and do no harm before a through study is made.
02-21-2024
Emma Bouza []
CON
Please vote no on this bill. Through all of my conversations, I have yet to find clarity as to how this is a) saving money and b) will raise reading scores. If these are truly the issues we are concerned about as a state, there are other ways to approach it. I have heard a handful stories of how the aeas aren't working for families, and I am sure there are those situations. But, overwhelming, the system is working. Going forward, please do a comprehensive study similar to what medicaid/hhs has conducted involving families and providers. The people directly impacted by these changes need a seat at the table in these conversations. Education is not a one size fits all situation and I believe that along with the individualized part of IEPs has been forgotten and overlooked in this process.
02-21-2024
Mary Michon Maher []
CON
I am asking you to vote no on the current bill revamping the states AEAs. I ask for your support and even more funding for our AEAs. Fifty years ago, Iowas AEAs were created to serve children and students with disabilities. While AEAs are best known for their support for students with disabilities, from the beginning Iowas AEAs were funded and designed to support ALL students including those in general education settings. AEAs current programs and services reflect the changing needs of families and partnering districts and schools, and those services are provided economically, using only a small portion of our overall budget. It was very evident the crucial role AEA plays when this agency went to Perry school to counsel the shooting victims and parents. Under the plan to cut AEA services this service would be cut. The only thing that needs to be changed with the AEA is greater funding by the state of Iowa so this agency can do its job. Counselors already cover many areas and do not need to be stretched any thinner. AEAs need to be managed locally by the 9 administrators that we currently have. These people know what their student populations need. It would be too impersonal for the Department of Education to decide what each local school district would need. Each school shouldnt have to figure out how to secure school counselors, books, movies, vetted online resources, and cyber security on their own or have to hire a private company to do these things. These are tasks that our current AEAs do and do well. Respectfully, Mary Maher Davenport, Iowa
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am strongly opposed to this bill. This continues our governor's assault on public education and only serves to siphon public tax dollars into the hands of private companies. This war against public education will do nothing but harm the children who live here and convince young families that Iowa is not a state worth living in.
02-21-2024
Frank S. Gersh [None]
CON
Dear Legislators,Please vote against this billHF2612. It is part of the Governor's push to dismantle the public school system. The AEAs have done a good job and do not need to be modified or done away with. I work as a licensed psychologist and have participated in meetings to develop 504 plans for kids, which have been highly beneficial. Why fix something that is not broken?Sincerely yours,Frank S. Gersh, Ph.D.1041 Woodlawn AvenueIowa City, IA 52245
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please DO NOT limit services or work of the AEAs in Iowa. They are a model for the rest of the country. Thousands of children, families and educators are supported each year through their work in teacher development, support for families, mental health work, and special education services. ALL educators and families in Iowa can receive the support of the AEA DO NOT take this away.
02-21-2024
Alinda Babcock [none]
CON
I am not in favor of this bill.
02-21-2024
Tanja Garrison [Nationwide-Blank Children Hospital]
CON
reflecting from experience with elementary kid and middle school just liars and biggots with no real experience in education just aware of basics; implement of structure program, rules established, seperatizium amoung peers and etc.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Student]
CON
Im opposed to HF 2612 and any changes to the AEAs. Im a junior in Ankeny and the AEA support my teachers in understanding my mental health needs. I also use online digital resources from AEA on a daily basis. Please do not get rid of the AEA!
02-21-2024
Ciaran Mulligan []
CON
Allowing a strong and fully state funded area education agency is paramount to the success and growth of our most vulnerable students and districts. The availability of educational aid to all who need it is critical to continue to produce well rounded and productive young people and adults in this state and country. The AEA provides irreplaceable services to children and students who, without these services, would struggle with challenges that have solutions and assistance otherwise regularly available. To doubt the efficacy of the AEA is to undermine the future of Iowas youth at every possible hurdle.
02-21-2024
Rosemary Thierer []
CON
Iowans elect their members of the House and Senate to represent them. We also expect these representatives to use wisdom in moving forward laws. If a law is introduced that substantially changes the way services are provided is should proceed with caution and only after involving the citizens who have to live with the ramifications of the new law. Unfortunately none of this was done before this AEA bill was introduced. Since 1974 the AEA's have worked hard to include children with disabilities in their educational systems. They not only worked with the children but always included the parents and teachers in understanding how best to see that the child had the educational services to meet their individual needs. A friend who worked for Disability Determination Services used the expertise of the AEA's to assess the needs of premature babies. Their assessments not only helped determine the qualification for services but also linked the parents with people who could help them deal with the needs of a child with a disability. Now we find that the governor has decided on her own that services need to change and we must follow her wishes onlyforget about the citizens who will live in the aftermath of her decision. It is time that those we elect to make the lives of Iowans better start listening to Iowans. This AEA bill should be put on hold until a complete study is done on the AEA's. The structure of this committee is known to you legislators. It is time to start standing with your constituents and against the special interests who have purchased the governor and some of the members of the legislature. All of the citizens of Iowa who will benefit from the educational services provided to all of the children served by the AEA's need to be considered. Stop this bill.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I do not support this bill. Nor does my family, or anyone that I have talked to that knows anything about it. The AEA nor only provides valuable speech services to one of my children, they make sure all children in this state are treated fairly, justly, and with respect. If this bill passes, district could work to get special needs students out of their buildings, instead of working to help them. The fact that the governor is now spending her days trying to rally support form superintendents district to district instead of running our state should tell you all you need to know about how well that is going to work. Not to mention the fact that the AEA is responsible for all crisis relief plans. Where will all of their responsibilities fall, and who can we expect to hold onto those responsibilities with integrity of this bill passes and this department is abolished. Government is supposed to defend those who cannot be heard. That isn't what this bill is about!
02-21-2024
Sharon rae Johnson [non-denominational]
CON
regarding HS2612: Why waste our time, money and resources to try to "fix" something that's NOT BROKEN?? Everyone LOVES the existing AEA! Don't change it!
02-21-2024
Ann Gale [Retired School Psychologist]
CON
I believe that when a law that will impact nearly every student in the state is considered, input should be gathered from teachers, parents, administrators, AEA staff, and even students. The report on which this bill was based was done without consulting any of those groups. I believe that service delivery should be done by people who live in or near the communities they serve, so they have a better understanding of needs. This bill takes decisionmaking away from people in those communities, and concentrates it in Des Moines, far away from the people who are affected by their decisions. This decision is too important to be made hastily, without gathering information about needs. I ask that a bipartisan study be conducted, and that that the members of that study group include representation from all of the groups mentioned above, and that they live in Iowa. I also ask that it be cochaired by two superintendents (1 Republican and 1 Democrat) who have multiple years of experience in Iowa schools. I ask that the results of that study be provided to the public before any further legislation about AEA services be considered.
02-21-2024
Crystal Kruse [Parent]
CON
Im a parent with three children in public school. They have all benefitted from AEA programs at one time or another, and one of them is still receiving services now. I would not have been able to give them the support they needed to thrive otherwise. Keep fully funding and supporting all AEA programs in Iowa!
02-21-2024
Anonymous [none]
CON
Please preserve the AEAs as they are. If services must be cut, you must increase funding to the public schools. Teachers and students need the resources that the AEA provides. This includes not only special education services but also supports for the TAG programs, mental health, etc. You need to reconsider how you measure progress in special education. This starts by having actual educators consulting with you. You don't understand how to improve performance, if you think this is the answer. You will contribute to more discrepancy in poorer districts.
02-21-2024
Clarice Green [Retired educator ISEA member]
CON
I was an educator for 36 years and many of those years I taught early childhood education. Our AEA services were very important. We have two granddaughters enrolled in an Iowa PUBLIC school district. We want those services to remain the same for the AEAs. We are in disbelief that there are not 13 AEAs. We need more services not less services.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Top Notch LLC]
CON
The AEA serves all children of Iowa with equitable services. Protect all services that the AEA offers and end this bill.I urge you to reconsider the proposed bill and instead focus on strengthening the existing AEA system. Study the issue, collect accurate data, talk to experts in Iowa, have broader stakeholder conversations, consider the financial impacts, consider the service availability across the state, and THEN consider any legislation to help strengthen the existing systems not dismantle them.Let's find solutions that address concerns without harming this invaluable system.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am in opposition of this bill. While amendments have been made, this bill is not based in any reputable data. Therefore, the proposed components of this bill (which would be extremely impactful for every child in Iowa) should NOT be supported in such a hasty and illinformed manner.
02-21-2024
Eliza Willis []
CON
My mother worked as a speech clinician for AEA for several years during the 1960s and 1979s. The work was difficult but she loved the kids many of whom were came from lower income families. The kids were very well served by my mothers expertise and compassion. She was able to provide them with consistent, regular and dependable support. The suggested changes, even in a modified form, threaten to undermine a successful system that has served kids with special needs exceedingly well for decades. If the system needs some changes, why not start by making these within the current framework? I fear that those individuals with fewer resources will, once again, pay the price for privatization of our educational resources.
02-21-2024
Megan Jourdan []
CON
Please stop dismantling public education. This is detrimental to all citizens that live in Iowa. We are only as strong as our weakest link. Please donate right think by supporting our children and fighting for what is right.
02-21-2024
Ellie Fulks
CON
The changes made to new bill are still concerning. Any law that is passed under the discretion of the Educating director, a roll hired by our governor, is concerning. I fear this director will only do what Reynolds wants. Reynolds has yet to give an actual clear and fact driven reason to push these change. In such a rushed matter at that. Her excuse continues to be a cruel reason. Children with additional needs write their own story and should NEVER be held to any type of standard. And then to use these standards as a reason to disrupt a really good system. Is ruthless. My son for example, has benefited from the large community of support AEA has always been allowed to provide. We came up with a personal learning plan for him in 2019. Then he had an incredibly traumatic health event, this caused both his mental and physical abilities to digress a substantial amount. There is no way he would have been able to meet his education goals for this year. AEA was great about acknowledging and changing his learning plan to his new abilities, however on paper I am sure it showed he did not meet the "standards" for that year. This is just one single small example as to why these standards should NOT be used to spear head the destruction of a system that has worked smoothly for decades. If oversight and change is needed then it is only ethically feasible to do this with the proper amount of time. To create a task force and study where the changes are actually needed. If at all. I ask that you all take a moment to slow down, set a proper timeline to give this educational program the review, and if necessary, changes desired implemented over an appropriate amount of time rather then rushed. I continue to share that our family chose to stay in Iowa because of the robust special education services provided through AEA. I also have friends who have moved back to Iowa because of access to these cares through AEA for their child. It is a false statement to continually nay say a system that is actually quiet well oriented and implemented, and has been for decades. All due to one greedy leader who wants things her way or the highway and continues to funnel funds away from public programs. I didn't know that this is how governing was meant to happen. And I don't think it is. I hope everyone within this committee and on the voting floor will take a step back and reflect on the NON urgency of this bill moving forward. The urgency is needed in stopping this bill and giving the proper time for reform, if it is truly even needed.
02-21-2024
Kristine Burkle [Parent, educator, voter]
CON
I am concerned for the future of Education in our state. This legislation will be detrimental to our students. It will cause significant hardship for our schools, especially those schools in small districts.
02-21-2024
Heather Main []
CON
Please continue to take a look at this bill. While I appreciate the amendment and being willing to listen, the way the current bill is written will still negatively impact our children specifically our smaller and more rural school districts.
02-21-2024
Athelda Jones []
CON
When not one educator agrees with this movewhen parents of special needs students are begging not to outsource the educational needs of their childrenwhen actual high school students speak against this actiondont you think it is time to listen? This is a shameful, shameful attack on an important aid, of which so many are diminishing, for educators and students. Do the right thing and invest in the future of Iowas future. Keep Kims cronies out of our education system.
02-21-2024
Maureen Hanson []
CON
I was a member of the Hudson Community Schools Board of Education for 22 years and am currently a member of the Central Rivers AEA Board of Directors. I have seen firsthand the difference Iowa AEAs make to students, teachers, administrators, and superintendents. AEAs are in the business of supporting students, and are willing to identify and implement improvements. This bill, even as amended (and I appreciate your willingness to rewrite the original bill), will cause a great deal of chaos and uncertainty, and there is no proof that it will improve anything for students. However, there are many areas where we can show that it will harm students. If we truly want to implement changes that will make a difference, we must take the time to do a thorough study that involves all stakeholders. There is no urgency to implement something immediately. Please vote "No" on this bill. It will take courage to go against the pressure you are undoubted receiving from the governor, other legislators, and lobbyists, but it is clear that your constituents will support your "No" vote.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [West Music]
CON
Iowa schools deserve a robust AEA that supports both students and staff. The proposed bill poses a significant threat to the quality of education our children receive. The bill will put disproportionate strain on smaller and rural schools which will exacerbate existing disparities in education opportunities. The bill fails to accurately fund special education services, placing burden on schools, and jeopardizing the quality of support that students with special needs receive. The repercussions of this bill extend beyond the classroom, and it is imperative that we consider the longterm consequences and work towards a solution that prioritizes the needs of our students, families, and educators.
02-21-2024
Susan Corbin-Muir []
CON
The AEAs support teachers, students, and their parents.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please vote NO on HSB 542. Iowa schools deserve a robust AEA that supports both students and staff. The proposed bill poses a significant threat to the quality of education our children receive. The bill will put disproportionate strain on smaller and rural schools which will exacerbate existing disparities in education opportunities. The bill fails to accurately fund special education services, placing burden on schools, and jeopardizing the quality of support that students with special needs receive. The repercussions of this bill extend beyond the classroom, and it is imperative that we consider the longterm consequences and work towards a solution that prioritizes the needs of our students, families, and educators.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [West Music]
CON
Iowa schools deserve a robust AEA that supports both students and staff. The proposed bill poses a significant threat to the quality of education our children receive. The bill will put a disproportionate strain on smaller and rural schools, exacerbating existing disparities in education opportunities. The bill fails to accurately fund special education services, placing the burden on schools and jeopardizing the quality of support that students with special needs receive. The repercussions of this bill extend beyond the classroom, and it is imperative that we consider the longterm consequences and work toward a solution that prioritizes the needs of our students, families, and educators.
02-21-2024
Ann Kephart [personal and West Music - Music Therapy]
CON
Please do not cut programs that our helping our students. I taught in the school system years ago and used AEA regularly. I am opposed to these cuts and taking away from students and teachers.
02-21-2024
Aric pearson []
CON
you've done enough to tear apart our state's education infrastructure, enough is enough
02-21-2024
Jim Green []
CON
As an Iowa public school teacher for 44 years (35 years at Riceville Schools in the Keystone AEA and 9 years at St. Ansgar Community Schools in the Central Rivers AEA), I want to share with you how incredibly valuable the AEA system has been for me as an educator, for local school district students and for my family. As an educator in a small rural school district, I utilized the AEA media and curriculum lending library very heavily during my 45 years of teaching, in part due to the limited budget for purchasing these materials. Most of my years of teaching, I taught 6 or 7 different classes each day so when I used media items for my teaching, I may only use the item one class period for the entire school year. To me it made more sense to have these items at the AEAs lending library where other teachers could use the item on the many days that I was not utilizing the item. This represented a huge savings for the local district by having the media materials purchased by the AEA and shared between all the teachers in the AEA that taught the same subject matter as I did. During my time at the Keystone AEA, I applied for grants to purchase teaching materials worth over $30,000 that I would then place in the AEA lending library for all teachers in our AEA to use. In 2013, I left my teaching position in the Keystone AEA but now, over ten years later, they still have 50 items in the lending library from these grants that are still being used by the Keystone AEA teachers. They weed out items each year with low usage and accept teacher recommendations for the purchase of new items. I absolutely know that the media curriculum libraries in all AEAs are an incredibly valuable resource for the many educators in both public and private schools that utilize this service. Other resources that have been invaluable for me as an educator included professional development activities, printing services, access to digital resources, state discounted purchasing of teaching supplies, programming for inservice activities to meet the ever changing use of technology and educational reform initiatives. I was an Agricultural Education teacher and our AEA hosted several meetings each year to assist all Ag Ed teachers to meeting the requirements for Perkins funding, working with curriculum development, working on developing concurrent enrollment courses with our community colleges, learning about changes in the Agricultural industry with guest speakers and tours, and simply sharing ideas and concerns between teachers. The AEAs have provided these services to all Career & Technical Education (CTE) teachers. In recent years, the AEAs have been very helpful to local CTE educators in completing Iowas secondary career and technical education program selfstudy and CTE program approvals now required on a rotating five year basis. During my many years of teaching, I was always pleased with the services and support provided by my AEAs and their staff.As a parent, some of my own children were provided services through the AEA, specifical with speech therapy. They also benefit from many of the online resources that the AEAs purchase for the use by students and teachers in each school district. I have a daughter who is employed to work with special needs students in the Cedar Rapids school district and she is very concerned about the loss of the AEA services that the school district utilizes for helping their students to be successful.This change reduces local and regional control and decisions relating to many educational services and priorities and puts these decisions in the hands of the Director of Iowa Department of Education which is a politically appointed position.The AEA utilizes the Hanover Research group to evaluate their success in meeting the educational needs of Iowa's students & teachers. The research group use a 0100% scale with a rating of 90100% indicating "meets or exceeds expectations". Nearly 6,000 evaluations were received state wide during the most recent survey conducted during the fall of 2023. For the Keystone AEA which serves Riceville and NE Iowa, ratings were as follows... Special education services (9098%), Education services (9298%) and Media & Technical services (96100%). These are all commendable ratings that show that the AEA's are doing an excellent job in supporting the education of Iowa's students. The Keystone AEA currently has items in it's media library valued at $2.9 million and are available for use by all public and private school students in the AEA. During the 202223 school year, over 230,000 items from the lending library were delivered to the classrooms in the AEA's school districts. Over 20 high quality vetted digital resources are also available through the AEA for teachers and students. These include ebooks, digital audio books and research tools. The proposed change will have a negative effect on the educational experiences and opportunities for students, educators, and families within our state. This especially affects rural school districts and school districts with declining enrollments. AEAs currently provide their services to both public and private school students. Changes of this nature should have serious input from the individuals most affected by the change, and this is not the case. Changes of this nature should be intended to improve the quality of education in Iowa and this plan will not do this. Changes of this nature should be bipartisan and nonpolitical which does not appear to be the case. Rather than scrapping the Iowa AEA system that has proved to be a tremendous resource supporting a more equal access for educational opportunities for all of Iowas students, I would request leaving the AEAs in place as they are and consider restoring some of the cuts in funding that they have experienced in recent years.
02-21-2024
Angie Grecian-Bransky [Acting on my own - currently an employee at West Music Company]
CON
I worked as a K12 vocal music teacher in North Central Iowa for many years. Most of those years were with elementary students. The AEA staff that came to our school were wonderful and provided such amazing resources to the students. Most of my teaching was in smaller school districts. These schools would not have been able to provide the speech, auditory resources, psychology, etc. services that these students needed without working partnering with the AEA. I also used the facility out near the Mason City airport to create bulletin board images, I had the print shop create programs, and a multitude of other things at this facility. My district was not able to offer these things to me, but the AEA could! AEAs are a lifeline to districts, especially smaller ones. Please keep them in our state as a much needed resource.
02-21-2024
Kyle Ware []
CON
Please vote NO on HSB 542. Iowa schools deserve a robust AEA that supports both students and staff. The proposed bill poses a significant threat to the quality of education our children receive. The bill will put a disproportionate strain on smaller and rural schools, exacerbating disparities in education opportunities. The bill fails to accurately fund special education services, placing the burden on schools and jeopardizing the quality of support that students with special needs receive. The repercussions of this bill extend beyond the classroom, and we must consider the longterm consequences and work toward a solution that prioritizes the needs of our students, families, and educators.
02-21-2024
JOAN DECKER []
CON
No changes should be made to AEA until there has been opportunity to research & understand throughly the vast amount of assistance they have provided to ALL children, their families, schools &staff. There should be an opportunity to hear from everyone. Too many lives are risk by making rash decisions based on retaliation & ignorance. Perhaps improvements need to be made but do so after months of through research.
02-21-2024
Doug Graham [Iowa Taxpayer ]
CON
We dont need or want private companies to provide Special Education or any other services to public schools in Iowa. Lets keep the full range of AEA services and allow all districts to benefit from sharing resources and economies of scale.Lets agree on a comprehensive review to help the AEAs to be more efficient and to set standards across all AEAs for IEPs, job titles, etc.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
As the grandparent of a child on the autism spectrum, I am against any changes in funding or service delivery which would negatively impact the diagnostic, treatment, educational, career planning or any other current services for individuals with this condition.
02-21-2024
Sharon Carr []
CON
We should maintain the full range of AEA services for public schools in Iowa and enable all districts to share resources. As a taxpayer, I do NOT want Iowa education money to possibly go to an out of state company!!
02-21-2024
Brena Schwartz [Retired educator]
CON
WHY does the governor and the same Legislators think that eradicating the AEA is a good idea? OH! The governor says that school districts can hire specialists of their choosing to do the job that specialists of the AEA is a better idea because the districts will have CHOICE the choice word is tossed about all the time now. When I moved to Iowa in 1990, I was amazed that a state had some much wealth of information, audiovisual choices, movies to support the the subjects we were teaching, the specialists available at a finger tip!! Without AEA, one party is making an all out effort to dumb down Iowa. The ulterior motif is to give state money to private business. That is the Republican way.!!! Why fix a wheel when it is not broken!!
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please vote no on this bill. AEA services are valued by school districts. If they have to hire their own services, who will provide oversight not to mention the burden on them to try to find alternative services. The rural school districts cant handle this type of financial burden on them. It sounds like Gov Reynolds wants to fix a problem thats not broken. Please consider the needs of the students, parents and school districts when discussing this bill. It needs to be a well thought through decision and not one to rush through to meet a deadline.
02-21-2024
Elisabeth McLaury Lewin [self ]
CON
Please vote NO on the bill (and any amendments) to change Iowa's AEA program. Area Education Agencies do a great job of providing muchneeded expertise, guidance, and resources to our teachers and school districts throughout the state. AEAs support educators and administrators in their work with *all* students. From academically gifted kids to creative young artists to energetic athletes to our precious special education students and every other student to boot the AEA system is there to help our schools give all our students an excellent education. The AEA system works well and is an excellent use of public money. I wonder, why are the Governor and the Iowa Legislature trying to revamp the AEA in a way that will make it smaller, weaker, and less efficient? The only reason I can see is to further defund and destabilize public education (again, why???) in Iowa, while lining the pockets of forprofit consultants and service providers. Is this really what you want to be your legacy from your time in office? Is this really the best use of your time during the 2024 legislative session? Quit trying to "fix" the AEA, an Iowa educational institution that actually works quite well and benefits our youth and our schools. Spend your time and energy, and our taxpayer money, on some of the *real* issues and problems that we and our communities face. Vote NO on HF 2612 Sincerely, Elisabeth Lewin, Des Moines
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please vote no on HG2612. This proposed changes on this bill are not necessary.Thank you.
02-21-2024
Amanda Phaydavong []
CON
No more amendments and vote NO. AEAs dont need to be under the control of the Department of Education. Keep the local control. Stop cutting costs to public education. Any bill put forward doesnt seem to make changes that create a positive outcome for our kids.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Teri Mayer]
CON
Please vote No for this bill. It deserves to be studied before this decision is made.
02-21-2024
Erika Uthe []
CON
I believe we need to fully fund our AEAs so that they are able to serve all Iowa children, before and during their academic experience.AEAs make it possible for large or small, rural or urban students to access important resources that are not available for contract in all areas of the state. Please vote 'no' on this bill and protect the Iowa AEAs and the children, students, and schools they serve.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [none]
CON
First: why spend covid money to an business not in IOWA? Money could of helped citizens of the state. Second: Make a committee to look at the AEA's. NO reason to cut the head, arms, legs of an educational tool for Parents, Students, and Schools. Small schools can not afford the expert help for students and their families. That is one reason we went to AEA from the county school system. To make it equitable for all in IOWA.Thank you for voting this bill down and making sound judgement in spending time to look closely at the education system of this state.
02-21-2024
Mike Riley [West Music]
CON
We (the MT department at West) have a longstanding relationship with the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency (AEA). We have experienced firsthand how they work to serve students and ensure they have the supports needed to be successful in school (like music therapy services!). The proposed legislation will negatively affect the AEAs funding and their ability to serve students, families, and staff. Lawmakers are saying that these changes won't cut special education, but by making school districts responsible for hiring their own providers (SLPs, PTs, OTs, services for the Blind, etc.) the financial burden on the schools will negatively affect the services offered.
02-21-2024
Linda Boshart []
CON
I am writing to express my opposition to the AEA bill. The concept of fee for services reduces the high level of equity we currently have in our state and reduces economies of scale, particularly for our smaller, rural districts. It also diminishes local control by shifting additional oversight to the Department of Education. Please vote no on this bill as it is written.
02-21-2024
Vicki Goldsmith []
CON
When I arrived in Iowa in the early 1990's, I was required to take several AEA courses to get licensed. The classes tranformed the way I taught, gave me a fresh perspective on my work and a way to meet regularly with teachers from many schools. For several years I took AEA courses, met with teachers, attended conferences arranged by AEA. I became Iowa Teacher of the Year and a finalist for National Teacher of the Year in 2005, experiences that would never have been part of my life without AEA. Support from AEA is essential for growth and progress for Iowa teachers.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
We. Need. Our. AEAs. And ALL services.
02-21-2024
Ellen Wubbels []
CON
Passing any legislation before doing an indepth study is putting the cart before the horse. Please do not move forward with this legislation. Utilize the months ahead to complete a study in which a broad spectrum of stake holders are involved, reach a consensus, and put forward recommendations.
02-21-2024
Eunice (Uni) Kischer [Retired]
CON
Many of the AEA contributions to the school goes unrecognized but are invaluable to students, parents, and teachers. They help to identify special needs of classroom students and assist teachers and parents in the development of individual behavioral and learning programs to ensure student learning success. The programs have to be monitored, analyze, and sometimes modified to reach students learning goals. This bill would eliminate or minimize such student and teacher assistance. Students will be the ultimate losers if this bill is passed. I challenge you to follow a social worker around for a day! Both in a large school District and a small school district. I could give you a name A social worker in a small district to follow along with! Please reach out to me for that name and please follow through on my challenge!! Your eyes will be open to how important social workers are and all schools! Thank you and I will pray that you vote NO to the current bill!
02-21-2024
Nancy Henderson []
CON
I would urge the legislature to spend more time talking with those who work in the AEA's; with those families and students who are served by the AEA's; and with the schools, teachers, and staff who collaborate with the AEA's to find out their thoughts about all of the proposed legislation BEFORE you make such sweeping changes that will give very little time for everyone to implement. It's clear from the outpouring of concern that this discussion wasn't done. We, the people, haven't been given any documentation about how the proposed changes would be of benefit or improve the AEA's. We have been given very little time to digest the ramifications of any of the various proposed legislation. This is not the way to "do policy" or the way to govern. Iowa is supposed to be known for its commitment to education, particularly public education. Show your commitment by being transparent and working WITH the people of Iowa.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [None]
CON
I am AGAINST HF 2612.The last time the 15 AEAs were consolidated into 9 AEAs was devastating for the children I taught who had special needs.This was especially true for kiddos with speech and language difficulties. The speech and language pathologists had to travel much farther to serve students. More time on the road meant less time for the children.The teams of three specialists which formerly evaluated children to determine eligibility for special education services were whittled down to one person trying to cover three different jobs. Guess how that worked out?If your goal is to SAVE $$$ at the expense of children, then HF 2612 is a winner.If your concern is truly that AEAs are top heavy with administrators, then do sharing of administrators. Much like two or three small school districts would share a superintendent.
02-21-2024
Terri Parker []
CON
I encourage you to vote against any bill that would impact the AEA system in Iowa until a more comprehensive study of needs can be conducted. This and other version of this legislation has been developed based on insufficient information conducted by outside sources. For true transparency and more effective legislation, I encourage our representatives to gather more information in order to make a decision that will truly bring out the best outcomes for all our students. Postpone hiring at the Department of Education until clear expectations for these positions can be developed. Lets not waste tax payers money on duplicating services that AEAs currently provide.
02-21-2024
Angela Forret []
CON
Dear Education Committee The need to cut, reorganize, and/or disempower the AEA seems to point to an executive office concern, but why? Is this a fiscal concern of the executive branch, please explain. Public comments continue to point to an organization that continues to strive despite years of budget cuts, indicating agency success not failure. If the committee believes the AEAs have failed its communities, we the citizens request quantitative and qualitative data to back up these conclusions.Please vote no to HF 2612. Thank you.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Retired teacher]
CON
Everyone loses, especially the students who have special needs.
02-21-2024
Deborah Fink [Health Care Benefits]
CON
Leave the AEA alone unless you're going to improve it. Iowa students need these services. If there is going to be a study, make sure it's not a bogus one.
02-21-2024
Julie McElroy [Voter]
CON
Vote NO!Iowans want their AEAs to be governed by boards with LOCAL control (members from their districts) NOT control by the DE. Iowans want an AEA that gives them good value for their dollar from sharing of mental health services between districts, to purchasing of materials for reduced costs (much lower than retail) and more.Iowans want their schools to have access to professional development, crisis teams, curriculum specialists and more when they need it not on a for FEE basis this will be crippling for many districts and DETRIMENTAL to all students and their teachers.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [The Culture Buzz]
CON
There are enough existing issues to be addressed without the majority party trying to find an excellent existing system that "ain't broke." So, why the need to "fix it"? The shortcomings of pushing Medicare into private sector hands already has caused problems. Iowa does not need private companies, whose motivation is solely profit and to hell with the consequences, to intervene into an arena they are more than likely unqualified and unprepared to insert themselves. If anything in these comments is incorrect please prove me otherwise.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Decorah Community Schools]
CON
As a seven year special education teacher, I work closely with my AEA. They have provided me valuable training as a new teacher, supported me with IEP writing, and provides resource to my classroom that otherwise would not be available. I work in rural Iowa. The AEAs help support all teachers and students in our state. My job (and doing it well) could not function without our AEAs. This proposed bill should not be Iowa's legislation priority right now. We used to be one of the top states in education and makes me very sad how backwards we have become. Please do not move forward with this bill.
02-21-2024
Mindy Cairney [REPUBLICAN VOTER]
CON
Vote no. Listen to Iowans. We are not in favor of this bill. We want our teachers to feel supported. We want our districts to have services and technology they wouldn't otherwise be able to afford.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I am a mother of children who recieve resources through AEA. Not only have these resources been needed but they have made a huge difference in my childrens education. The resources they have access to; help them so they can have a successful education today, tomorrow and in the future. Reducing the funding will put a damper in our future generations education, hindering their success to their full potential.
02-21-2024
Barbara Adams [Self]
CON
Thank you for your continued work and pursue of how best to move forward with the review &/or reorganization of the AEA System, I appreciate the progress of the most recent HF2612 from the original Governor Proposed Bill and I applaud the slowing of the timeline. In the most recent version, I highlight the appointing of a task force. Wouldn't it seem more in line to organize the task force and take the time to allow the appointees to complete the process and propose any potential changes to the law from that study? The AEAs provide several invaluable services and I strongly feel that stripping these services will most definitely leave unintended gaps in educating Iowans that governing bodies are unaware of. Please continue to have the conversations and act on the abundance of outcries from your constituents Iowa needs Area Education Agencies.
02-21-2024
Amy Wichman [Iowa Parent / Iowa Educator]
CON
Thanks to all House Representatives who are working hard to listen to constituents regarding this bill. And, those who have listened. The fate of Iowa's education system is crucially reliant upon you to do your job as representatives of voters, up for election this November. With that said, please continue to amend, update, and explore with an open mind the scope of AEAs, the model, the services, the benefits, and the MANY reasons to keep special education, ed services, and media services in place for students and educators in Iowa. Privatized, contracted, and inequitable services will not serve our students well. The inconveniences and roadblocks that will be placed by having school districts check in with the Iowa DE Director will have dismal impact on our already taxed schools. While I could continue to make many points, these two are enough to merit pause and grave concern. Again, continue to dig in and amend for improvement on behalf of Iowa's students.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
This bill should be completely shelved until there is enough time to fully look at all the implications of cuts and changes. The people who use this are the ones who should speak as well as teachers and administrators. To put this bill forward without appropriate study is a mistake for all concerned.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [N/A]
CON
Im very against this bill. It hurts all students, not just those needing sped services.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I strongly urge all representatives to oppose this proposed legislation. Before any substantive changes are made to the AEA system, a group consisting of representatives from all affected parties (students, parents, school administrators, teachers, AEA leadership and staff, Iowa Department of Education leadership and staff) should be formed to study what the problem(s) is/are, what item(s) are contributing to the problem(s) and what needs to be done to fix the issues. Making any changes to the AEA systems before knowing this information is bad for the residents of the state of Iowa. Please kill the existing legislation related to changes to the AEA system and instead study the issue before making changes to the system. Thank you.
02-21-2024
Laura Coia []
CON
This bill is still not good enough and should not be passed. It will make too many changes too hastily that could cause drastic consequences if there is not enough support and planning. Please vote NO and advocate for supporting the AEAs. The department of education is NOT the right organization to solely in charge of public education with the current leadership and gives all control to people who are blatantly trying to hurt the public education system in Iowa. The AEAs provide services and support in a more local setting with the 9 different districts so there is equality especially for Iowas rural counties. Consolidating control to DSM would cause inequality and drastically lower the quality of education in Iowa.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [N/A]
CON
do the bipartisan task force that includes schools, teachers, AEA , and community stakeholders
02-21-2024
Jody Person [NA]
CON
I think we should move forward with the task force made up up parents, teachers, AEA, and concerned citizens.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Parent, Republican Voter]
CON
As a Republican voter, I do not support this bill. Totalitarian power is not what our country and state was created for. This bill only seeks to benefit those who arent even directly working or supporting educating our youth. Take the time to figure out what exactly the needs are for improvement and work with the AEAs to solve them. Do not overturn the whole system and leave schools to pay the consequences of your actions. I assume Chuck Grassley wanted the creation of AEAs to be apart of his legacya good thing. What do you want yours to be? The fall of education? Empty school buildings in rural communities who couldnt survive these decisions? Rise above a one person agenda and listen to your constituents.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Parent, Voter, Educator]
CON
Your willingness for consideration is appreciated but there is still lots of work to do! This bill does not get to the root of claims that it is being done to improve special education and close the gap, as the solution. Many of these comments express how rural schools will suffer, which means all of their students will suffernot improve. Take a deep look at the data to see if what is being used gives an accurate picture of what is happening for learners with special education in lowaincluding exited students, personal growth, teacher caseload, etc. Base your decisions on what we CAN do to support continued growth with the current resources availablenot take things away, through a full and comprehensive review. I keep hearing a lot about "school choice", but how does the school have choice when the Director of the Department of Education can deny access to any support from the AEA? Taking away local control and giving all control to one person/entity is in no way the best interest of lowan's and our youth. This is not a bill lowan's are asking for. Its time to listen!
02-21-2024
Kim Johnson [Early ACCESS Teacher, mother, concerned citizen ]
CON
Please vote no to this bill! This bill originated from inaccurate information. Stop this bill and conduct a study to determine what changes ACTUALLY need to be made. The AEAs are amazing but there is always room for improvement in any organization. AEA administrators are open to changes that will improve the systembut this bill will NOT improve the system.
02-21-2024
Kathy Alexander []
CON
AEA has been vital during both my childrens education in the CB District. My daughter started with early intervention through AEA, received services all the way throughout her schooling vital to her success and wellbeing. I urge you to reject changes to AEA it is not broken! If you reduce its funding allowing school the option to buy services from AEA or elsewhere 2 things will immediately change and both are catastrophic. 1 AEA will not be fully funded so it will no longer be able to provide the services and trained personnel that it always has( no budget no staff no services).2 now that youve forced schools to look elsewhere for trained professionals only school near major metropolitan areas will have any chance of finding them. Hence rich and urban schools may have and poorer or rural schools cannot . This will be in violation of IDEA. Strangely enough Iowa already has a solution in place called Area we have 9 down from 15. If youd like to actually help Special Needs children in Iowa? Give us back our fully funded 15 AEAs.
02-21-2024
Lindsay Park [NA ]
CON
AEAs have clearly been working well for the people need them and those who provide them. These changes would be a negative and unnecessary centralization of control designed to undermine public education in Iowa.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Maharishi School]
CON
The AEA is a vital resource for BOTH public and private schools. It is extremely effective AND cost effective in providing support for students, curriculum resources, and faculty development. Any changes must be on the basis of extensive study and extensive stakeholder involvement. Our rural districts and smallest schools are particularly dependent on the AEA and already face financial strain that will be significantly worsened if we lose the AEA.
02-21-2024
Karen Maass [retired PT and recipient of AEA services for my children ]
CON
I live in Urbandale. I am a retired PT who has worked in the public school systems and even more importantly, I am a mother of a son and two daughters who received AEA services at some level. My son was identified as a student at risk when he was in 2nd grade. He was evaluated by a psychologist from Heartland AEA and found to have an IQ in the superior range but was below grade level in reading/writing. The District he was being served in and I had a disagreement in regards to the reading program that was being used. The psychologist and the consultant from AEA and I felt that he needed a more phonics based reading program due to the type of LD he had. They along with a parent advocate from Heartland AEA came to several meetings I had with the teachers up to the Districts Director of Special Education. They helped me obtain the type of program individualized for what he needed. They educated me as to how to work with my sons teachers and the various schools he attended from elementary to high school. They even assisted my son in planning where he would attend college so he would continue to get the accommodations that he needed to be successful. My son graduated from ISU in the Architecture and Design Program. It is a selective program where only a small number of students are selected to enter. I have two other daughters who did not need special education, but had received services in the general education that was provided by the AEAs. Technology support from the AEAs was provided for them and my son since they were in grade school. I know because I attended some of the evening informational meetings since at that time the technology which was being used was new. The elementary school and their classroom teachers needed the AEAs additional support to get started and continue on. I have worked as a PT both in the clinic and also in the school system. They are very different places to work. As a PT in the school I worked directly in the classrooms, also the bathrooms, lunchrooms and anywhere in the building or outside where there was an accessibility issue or problem. I did not pull students out of class unless it was absolutely necessary. I knew the laws that governed special education, 504s and students at risk. As a PT in the clinic prior to the educational setting, I did not have a clue about any of this. It wasnt until after my training by AEAs, that I was able to figure out what the intent of the law was. If the AEAs are not present, who will provide the services that my son and daughters were provided? I not only ran into AEA staff at school, but at outside activities in the community. One sat on the steering committee of the local CHADD (Children with Attention Disabilities) and at least 23 others attended local LDA meetings. We developed relationships because they were local. Now this new law wants to change it from local to centralized control. Why would you take the money from a more local agency and place the money at the state level? What is the agenda here? To weaken local control and strengthen state control? To further weaken public schools? And why is this being rammed through so fast when there are so many individuals against it.
02-21-2024
Linda Anderson [Equipment loan programs for people with disabilities]
CON
AEAs are too important to the children and families in the state of Iowa to mess this up. Let's study this before we go in and wreck. Let's address the concerns and go from there.
02-21-2024
Jodi Rhone []
CON
Please keep the AEAs delivering the services they provide today. They are a critical resources for teachers, especially for special education services.
02-21-2024
Lena Rydberg Freese []
CON
Please reconsider this bill. It significantly limits the ability for AEAs to apply necessary services for Iowa residents. My twin brothers both received extensive services through the AEA in early childhood through graduation. At the age of 3 we were told they would never live independently, hold a job, drive a car or live independently. After early childhood interventions done through the AEA and implemented with the assistance of the AEA throughout their k12 education set them up to do all of these things. They have held full time jobs since high school. Their proudest day was when they transitioned to their own health insurance because that was the last financial assistance they received. They are productive members of society that are proud of their contributions because of these investments which paid off for them personally at the same time as moving them from a dependent of the state to a tax paying resident. This investment makes sense.The quality support of our K12 system by AEAs is why when I had a choice to stay in the state where my kids were born in vs return to Iowa where I was raised, I chose to return. I knew that they qualified for support for gifted students and I knew that in Iowa I could receive that in the public system without having to pay for it a second time by having to sign them up for private. We spent so much time trying stop the brain drain of the graduates prior to 2000 and quality well supported public schools are the cornerstones of why may of us came home. Rankings of Iowa schools are dropping and dont think that parents havent noticed. If we continue to reduce resources like what occurs in this bill it makes good financial sense to pay taxes somewhere else.
02-21-2024
Kathy Kaldenberg []
CON
The Iowa AEA is critically important to all school districts. If there are improvements to be made, gather the data and first hand experiences from the stakeholders for an outcome that benefits students and staff both.
02-21-2024
Karen Hammes [None]
CON
Vote this bill down! The AEAs have a successful, integral relationship with Iowa public schools and accredited private schools. AEA staff are local enabling quick response and optimum coordination with students, parents and schools. Local citizen boards govern. This system works; leave it alone!
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Public School]
CON
Heartland AEA support is essential to support all students. I've used many of their services for many years. Professional development, consultants as a special ed teacher, consultants as a regular ed teacher, materials for use in the classroom, graphic design, research help (providing articles on a topic, career fair.Current support for myself as a new special ed teacher has been very necessary with new system Achieve and navigating IEPs and specially designed instruction. Please leave area education agencies in place.
02-21-2024
Diane Messerli []
CON
Please do not take any action on this bill at this time. There is too much at stake to make changes that could have a negative effect on Iowas childrens education. After two+ decades in education, working in two different AEA regions, I moved out of state. In my experience, AEAs provided essential services for teachers as well as students. In discussions with educators in my new state (CO), they only wish they had the same level of services and support as offered by Iowas regional AEA teams. Dont take action without extended study of the situation and including respected educational experts.
02-21-2024
Jeremy Huss [N/A]
CON
Please vote NO on SSB 3073. Iowa schools deserve a robust AEA that supports both students and staff. Our AEA's provide a vital service!Jeremy HussCoralville, IA
02-21-2024
Anonymous [self]
CON
The AEA provides educational support to all Iowa children who need it. Stop trying to change what is good for rural and urban Iowans with a poor vision of what a select few idealist think is more attuned to their beliefs. HANDS OFF the AEA!Thank you for listening to a concerned voting retired engineer who has personal experience with the AEA.
02-21-2024
Rev Brigit Stevens []
CON
Gutting the AEA structure will harm our most vulnerable students! I strongly oppose this bill. There may be things that need to change or adjust, but those should be done WITH stakeholders input and support. The Governors approach through this bill is disrespectful to the professionals, families, and students directly involved. Please VOTE NO!
02-21-2024
Tim Glaza []
CON
The AEA bills coming from the Governor's office are misguided and foolish. AEAs need to be protected. If we want to tune them up, we should have an independent commission of Iowa educators and professionals who identify challenges and propose solutions. Iowans have lost trust in the Department of Education with its lack of leadership. We need to get this right for our children and rural communities. I urge you to scrap Governor Reynolds' AEA gutting plans and bring together the AEAs, parents, and teachers from across Iowa to figure this out over the next year.
02-21-2024
DeAnna Graham [Iowa Taxpayer]
CON
Iowa has billions in surplus for funding... why is funding for education cut EVERY YEAR? Iowa kids deserve for us to retain all AEA services and NOT allow private companies to be part of Iowa education, especially outofstate remote companies. If any of these services are privatized, the AEAs will lose staff and rural districts will suffer the most. All kids deserve a fair, equal, and equitable education and AEA services allow all districts to leverage shared resources and economies of scale. I propose a thorough evaluation to enhance AEA efficiency and establish standardized practices, IEPs, job titles, etc. across all AEAs.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Concerned educator and parent ]
CON
I appreciate the steps the House has already made in response to concerns & comments from the public. I do ask the House continue pausing on this bill though until a full task force can be defined with a clear purpose, individuals involved, & recommendations brought forth to the public at large. As a parent, I want to ensure my children are still able to access the technology & media services already being provided to them through their school district, as well as access unanticipated services the AEA has provided to districts over the years. As an educator, I continue to be concerned about the centralization of control within the Department of Education. That only serves yo further remove local control from those closest to students education, & as an educator, likely increase the response time to my own questions/needs due to the sheer number of requests the DE will get in a day. Thank you for your time.
02-21-2024
Amy Fickbohm [Heartland AEA 11/Ankeny Terrace Elementary]
CON
I applaud those of you who have taken time to learn more about AEAs and the services they provide. I am relieved to see that you have reconsidered issues related to special education and how important it is to preserve the AEA for these services. However, I stand firmly against this bill because I believe more in depth study needs to be done before making such major changes to the AEA system and the schools they serve. Please continue to slow this bill down to given it the time and consideration it deserves. Our kids deserve to have leaders who put them first in the state!
02-21-2024
Stuart Trembath []
CON
I am writing to express my opposition to the bill pertaining to the Area Education Agencies. I am an audiologist and owner of Hearing Associates, P.C. in Mason City, Iowa. I have been a practicing audiologist for almost 42 years, most of them in Iowa. My initial job in Iowa was at AEA 2 in Clear Lake in 1982. While working at AEA 2, I had the good fortune of attending a number of national meetings. Upon discovering I worked as an educational audiologist in Iowa, I was amazed at the high regard the AEA system had nationally. In the late 1990s, I attended numerous national meetings as presidentelect, president and past president of the Iowa Speech Language and Hearing Association. Again the AEA structure and the provision of special education services in Iowa were repeatedly recognized as the best in the country! I recently finished a 16 year appointment as cochair of the American Speech Language Hearing Associations Health Care Economics Committee. In that role, I gave numerous presentations and attended numerous meetings outside of my profession. Again I was overwhelmed with the high regard Iowas AEA structure and the provision of special education services were held.As a private practice audiologist, I have worked with hundreds of families whose children were served by the AEA. Many of these families are in small rural districts that, if it werent for the AEA, would not have been able to provide the necessary services to these families. In the 41 years of living in Iowa, I do not recall anyone complaining about the services provided in the schools. I see a number of issues moving forward with the current legislation! First it appears as though the stakeholders related to special education have not been consulted. Nor has the problem with the AEA ever been defined. It seems this is a solution for a problem Iowa does not have. Secondly, in the many states where services are contracted, children do not receive the necessary services and many are lost. Currently there is a dire shortage of audiologists in Iowa. This is particularly a problem in the private sector. This feels short sighted when study after study shows that hearing impaired students with adequate services frequently do not need special education services as they enter the K12 programming.If there is a need to move legislation forward, I would hope that it would be to establish a workgroup to identify what problems exist and then look at possible solutions to those problems.Thank you, Stuart Trembath, M.A,, CCCAOwner of Hearing Associates, P. C
Attachment
02-21-2024
Anonymous [voter and concerned citizen parent]
CON
con youre making decisions without having all the stakeholders at the table helping make decisions. If youre going to do a comprehensive review, we need AEA administrators, we need the special education teachers, we need the legislators, and we need occupational therapy, Physical therapy , Speech pathologist, Media consultants and more at the tableThis bill will hurt Iowa kids.
02-21-2024
Hannah Mulligan [Student]
CON
I would like our elected officials to acknowledge the harm this would cause to our youth and their families. The opportunities the AEA provides are unlike any other service group in Iowa. Without our AEA our students and school systems will suffer.
02-21-2024
Eric D Petersen []
CON
Please vote No on this bill. The Area Education Agencies do so much for both public and private school in both city and rural areas. I believe rural districts will be mostly effected by this bill. Services will be reduced do to staffing and expenses. If the true goal is to make education better in our state, it makes more sense to bring stakeholders together that would include school superintendents, teachers, administrators, parents, and AEA together to look at ways to improve our system. Also, fully funding our public schools and our AEAs would be another good start.Once again, please VOTE NO on HF2612
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Higher Ed- retired]
CON
I oppose this
02-21-2024
Sonna McMahon [Retired teacher]
CON
Please consider taking more time to examine the many changes and services offered by the AEA!I believe the voices of teachers and parents are not being heard. We need to carefully move forward to do what's best for our Iowa children!
02-21-2024
Rita Carter [Citizen]
CON
I oppose changes that will decrease the number of AEAs in Iowa. Students and their families in rural districts will suffer the most. If something needs fixing to provide better services, then STUDY and discuss with all stakeholdersthese bills are rushed and not thought out!
02-21-2024
Lindsay Weber []
CON
My name is Lindsay Weber. I am a stay at home mom of two sweet boys that greatly benefit from the services offered by Heartland AEA. The services provided are essential to my kids development, including adaptive and social . My oldest son suffered from multiple ear infections in his infancy and struggled with speech development. The AEA helped him develop those skills at his pace and provided free hearing screenings. When I read the list of AEA services that the proposed bill would cut, I noticed that the services provided for my children would no longer exist. To lose such a great resource is a detriment to so many children. All the current resources are vital to children across Iowa. If any of the AEA services are reduced or terminated, there could be a great decline in the mental, emotional and physical welfare of the children in our great state. I hope and pray that we can continue to have such amazing services to assist parents and educators in providing the best for our children. Thank you.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Please keep media, library, IT services, ELP, hearing testing, speech services, as well as Special Ed at our AEAs!! Rural kids deserve the same level of service as the kids in Des Moines and other big cities. No one wants our education tax money going to private companies!! Online education isnt the way to go, especially after remote school FAILED during Covid. Our kids deserve inperson services!!
02-21-2024
Corey Finley []
CON
As voter, the parent of children served by the AEA, a faithbased and public educator in Iowa for 28+ years, I am against this bill for the following reasons:1) Lack of professionals to fill a feeforservice model in rural districts.2) Highly qualified providers seeking employment elsewhere due to the yeartoyear unknown if their services will be needed or not by this new system. Some providers have already left the AEA due to this concern.3) In discussing with superintendents, funding given to districts cannot pay for all the services AEAs currently provide, AND districts need to meet the needs of Iowa's students and teachers.4) AEA must be allowed to engage in operational sharing agreements to continue providing critical services to districts, such as masterlevel social workers who are meeting the needs of many of our students.5) The STRENGTHS AND needs within the AEA system should be assessed in a process that includes all players impacted at the table. Do not gut a system based on one AEA's area of need when others are succeeding. Keep what works and build a stronger system based on facts and feedback from Iowa's schools and service providers on the ground.SLOW DOWN this process.
02-21-2024
Emily Thomson []
CON
This bill is only slightly better than the governors bill written and paid for out of state. If the legislature wants improved results and customer service focus on that first with a study. Having money move from districts to the AEAs will only delay services for children and educators. The IDOE is not built to get results and quality; oversight merely means compliance. The department director is not interested in improving public education; she wants to dismantle and privatize it. She has no knowledge or expertise in improving education services since she has never been an educator. Please do not take away a structure that is fundamentally and like every system needs continuous improvement. Being an educator is an incredibly challenging job and this only would make it worse.
02-21-2024
Kristin Dunn [None]
CON
Iowa House Representatives,I am asking you to vote against the revised House version of the AEA bill, House File 2612. Any system can be improved, but to be improved it needs to have well defined problems based on complete and accurate data provided by the users of the system. This bill is based on faulty and incomplete data and needs documented data from the wide variety of Iowans who actually use and work within the AEA system. It was written by an out of state source without Iowans input and does not have the best interests of Iowa children in mind.Please look at how media services and technology support regular and special education students instead of just preserving the AEA special education services. I worked for Grant Wood AEA for 29 years as a speechlanguage pathologist. This was a seamless integrated service as an AEA employee. As an employee, I borrowed assistive devices to try out with nonverbal students to help them communicate, without the parents or school districts having to buy the devices. I checked out toys from the toy library in media services to teach parents and caregivers how to use toys to increase their childs speech and language development. I used media services to print out homework assignments for the students and caregivers in our preschool phonology (speech) groups. I was able to print these materials at a reduced cost in comparison to having them printed by an outside private source. Speech therapy materials that I created to target goals for specific students were laminated for greater durability and lower cost than what was available in the private sector. These private services for printing and lamination are not always available in rural areas.Please form a task force comprised of a variety of Iowans, not just legislators, to access the AEAs needs before destroying a system and impacting thousands of students, families and employees. Please give this task force time and the resources to fully explore the needs of the AEAs. This issue needs months not weeks of study.Kristin K. Dunn M.A., CCCSLP
Attachment
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
Dear Iowa Legislators,I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your dedicated service to our state and your commitment to enhancing Iowas education system. Your responsiveness to the concerns of Iowa citizens, as evidenced by your actions to improve HF 2612, is deeply appreciated.With 24 years of experience in Iowa's education field, I understand the importance of legislative reforms and their potential implications for our communities. Having carefully reviewed HF 2612, I offer the following points for your consideration:Time and Task Force:Thorough consideration is essential in decisions regarding the reduction and reform of AEAs. I commend the House Education Committees inclusion of a task force in HF 2612 to address AEA concerns comprehensively. We know any reform efforts prioritize the improvement of educational outcomes and support for our students and engaging a diverse and responsible task force will ensure informed decisionmaking regarding any AEA changes will be at the benefit of all Iowa students. Preservation of Local Control:The proposed concentration of decisionmaking within the Iowa Department of Education raises significant concerns about local control. Local communities, educators, and stakeholders are best equipped to understand the unique needs of their areas. Collaboration between Iowa AEAs, the Department, and local education agencies is vital to address these concerns with local voice, care, and consideration of needs. Fee For Service Model:Introducing a feeforservice model will impact the accessibility and quality of AEA Core Services. The current funding structure ensures all districts and schools equitable, economical, and efficient access to AEA core services and a controlled use of taxpayer dollars. These highquality services are what our Districts have become accustomed to and through reform, we need to look at ways we maintain the quality services. It is crucial to avoid compromising the quality of education or hindering schools' ability to meet students' needs.In conclusion, I want to thank you once again for your service to our state. Your dedication to improving education in Iowa is truly commendable. I trust that you will carefully consider these principles as you deliberate on HF 2612. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I am confident that you will make decisions that uphold the values of Iowa's education system.
02-21-2024
Molly Hackett [NA]
CON
Please use extreme care and caution before moving this bill. the current bill puts lots of control in the DE, which is the entity farthest removed from students and teachers. I am concerned with this, especially because the DE is not always filled with people qualified and experienced in eduction. The AEAs need the resources to be able to served student with disabilities in special education AND general education. This is done through the evaluation period to identify students, AND through ongoing supports including specialized curriculum consultants, autism consultants, curriculum specialists, and media services. Please listen carefully to your district and community partners telling you about the supports they need to continue to receive for Iowas students.
02-21-2024
Aaron Cook []
CON
It is very important to keep the AEA system in Iowa the same operational level that they always have been. There have been no abuses of state monies appropriated to them. By allowing the Governor and the Department of Education to use false data and out of context information to gut the system in any way will only open the business opportunities of private companies to fill the voids. This will make school districts and parents to pay high dollar for any specialists and services they need. Having any drop in the services the AEA's provide will bring the education system in Iowa to a crisis point with children's education of subject matter expertise, media distribution, technology expertise and critical data management systems. There are multitudes of core and related services that have become a backbone of school districts in large urban areas as well as rural. Since the AEA system has more expertise, intellectual, professional skills, and proficiency with all the services of Education in Iowa, the AEA system should have the option to take over the DE in an act of no confidence and effort to maintain stability to the state of Education for Iowa. This would be against the Governor and the Department of Education's actions. Then there can be a proper "reset" of the crisis point administration of the Department of Education. There could then be AEA and District oversight and legislative governance committees or boards. This could allow legislative oversight as needed or be regularly paced with the rhythms of legislative processes. Please take this more appropriate approach and please wipe out or radically alter the Bills that have been proposed. You will be pleased with the results and make things better for children in Iowa. Thank You for reading.
02-21-2024
Gina School [www.colorsfloral.com]
CON
I want to bring up a big concern I have with all versions of this bill I have seen thus far. In all the versions I have seen it cuts ALL behavioral and mental health services that are currently provided for free to all school districts through the AEA. I live in Greenfield which is about an hour drive to Des Moines. My daughter Violet is 6 and in kindergarten. This year she was diagnosed with ADHD and started meeting with a social worker through the AEA that provides play therapy. Sandi Sickles is an absolute angel. She spends an entire day each week meeting with kids in the Nodaway Valley School district. Thats how many kids that need services that it can fill up her entire day here. We also take Violet to a therapist that we pay for out of our pocket. My husband works for a public utility and has GREAT benefits that allow us to be able to afford additional therapy sessions. I am a selfemployed small business owner, so I am able to leave work once week to take Violet to additional therapy appointments. My concern is that many families especially in small rural districts aren't as lucky as us. The closest private therapist we could get Violet in to is in Corning, which is about a 40 minute drive. Their only open appointments are during the day because there are so few therapists that specialize in children, so they are always booked in the popular late afternoon early evening slots what most parents need to accommodate their job schedules.How many people that work a 95 can take off 3 hours every week to take their child to therapy? How many people can afford the gas and time off work to drive 80 miles a week to take their child to therapy? The answer is...not many. If all behavioral and mental health services are cut from the AEA, small rural districts won't be able to afford this extra service. How many kids will then not get needed therapy? How many will slip through the cracks? We already have a mental health crisis in Iowa, just look at the recent school shooting in Perry. We need to protect this CRUCIAL service that the AEA provides to school districts and families!
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Republican Voter]
CON
I am writing to you today to ask you to oppose HSB 2612 and SSB 3073. Since the creation of AEAs, they have existed to provide fair, equal, costeffective services across the state in the areas of special education, education services (such as literacy and math instruction), and media/technology. They provide resources that are too costprohibitive for schools to secure independently. The AEAs resources support all Iowa students, not just those in special education. AEAs follow the standards of service established in Iowa Administrative Code 281 and provide these services to all public schools and accredited private schools within Iowa. All the programs that AEA offer have supported my children's schools in Woodbury County by improving and implementing institutional education services as well in media/technology.I am concerned that if AEAs are dismantled and defunded as HSB 542/ SSB 3073 calls for, this will in fact result in a massive negative and adverse effect on the entire educational system of Iowa. And our children and our economy will ultimately suffer in the end.
02-21-2024
Sarah N [Iowa Voter]
CON
I urge you to slow this process down! A system that has adapted and attuned (for decades) to the expanding and diverse needs of Iowas student populations, educational staff and service providers, and families should not be altered in such a drastic and impulsive manner. Iowas AEAs have always accommodated any need and will continue to do so. If our systems are not performing as they shouldand if there are concrete facts and solutions to inform such decisions for change, our AEAs will welcome any necessary and positively impactful changes, as always. SLOW DOWN and study ALL aspects of our educational systemsnot just the AEAs. Spend time authenticating and inspecting the positive impact and services the AEA system provides to students and educators, seamlessly and at the drop of a hat. Spend time questioning and thinking through how this bill will shift responsibilitiesand is this the most effective thing to do? You have heard many testimonies, read many statements, listened at town halls and heard your constituentsWHAT do you hear from those who have personally utilized and relied on our AEAs? What are you hearing from those who have limited scope or have not thoroughly experienced such services? How do these differ? Think that through. Slow down! Education and the future of our children should be a nonpartisan issuehow wreckless it would be to think any other way.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [AAUW CF-W]
CON
We need the AEA. As a former teacher who taught before we had the AEA and had no place to go to get help a student and then later teaching with the AEA in place it was a big help, getting materials to help with students as books, materials etc.
02-21-2024
Nialle Sylvan []
CON
Rather than cutting vital programs that fill a need unmet by any other agency, please concentrate on making sure that all children in Iowa have access to a strong public school system.
02-21-2024
Perry Lenz []
CON
AEAS are extremely important for our youth. There should be no cuts or privatization of these agencies.Thank You.
02-21-2024
Kathleen Richardson []
CON
I have talked to my friends who have children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live in this world daily. I have also read a report on the issue by Ted Stilwell, who led the Iowa Department of Education under both Republican and Democratic administrations. No credible evidence has been presented that an overhaul of the way that Iowa serves specialneeds children is necessary. The consultant's report that supposedly justifies changes to the current system is flawed. Iowa's most vulnerable citizens deserve better than this hasty and illconceived approach.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [dont know]
CON
I am worried about the services that are provided to support students, teachers, and parents if AEA services are impacted negatively. Teacher morale in Iowa is already low given recent legislation. I worry that without the added support that is provided by AEA's that teachers will no longer want to teach in Iowa. Local control needs to be maintained. Districts will not be able to afford the services that are available to them through AEA's in a fee for service model. Rural districts will likely struggle to find providers to serve the needs of students.
02-21-2024
Lisa Rock []
CON
I urge you to oppose changes to our state's AEAs. For 50 years, Iowa's AEAs have served us well. In a poignant recent example, AEA crisis support teams were among the first resources to respond to the Perry community after the school shooting.The proposed legislation devalues local control and threatens transparency. Rural school districts could be particularly vulnerable if current levels of service are diminished. Any changes to the current structure must involve careful and thorough study in partnership with Iowa's educators, parents, and professionals not rushed through in a matter of weeks.
02-21-2024
Peggy Fuhrman [retired school counselor]
CON
PLEASE slow down.PLEASE involve more input from those doing the work and those who receive services. PLEASE take time to study what works and what needs improvement.
02-21-2024
Jennifer Pellant [Western Iowa Labor Federation]
CON
We should be supporting our AEAs with full funding. Their services are essential and would be lost to many smaller districts if they did not exist. Forfeiting these economies of scale will further damage our public schools which also need full funding.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Dallas Center-Grimes CSD]
CON
I am against getting rid of the AEA and the services they provide.
02-21-2024
Patty []
CON
Vote no as much more research is warranted. Reevaluate! Dont rush!
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
The AEA needs to remain as is! Please stop making stupid cuts.
02-21-2024
Dea Epley Birtwistle [Retired Central Rivers AEA Team Representative/ Early Childhood School Social Worker]
CON
A committee needs to be formed to be intentional with needed recommendations. Performance of students with special needs in Iowa must improve. The DE requires a special education division which would coordinate the examination of performance results not just in Iowa but in other states. What matrices are being used, and what interventions are yielding the results?
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I have a child who uses the AEA and they are very important to the schools. Do not take them from the schools.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [self]
CON
Please convene a study team with all stakeholders (superintendents, teachers, AEA administrators, AEA consultants, and Dept. of Education consultants (those with education degrees and licenses). Study the needs. Develop a plan with those that know the services. The Director of the Dept. of Education does not know AEAs and does not understand what's really happening in Iowa (example: telling Superintendents there is not a teacher shortage). Study the AEAs, then adjust. That is what continuous improvement is about. Use accurate data to make decisions, collaboratively devise a plan, implement a plan, then study the effects. This seems to be a political pull instead of truly what's best for Iowa's districts, teachers and ultimately, students.
02-21-2024
Mary Mascher [Retired Teachers]
PRO
I am opposed to the AEA changes proposed by the governor and the House and Senate Republicans. The AEA's provide valuable services to our teachers and students in the public schools. The system has worked well for over 50 years. If changes need to be made, conduct a thorough and fair study that includes all of the stakeholders effected by any changes. Then make decisions based on fact and the recommendations proposed by the committee members.
02-21-2024
Anonymous []
CON
I have a grandson who gets a ton of help, from our local AEA. This help is a wonderful resource to our family.
02-21-2024
Todd House [Personal ]
CON
Stop this bill
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Educator]
CON
I have been an educator for 28 years, in two different districts and various positions. The AEA has been an enormous asset to me in situations of 1:1 coaching when I decided to enter the field of gifted education, and has positively impacted me (and my colleagues!) through systems change. The two AEAs that Ive worked with have provided top notch professional development, always going above and beyond in the amount of preparation and research that they do beforehand. Ive always thought that Iowa is so fortunate to have such talented leaders in the field of education that can help guide districts through the changing educational landscape. Since education is always evolving, it is reasonable to expect that AEAs may need some tweaks in their operations. However, making rash decisions without proper review of the needs and opportunities in our state is completely irresponsible!!! WE NEED OUR AEAs!!!!!
02-21-2024
Nicole Burks []
CON
Stop this bill. It will not help Iowas children.
02-21-2024
Sheila King []
CON
The bill is bad for Iowa. Slow down and please, please, please listen to the majority of Iowans who are reaching out to you about the value of Iowa's AEAs.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Mom/teacher]
CON
Please listen to the families and schools about the importance of keeping the AEAs intact. Rural schools will have difficulty replicating what the AEAs do for each district.
02-21-2024
Sara Mercer []
CON
Drawing from my experience, I want to highlight the significant issue of delayed services inherent in a feeforservice model, particularly in rural schools. It's imperative to recognize the serious impact this can have on timely access to essential support for our special education students.
02-21-2024
Anonymous [Retired Teacher]
CON
The responsibilities that our AEAs are way beyond special education services. Besides speech therapist, occupational therapists, counselors and much more, they provide technology support and many media services and materials. They provided numerable support in the way of counselors and administrators to Perry. The Department of Education is not capable of managing and providing the services AEAs do. How many of the current Department of Ed or the governor have ever been in a classroom? We keep taking money from our public schools, let's not take our AEAs. Let's take time to study our AEA services and not ramrod a bill our governor is pushing.
02-21-2024
Sarah Klemuk [Clinical Audiologist]
CON
Stop this bill. No more amendments. Simply stop the bill. If there are concerns about the AEA system in Iowa, then conduct a thorough study that is completely transparent. Then based on the results of the study, provide credible evidence of what the problems are and what needs fixing. Please stop this bill now.Thank you,Sarah Klemuk
02-21-2024
Deb Schroeder [grandmother]
CON
Why ruin a good thing that benefits so many young lives? In our, and the surrounding schools, this is a program that gives access to valuable programs and resources. It helps to ease the burden placed on our educators while giving the students an education they deserve. Revamping this program appears to be strictly designed for the bigger schools. The smaller schools are already struggling, and this will only enhance the burdens. Please do the right thing.
02-22-2024
Anonymous [Tax Payer]
CON
No fixs needed to current AEAs, except on improving the funding.
02-22-2024
Linda Schmit []
CON
I dont want any changes to the way AEAs are being run. Keep your hands off. Why do you have to change things that are working really well? Money isnt everything, vital services are.