• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Saturday, June 7, 2025
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home Education

Iowa House sends changed AEA reform bill back to Iowa Senate

The Iowa Senate must reconsider a bill that changes the state's Area Education Agencies after the Iowa House of Representatives approved extensive changes.

Kim JarrettbyKim Jarrett
March 25, 2024
in Education, State Government
Reading Time: 2 mins read

Looking up into the Iowa State Capitol Dome from the 2nd floor on February 2, 2021.
Photo Credit: Shane Vander Hart

(The Center Square) – The Iowa Senate must reconsider a bill that changes the state’s Area Education Agencies after the Iowa House of Representatives approved extensive changes.

RELATED POSTS

Reynolds signs bill enacting flat tax in 2025

Reynolds joins bipartisan opposition to Biden Administration’s Space Force proposal

Iowa lawmakers enact flat tax for 2025

House File 2612, as amended, requires school districts to use AEAs for special education. School districts can decide beginning on July 1, 2025 if they want to continue using AEAs for media services or go a different route.

Minimum teacher pay would increase to $50,000 over the next two years, making the starting salaries the fifth highest in the U.S., according to House Speaker Pat Grassley. The bill gradually bumps the pay for teachers with 12 years of experience to a minimum of $62,000 annually. The bill also sets aside $14 million that would give paraprofessionals a pay increase.

A task force to study special education is also part of the legislation.

Democrats accused Republicans of playing politics. State Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, said they received the bill two hours before the vote on Thursday evening.

“The one thing Iowans are asking us to do is protect AEAs,” she said at a news conference. “Iowans don’t want this.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The bill passed 51-43 and now goes back to the Senate.

State Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, who presented the bill and amendments in the Senate on Monday, said it is about giving children with disabilities the best service and education.

“Iowa is the only state that requires school to pay into an education support agency and then mandates that the schools use it,” Evans said. “The schools deserve to have more transparency and accountability for how their special education funding is spent. This bill provides them with more local control to base their spending on the unique needs of students in their districts.”

The Senate passed their version 28 to 22, with six Republicans voting against it.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds first proposed changes to AEAs in her Condition of the State address in January. She said the amended bill paves a path to strengthen Iowa’s education system.

“By reforming the AEA system, empowering school districts, and improving oversight and transparency, we are committing to better outcomes and brighter futures for Iowa’s students with disabilities,” Reynolds said. “They deserve nothing less. Equally important is ensuring our ability to attract and retain talented teachers for schools across our state. Raising minimum salaries for new and experienced teachers sends a strong message that Iowans value education and those who dedicate their careers to serving students.”

Tags: 2024 Iowa Legislative Session90th General AssemblyArea Education AgenciesIowa House of RepresentativesIowa SenateK-12 EducationK-12 Education FundingKim Reynoldsspecial education
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Ernst leads bipartisan push to end taxpayer dollar abuse at USAID

Next Post

Grassley calls on Pentagon to modernize its accounting system

Kim Jarrett

Kim Jarrett

Kim Jarrett is the associate editor of The Center Square. Jarrett's career spans over 30 years with stops in radio, print and television. She has won awards from both the Georgia Press Association and the Georgia Association of Broadcasters.

Related Posts

State Government

Reynolds signs bill enacting flat tax in 2025

May 2, 2024
Reynolds joins bipartisan opposition to Biden Administration’s Space Force proposal
State Government

Reynolds joins bipartisan opposition to Biden Administration’s Space Force proposal

May 1, 2024
State Government

Iowa lawmakers enact flat tax for 2025

April 25, 2024
Opinion

Hendrickson: Iowa taxpayers win big in 2024

April 25, 2024
Hinson: Use biofuels to bring down the cost of gas today
Federal Government

EPA issues emergency fuel waiver for E15 sales

April 19, 2024
State Government

Amendment would make changing Iowa income tax law difficult

April 16, 2024
Next Post
Grassley calls on Pentagon to modernize its accounting system

Grassley calls on Pentagon to modernize its accounting system

Hendrickson: The path remains clear for more tax reform

Recommended Articles

Unemployed, Injured Workers Will See Increase in State Benefits

Iowa rebounds from pandemic unemployment numbers

May 24, 2022
Ernst Expresses Concern About Trump’s Upcoming Senate Impeachment Trial

Ernst: Bidenflation is crushing Iowans

May 2, 2022

Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program Application Window Opens

July 1, 2021

Popular Stories

  • Three LGTBQ Books with Sexually Explicit Material Pulled from Waukee School

    Three LGTBQ Books with Sexually Explicit Material Pulled from Waukee School

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Republicans expand majorities in Iowa Legislature

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Editorial: Sand Used the State Auditor’s Office to Play Politics

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Grassley: Biden’s Bloated Budget

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Sand releases first ad of his re-election campaign

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Current Events
  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government

Newsletter

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.