Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill Wednesday that changes the funding and operations of Iowa's nine local education agencies, establishes state funding for public schools and increases pay for public teachers. did. The bill signing ceremony was held in the Governor's Office at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. (Erin Murphy/The Gazette)
DES MOINES — State school funding and teacher pay increases were signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Kim Reynolds, along with major changes to the funding and operations of Iowa's nine local education agencies that provide support to schools.
The changes to the local education agency reflect goals set out by Reynolds in his State of the State address about three months ago. But what she signed into law is a pared down version of what she originally proposed after strong opposition from special education and AEA advocates.
At a bill signing ceremony in his official office at the Iowa State Capitol, the Republican governor said the new law would improve special education for students with disabilities, calling the changes “meaningful and necessary reforms.” He said there is. She said the AEA system works well for some students, but “not for all students.”
“Some schools are not taking advantage of some of the AEA services, even though they are forced to pay for them. Some feel they are not getting the quality they expected,” Reynolds said. Told. “And many schools, large and small, in both urban and rural areas, have expressed concerns about the lack of transparency around the cost of AEA services.”
Democrats fiercely opposed the changes to Iowa's local education agencies, arguing from the beginning that major changes were unnecessary.
House Minority Leader Jennifer Confirst, D-Windsor Heights, once again criticized Reynolds and Republicans for approving the bill.
“When you look at the celebration that (Reynolds) is having, I want you to think about the families who are now very worried about what will happen to (AEA) services in their communities and what will happen to their lives. . Children receiving AEA services. There are a lot of questions,” Confirst said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=/cjiXxsMNkAw
What does the new law do?
The new law will:
- The bill will increase state funding for Iowa's K-12 public schools by 2.5% next fiscal year, an increase of $119 million, for a total of $3.8 billion, according to the Iowa Bipartisan Legislative Office.
- Increased minimum salary for first-year public school teachers in Iowa from the current $33,500 to $47,500 in the 2024-2025 school year and $50,000 the following year, and increased the minimum salary for first-year public school teachers to $50,000 the following year. Set the minimum salary at $60,000. $62,000 for the next school year and $62,000 for the following year.
- It budgets $22 million for the next school year, $23 million next year to address salaries for other veteran teachers, and $14 million for salary increases for educational support staff such as paraeducators.
- A number of operational and funding changes will be made to local educational institutions. Maintaining a portion of funding for special education and other education and media services with school districts, rather than transferring funds directly to AEA. Transfers special education oversight from the AEA to the state education department. and establishes a task force to study and recommend future changes to the AEA.
AEA law reform
Regional education agencies oversee the education of Iowa students with disabilities and provide media and consulting services to schools and students within their boundaries.
Currently, federal and state special education funding is provided directly to nine agencies. AEA also receives property tax funding for media services and other educational services for schools within the region.
When the new law takes full effect in its second year, 10 percent of state funding for special education services will remain with school districts for their use, while 90 percent will continue to flow directly to AEA.
In the second year, all state funding for other educational and media services would go directly to schools. The school may use the funds for her AEA services or obtain them from another entity.
The legislation also creates a new division within the Iowa Department of Education to oversee special education services provided by AEA and creates up to 53 new full-time equivalent positions.
AEA discussion reaches conclusion
Reynolds' proposal to overhaul the institution, a system created by lawmakers 50 years ago, has raised concerns among educators and parents of students with disabilities that it would negatively impact special education in the state. This led to strong opposition from the Most superintendents also expressed opposition, but some said they supported greater control over special education spending.
The final proposal was the result of weeks of negotiations between Reynolds and the Republican majority in both chambers of Congress, as well as discussions with AEA officials and school superintendents.
“While this bill has been the focus of much discussion and debate, it also provides an opportunity for insightful dialogue and meaningful compromise,” Reynolds said. “I am grateful to know that there is a willingness to keep communication open and continue to work together to reach compromises on bills that have great potential for the future of our state. That has happened since the beginning of the session. And I think we ended up in a really good place.”
The compromise, House File 2612, was approved only by Republicans. All Democrats and some Republicans voted against the entire bill because they objected to the AEA provisions.
Democrats also said they opposed the 2.5% school funding measure as insufficient. They voiced support for teacher pay increases and criticized Republicans for combining these provisions into one bill.
House Democratic Leader Rep. Jennifer Confirst (D-Windsor Heights) on Wednesday at the Capitol announced changes to the funding and operations of Iowa's nine local education agencies and set state funding for public funds. Governor Kim Reynolds signed the bill. Increase salaries for schools and public teachers. (Erin Murphy/The Gazette)
“The reason teacher pay was included in the final package is to hold teacher pay hostage so they can do exactly what they're doing now, which is that some (Democrats) It means we didn’t vote on teacher pay,” Konfust told reporters. “There was more wrong with this bill than right.”
Sen. Ken Rosenboom, R-Pella, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, said the new law makes “modest and fair but necessary” changes to the AEA and does not threaten the viability of the system. He said no. He said this would also strengthen accountability and transparency, which is currently lacking.
“The AEA has made tremendous contributions to the state of Iowa over the years, and we are all grateful for that,” Rosenboom said at the bill signing ceremony. “As I have said many times, there are 1,000 bright stars in the AEA constellation. But since the AEA was created in 1974, the world has changed and reform is needed.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=/DgCHC-bFkcM
Skyler Wheeler, a Republican lawmaker from Hull who is in charge of the bill in the House and has a 5-year-old daughter with autism who receives special education services from the AEA, said she is a school superintendent, school board member, teacher and private school teacher. According to officials and parents, all students with disabilities participated in discussions with lawmakers during the legislative process.
“We are improving the system where we are seeing student growth and success,” Wheeler said.
Rep. Schuyler Wheeler (R-Hull) speaks at a bill signing ceremony Wednesday in the governor's office at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. Reynolds signed legislation that changes the funding and operations of Iowa's nine local education agencies, establishes state aid for public schools and increases public teacher pay. (Erin Murphy/The Gazette)
Sen. Pam Jochum of Dubuque, who leads the minority Senate Democratic Party, issued a statement thanking the thousands of Iowans who spoke out against the changes to the AEA.
“Parents, educators, students and community leaders changed the direction of this bill,” Jochum said. “They prevented Republican politicians from rushing this bill and exposed Governor Reynolds' misplaced priorities.”
The key changes in the new law will come into effect on July 1st.
Comments: (515) 355-1300, erin.murphy@thegazette.com
