Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday afternoon signed House File 2612, a bill that reforms Iowa's local education agencies, increases teacher pay and increases school funding.
The bill would overhaul Iowa's AEA, a proposal Reynolds made a top priority for this Congress in his annual State of the Nation address in January. However, the bill ran into opposition from House Republicans and thousands of Iowans who were concerned that the sweeping reforms would disrupt the special education services provided by the AEA.
“I am proud to sign legislation that further strengthens Iowa’s commitment to our students, parents, teachers, and schools,” Reynolds said in a news release Wednesday. “Quality teachers and instruction unlock a student's potential for success, and this legislation delivers on both.”
The bill received final approval Tuesday in the Senate on a 30-18 vote, with three Republicans joining all Democrats in opposition.
The law determines where the majority of special education dollars go by allowing school districts to contract with third parties, continue to use AEA, or provide services independently. This would give school districts the authority to do so.
Under the bill, school districts would receive 90% of state and local special education funds allocated to their schools, with 10% still going to the AEA. AEA would also receive all federal special education funding. These changes will not occur until the 2025-26 school year.
AEA also provides media and general education services. Under the bill for the 2024-25 school year, school districts would receive 60% of media services funding and AEA would receive 40%.
Next school year, all funds for media services will go to the district.
The bill would also:
- Increase teacher salaries to $50,000 within two years and provide millions of dollars to increase salaries for teachers, paraprofessionals and other education support professionals.
- Increases state aid, or state aid, by 2.5 percent for Iowa's public schools. That's 0.5 percent lower than House Republicans' original proposal and in line with the governor's budget.
- Creates a special education division within the Iowa Department of Education and expands oversight of the AEA by the Iowa Department of Education.
The bill also includes the $15 per hour minimum wage for paraeducators and other educational support workers proposed in the original House bill (currently $7.25 or Iowa's standard minimum wage). do not have.
Democratic Party: AEA bill that “no one wanted”
Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum (D-Dubuque) said she is grateful to Iowans who advocated for the AEA. She expressed her disappointment with Republican lawmakers and the governor.
“Governor. Mr. Reynolds called for an attack on Iowa local education agencies that no one asked for and no one wanted,” Jochum said in a news release. “She bullied this bill through the Republican-led Congress and signed it into law today.”
Mr. Jochum expressed concern about how quickly the reforms would pass through parliament. The bill passed 11 weeks after it was introduced, but Jochum argued that Republicans should form a task force to study the AEA before making any major changes.
“Iowans told her every step of the way to stop, slow down, engage with stakeholders and work together to make real improvements to special education in Iowa,” Jochum said in a news release. said. “She never listened. Her parents and children will now face the consequences.”