Iowa governor, Republican lawmakers respond to flood of feedback over AEA bill

One of Gov. Kim Reynolds' top priorities this year is to overhaul state agencies that provide special education services. But one week after introducing that plan, hundreds of Iowans voiced their concern. Now Reynolds and Republican lawmakers are reconstructing the bill.

YEARS IN PRISON. BEN. OKAY, BO. THANK YOU. REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ARE MAKING CHANGES TO GOVERNOR REYNOLDS PLAN TO OVERHAUL THE STATE AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES. THE CHANGES COME AFTER HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT THE BILL. CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA ROOKER SHOWS US THE NEW PLAN FOR RECONSTRUCTING IOWA’S SPECIAL EDUCATION SYSTEM. WELL, BEN LARA, STATE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SAY THIS BILL WILL PUT SCHOOLS IN CHARGE OF HOW TO HELP THEIR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. THEY CAN USE THEIR LOCAL AREA EDUCATION AGENCY, OR THEY OR THEY CAN CONTRACT WITH PRIVATE COMPANIES. AND THAT WAS ONE PIECE OF GOVERNOR REYNOLDS INITIAL PLAN. HOUSE SPEAKER PAT GRASSLEY SAYS THAT PART IS STAYING THE SAME. WE’RE TRYING TO FIND A A SOLUTION IN WHICH WE CAN STILL ACHIEVE BETTER RESULTS FOR OUR SPECIAL ED STUDENTS AND GIVE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHEN IT COMES TO THAT MONEY, EVERY SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT IN THEIR NEEDS. SO THIS GIVES THE SCHOOLS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT SAME LEVEL OF MONEY THAT EXISTED. THE STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY, AND DECIDE WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO DELIVER THOSE SERVICES FOR WHATEVER SCHOOL DISTRICT THEY ARE. HOWEVER, OTHER THINGS WILL CHANGE. AND GRASSLEY SAYS THE NEW BILL IS NOT FINISHED. THEY’RE STILL MAKING CHANGES BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM PARENTS, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, HE SAYS. THE NEW PLAN WILL NOT STOP AEAS FROM PROVIDING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES THEY’RE REQUIRED BY LAW TO PROVIDE, INCLUDING PROGRAMS FOR KIDS FROM BIRTH UP TO THREE YEARS OLD. THE NEW BILL WOULD ALSO ALLOW AAS TO CONTINUE PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IF THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT REQUESTS IT. THAT INCLUDES HELPING SCHOOLS START NEW CURRICULUM, WORK WITH DIFFERENT MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY, AND PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. BUT STATE DEMOCRATS SAY THEY’RE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL HARM TO ESE AND THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THEY SERVE. THEY SAY THEY WANT THEY WELCOME MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT THEY’RE FRUSTRATED THAT MORE IOWANS WEREN’T INVOLVED IN WRITING THIS BILL. I DON’T THINK ANY OF US HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH OVERSIGHT. BUT THAT HAS NEVER BEEN THE ISSUE. IT’S WHEN YOU COME IN AND REWRITE AN ENTIRE SYSTEM THAT AFFECTS THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN IN THIS STATE, THOUSANDS, AND USE AN OUTSIDE CONSULTING FIRM TO DESIGN THAT NEW SYSTEM THAT HAS NO IDEA HOW IT FUNCTIONS IN THIS STATE. AND AGAIN, THIS NEW VERSION OF THE BILL IS STILL BEING WRITTEN. ONCE IT’S DONE, THOUGH, IT STILL HAS A LONG ROAD AHEAD. IT HAS TO PASS THROUGH SEVERAL SMALLER STEPS IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE, AND THEN IT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY A FULL VOTE IN BOTH CHAMBERS. WE’LL KEEP

Iowa governor, Republican lawmakers respond to flood of feedback over AEA bill

One of Gov. Kim Reynolds' top priorities this year is to overhaul state agencies that provide special education services. But one week after introducing that plan, hundreds of Iowans voiced their concern. Now Reynolds and Republican lawmakers are reconstructing the bill.The new bill is not "set in stone," according to Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley, but the governor and Republican lawmakers said it would still give school districts full control over how to spend their special education funding.Right now, that money automatically goes to the district's local Area Education Agency, or AEA.Under the new plan, school districts could still use their AEA for all or some of the services their students with disabilities need. Or they could use a private company instead.Grassley said the bill will not stop AEAs from providing special education resources required by law, including services for kids from birth up to three years old.The new bill would also allow AEAs to continue helping schools start new curricula, use media and technology & provide mental health services if their local school district requests it."We're trying to find a solution in which we can still achieve better results for our special ed students and give more accountability for our school districts when it comes to that money," Grassley said. "Every school is going to be different in their needs. So this gives the schools to be able to take that same level of money that existed the state and federal money and decide what is the best way for us to deliver those services for whatever school district they are," he added.State Democrats said they're frustrated that they weren't consulted when the bill was written and have not been included as current changes are being made. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst said she'll remain concerned about potential harm to AEAs and the students and families they serve until she sees what's in the new bill."If there are concerns with the AEAs, a scalpel approach would have been nice and this is a sledgehammer," Konfrst said. "This completely dismantles the system. It takes a very broad swipe at the AEA is without a lot of consideration for the services that are provided."Republican lawmakers said they started making changes after they received numerous emails and calls from concerned parents, students and school staff over the weekend. "The goal of my bill is to ensure Iowa’s students with disabilities receive the world-class education they deserve," Reynolds said in a press release Thursday. "Since introducing it, I’ve been able to discuss the details with parents and education stakeholders and meet with legislators about what they’re hearing from schools and families in their districts. Schools and parents know their students best, and this bill ensures they are in the driver’s seat in deciding how best to support their students," Reynolds said.The governor's office confirmed that the bill is not complete and that they are continuing to draft changes based on the feedback they've received.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Now Reynolds and Republican lawmakers are reconstructing the bill.

The new bill is not "set in stone," according to Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley, but the governor and Republican lawmakers said it would still give school districts full control over how to spend their special education funding.

Right now, that money automatically goes to the district's local Area Education Agency, or AEA.

Under the new plan, school districts could still use their AEA for all or some of the services their students with disabilities need. Or they could use a private company instead.

Grassley said the bill will not stop AEAs from providing special education resources required by law, including services for kids from birth up to three years old.

The new bill would also allow AEAs to continue helping schools start new curricula, use media and technology & provide mental health services if their local school district requests it.

"We're trying to find a solution in which we can still achieve better results for our special ed students and give more accountability for our school districts when it comes to that money," Grassley said.

"Every school is going to be different in their needs. So this gives the schools to be able to take that same level of money that existed the state and federal money and decide what is the best way for us to deliver those services for whatever school district they are," he added.

State Democrats said they're frustrated that they weren't consulted when the bill was written and have not been included as current changes are being made.

House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst said she'll remain concerned about potential harm to AEAs and the students and families they serve until she sees what's in the new bill.

"If there are concerns with the AEAs, a scalpel approach would have been nice and this is a sledgehammer," Konfrst said. "This completely dismantles the system. It takes a very broad swipe at the AEA is without a lot of consideration for the services that are provided."

Republican lawmakers said they started making changes after they received numerous emails and calls from concerned parents, students and school staff over the weekend.

"The goal of my bill is to ensure Iowa’s students with disabilities receive the world-class education they deserve," Reynolds said in a press release Thursday.

"Since introducing it, I’ve been able to discuss the details with parents and education stakeholders and meet with legislators about what they’re hearing from schools and families in their districts. Schools and parents know their students best, and this bill ensures they are in the driver’s seat in deciding how best to support their students," Reynolds said.

The governor's office confirmed that the bill is not complete and that they are continuing to draft changes based on the feedback they've received.

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