Hundreds of AEA workers leaving their jobs

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Hundreds of education workers across the state are leaving their jobs after Governor Reynolds signed a law reforming area education agencies.

With the new law, Iowa school districts will control how they want to use funding that’s currently reserved for AEA’s.

For special education, there is no change from the current model for the upcoming school year. School districts would be required to use AEAs for all special ed funds. Next year, special ed funds would be sent to districts, who must send 90% of that funding to AEAs. The remaining 10% can be kept within the district if they choose to do so.

For media and education services funds, districts would get more flexibility immediately. AEAs would get 40% of these funds while the district can use the remaining 60% at their discretion. For the 2025-2026 school year, districts get 100% control of the funds.

That change is forcing many of the organizations to reevaluate their budgets.

At least 70 Heartland workers have decided to leave once their contracts expire this summer.

Central Rivers AEA says so far 69 of their staff members have said they’re leaving.

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