As state legislators sort out what, if any changes they’d like to make, leadership in Area Education Agencies are aiming to educate the public about what exactly they do. Heartland AEA Regional Director David Wood says Area Education Agencies were created statewide as a result of legislation passed in 1974.

“The best way to think about it is that the AEA is built on an economy of scale model-much like a co-op,” he says. “It created regional agencies that focused on providing educational services for all students. The main purpose of the AEAs is to ensure that no matter where you live in Iowa, in the biggest cities to the most rural small town in lowa- our children, schools and families can have access to the education and services they need.”

He says AEAs are representing public and nonpublic school districts statewide, working with both general education and special education teachers to help identify supports and instructional strategies for all learners and their families. The AEA services to schools and families reflect needs in literacy, math, behavior, and social emotional well-being, for children from birth into early adulthood.

Wood encourages anyone to reach out to their local school districts and ask them what services look like and the ways in which the AEA is working in their systems.

“Our work is best described by those students, families and teachers that are working with us,” he says. After 14 years serving these districts and 32 years as an employee of Heartland AEA, this is about relationships with where we work and live. Our services are tailored specifically to the needs of our families, students and schools. Our model is about building capacity in the districts centered around their needs and values. It is not a generic package.”

Learn more about the Heartland AEA here and listen to today’s In Touch with South Central Iowa for more.