Iowa’s AEAs work as partners to provide these services to every Iowa public school district and accredited, nonpublic school to improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth:

Special Education services comprise about 80 percent of the AEA budget and include:

• Academic Consultants

• Behavior Consultants

• Hearing

• Occupational Therapy

• Physical Therapy

• School Psychology

• School Social Work

• Speech

• Vision

Educational Services include:

• Literacy

• Math

• Professional Development

• Science

• Teacher Leadership & Compensation

• Instructional Technology

• Talented & Gifted

Media services include:

• AEA Digital Resources

• Lending Library

• Print & Production

• Technology

Early ACCESS is a partnership between families with young children (birth to age 3) and providers from Iowa’s AEAs, the Iowa Departments of Education, Public Health and Human Services, and Child Health Specialty Clinics. Families and Early ACCESS staff work together to identify, coordinate and provide needed services and resources that help families assist their infants and toddlers in their growth and development.

Early Childhood Special Education services are available to children ages 3-5 who may be identified as needing special education services. The AEA is the system within Iowa who has been given the responsibility for identifying children with special needs.

AEAs also provide special education instruction at correctional facilities, youth shelter care classrooms, juvenile homes, and other special schools.

Iowa’s AEAs are widely regarded as one of the foremost regional service systems in the country, offering programs that can be provided most equitably, efficiently, and economically on a regional or cooperative basis among school districts.