The Iowa Area Education
Agency (AEA) is a statewide agency responsible for providing support
services to individuals under the age of 21 who require special education
and related services. It also provides media services to all children
through grade 12, and other educational services to students and staff.
The AEA is also responsible for identifying students with disabilities
for the local school districts.
Every school district in
the state of Iowa is mandated to be a member of an area education
agency. There are twelve AEAs in Iowa. The AEA provides an intermediate
level between the Department of Education and the local schools. It
was created in response to inequities in programs and services between
counties and merged areas.
