Action Alert: Follow-Up to Last Week’s Proposed AEA Budget Reduction

As a follow-up to last Thursday's announcement of the proposed additional $5 million AEA funding reduction, we have been told that the AEAs are making some progress with our messages to legislators. They are listening!

Today and tomorrow there may still be a chance to make a difference before the final bills are voted on. Please continue reaching out to administrators, teachers and parents to contact legislators to let them know that a further reduction in AEA funding is a direct reduction to services for children with disabilities. Heartland AEA has prioritized service to children with disabilities by spending reserve funds and not providing other services that would otherwise be available to schools.

Please be respectful in your comments (we have not had the same courtesy from some legislators, but let’s take the high road) and thank them for their service and for considering your information.

Remember: If you send personal emails or make phone calls, do not use agency computers, email addresses or phones to do this and try to make contact during non-work hours.

Resources

• A letter that school administrators can send (email is preferable) to their legislators and committee members or use as talking points for phone or face-to-face conversations. See committee membership links below.
• A letter that parents can send (email is preferable) to legislators in their area and to the committee.
• A piece from IASB that outlines funding cuts to AEAs since 2002.
  

Use the Iowa Legislature website to look up the legislators who serve your area.

• House Appropriations Committee
• House Ways and Means Committee