Guide - Area Education Associations (Iowa)

The Iowa Area Education Agencies (AEAs) are nine regional public service agencies that provide educational services to the schools and communities of Iowa. The AEAs were created in 1975 by the state legislature in response to a growing need for more efficient and effective delivery of educational services.

Each AEA by an elected board responsible for providing leadership and oversight on behalf of their local community. In Iowa, the Department of Education (DOE) works with all nine Area Education Agencies (AEAs) to provide high-quality services and programs across the state. These AEAs collaborate with DOE to ensure that students, educators, families, school districts, and other stakeholders can access efficient resources in all 99 counties.

The AEAs offer a range of services to schools and communities. These services include instructional support for educators, specialized instruction for students with disabilities or special needs, assessment and evaluation tools to measure progress, and professional development opportunities for teachers and school leaders. By providing these resources, the AEAs to helping schools improve their teaching techniques while ensuring that all students have access to quality education. In addition, the AEAs also provide administrative services like data management systems that help track student performance across multiple areas and budgeting assistance.