(Radio Iowa) – Parents and teachers came out in force in North Liberty on Sunday to speak out against proposed changes to Area Education Agencies. When Britney McDonald was a kid, she had a special education plan to work on her speech. Now a parent of three, she says the local A-E-A is helping her 10-year-old daughter catch up on reading skills. McDonald says she’s concerned about the impact changes to the A-E-A could have on the support that has helped her children. “She works so hard on her sounds and practicing because the AEA was able to come into the school and have the evaluation for her and to get the resources she needs,” McDonald says. “It’s just amazing.”

There were a number of A-E-A employees at the hearing. Teran Buettell is a behavior and autism specialist for the Great Prairie A-E-A. Before that she was a parent of a non-verbal child. Buettel says the A-E-A got her son the services he needed. Buettel says, “Unlike decisions made for one child, this decision will have long lasting effects for tens of thousands of children.” A-E-As provide special education, professional development and curriculum assessment to families, teachers and school districts.

Since its release, Governor Kim Reynolds has walked back the scope of her original proposal to limit A-E-As to providing special education services. Now, she would allow A-E-As to continue providing general education services that request them, so long as the state approves.