For over 50 years, our country has guaranteed students with disabilities the right to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). This promise, protected by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), ensures that each special education student receives a personalized education plan that helps them make progress toward important goals based on their unique needs.

In Iowa, students with disabilities receive support in both regular and special classrooms. This work is a team effort between local school staff and experts from the Area Education Agency (AEA). Staff at Central Rivers AEA regularly work alongside teachers in schools, providing services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. It also helps teachers improve their teaching methods, analyze student progress, and provide coaching as needed. While district teachers do most of the direct teaching, AEA staff play an important role in helping students reach their potential.

“Progress” can look very different for each student, especially those in special education. For some, progress might mean learning to open a carton of milk, take steps on their own, or use a communication device to say “hello.” For others, it might mean passing a challenging math course. Each student’s goals are unique, and the Individualized Education Program (IEP) sets specific targets for their success. Learning to read and do math is a goal for many, but these tasks can vary greatly in difficulty. Standardized tests often miss the other valuable skills these students are developing, so our teams work hard to create plans that focus on meaningful growth.

At Central Rivers AEA, we are committed to supporting schools in providing high quality instruction specifically designed for special education students. Together, we work to improve outcomes and experiences for every student. Learn more at www.centralriversaea.org.

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Annette Hyde is the Executive Director of Special Education with Central Rivers AEA, with offices in Cedar Falls,

Clear Lake and Marshalltown. She is also the administrator of special education services at Elkader-based Keystone AEA. She can be reached at [email protected]. Central Rivers AEA serves more than 5,000 K-12 educators in 18 north-central Iowa counties to improve outcomes

for over 60,000 students.