HSB 542

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED!

On Tuesday, January 9th, a 124-page bill known as House Study Bill 542 was proposed by Governor Reynolds to dismantle our Iowa Area Education Agencies (AEAs).

To ISHA’s knowledge, they have not consulted teachers, administrators, support personnel, SLPs, Audiologists, parents, students, or community members about these drastic changes.

There is no study, let alone multiple sources of data, to support the need for such a change. As SLPs and Audiologists, we seek multiple sources of data to determine how to support a student. Our elected officials should be seeking multiple sources of information before dismantling a system that is not broken. Such sources should include input from the consumers of AEA services. Our elected officials have a duty to listen and represent the needs of the communities they serve. Every legislator in Iowa should know how the districts they represent utilize AEA services. If they do not, we have a duty to inform them.

This bill cannot pass without open debate and answers to simple questions.

Here is a brief list of what is at risk for all students in Iowa, including students with communication disabilities, and school-based SLPs and Audiologists if this bill is rammed through the legislative process.

1. Quality Mental Health Training for Public School Employees, SLPs and Audiologists Serving over 400,000 Iowa Children. The impact of mental health conditions on children with communication disabilities has been evident for years with multiple sources verifying these needs. We have seen over and over again the damage that can occur when the mental health of students and those who serve those students are ignored.
2. School Crisis Response Services and Support. Around 100 Heartland AEA staff have engaged in support services to Perry Schools and surrounding districts since the horrible events of January 4th. This includes crisis support over the weekend at the Perry Public Library. This response also included supporting the SLPs and Audiologists who know and work with students and staff in Perry. They are there not only to support their colleagues, but to prepare them to engage in their daily work with students with communication disabilities in this community so that we can continue to support the whole child.
3. On-Time Training on Issues of Critical Importance. AEAs provide support on critical matters such as artificial intelligence and speech-language services in the schools, the science of reading and the role of the SLP, social-emotional instruction and supports for all students, bullying and harassment, multi-tiered intervention system of supports (MTSS) so that all students have access to quality instruction. This includes Iowa Core standards such as Speaking/Listening skills in the least restrictive environment, evidenced based professional development specific to communication disorders, inclusion and much more. All free and easily accessible to school SLPs and Audiologists through he AEA.
4. Specialized Supports for Unique Student Needs. Governor Reynolds’ public messaging on this matter has been crafted to communicate that services to students won’t be disrupted and that local schools will now directly receive funds and decide how to spend them. To ISHA's knowledge, there is no evidence to support these claims. It is in fact likely that the ability of every district, despite their size, to acquire quality speech and language pathologist services or other specialized support services for children ages 0-21 years will be negatively impacted. In a future where every school district, regardless of size and budget is left on an island to figure it out locally, equitable quality service will be at risk.

ISHA is dedicated to quality public services for children with communication disabilities. We are calling on all ISHA members to contact those legislators who represent them within the next three days and share their concerns.