We are proud to share that Central Rivers AEA met all requirements for both IDEA Part B and IDEA Part C as part of the annual determination process required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Each year, the Office of Special Education Programs requires the Iowa Department of Education to review every Area Education Agency’s compliance with and implementation of IDEA, and CRAEA met requirements across the board.
This achievement reflects the daily work, shared responsibility, and collective commitment of staff across our agency. Through coordinated roles, services, and teams supported by the communication and collaboration that connect them, we build strong systems that consistently deliver for children, families, and districts.
Strong results across early ACCESS (IDEA Part C)
Our Part C indicators reflect exceptional performance across all required areas:
- Timely services: Achieved 100%, demonstrating that eligible infants and toddlers received services within required timelines.
- Timely transition planning: Reached 100%, ensuring early and coordinated planning for children approaching age three.
- Transition notification to education agencies: Achieved 100%, supporting seamless communication to prepare for transitions to Part B services.
- Timely evaluations & IFSPs: Reached 98.86%, reflecting timely completion of evaluations and development of Individualized Family Service Plans.
- Timely transition meetings: Achieved 98.84%, showing strong coordination to support smooth transitions from Part C to Part B.
In multiple areas, Central Rivers AEA met or exceeded state averages, demonstrating both consistency and growth over the past year.
Continued excellence in school-age services (IDEA Part B)
Our Part B indicators also reflect strong, sustained performance over time:
- Timely initial evaluations: Improved to 100%, reflecting that students were evaluated within required timelines after parent consent for an initial special education evaluation.
- Timely transition from Part C to Part B: Increased to 99.32%, demonstrating strong coordination to ensure eligible children transitioning from Early ACCESS have an IEP developed and implemented by their third birthday.
- Postsecondary goals in IEPs: Remained consistently high at 99.87%, showing that IEPs for students age 14 and older include appropriate, measurable postsecondary goals to support successful transitions beyond high school.
These determinations are more than percentages. They speak to the timely access to services our teams provide for children and families, the strong partnerships we maintain with districts, the trust placed in our systems and practices, and our collective commitment to continuous improvement.
Together, we are not only meeting requirements. We are building and sustaining practices that make a meaningful difference. Thank you for the work you do every day. This success belongs to all of us.
