STILL MISSING. BUT FIRST, WE WANT TO BRING YOU BREAKING NEWS HERE AT HOME. MAJOR CHANGES TO SCHOOLS STATEWIDE ARE ON THEIR WAY TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK TO BE SIGNED INTO LAW THIS AFTERNOON. STATE SENATORS APPROVE THE FINAL VERSION OF THE BILL TO CHANGE IOWA’S AREA EDUCATION AGENCIES. CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA ROOKER IS LIVE AT THE STATE HOUSE. AND, AMANDA, THIS COULD CHANGE HOW STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES RECEIVE SERVICES. IT COULD JODI LAURA. AND THIS STARTED BACK IN JANUARY WHEN GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS CALLED FOR SWEEPING CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM THAT LED TO MONTHS OF PROTEST TO HER PROPOSAL AND A LONG BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE UNTIL THEY FINALLY REACHED THIS COMPROMISE. THOSE VOTING I 30, THOSE VOTING NAY 18. THE WIDE RANGING EDUCATION BILL WILL SHIFT SOME FUNDING FROM AEAS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING 10% OF SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDS AND 100% OF GENERAL ED AND MEDIA SERVICE FUNDING. IT ALSO GIVES OVERSIGHT AND AUTHORITY TO THE DIRECTOR OF IOWA’S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. AS OPPONENTS SAY THE CHANGES WILL DISMANTLE THE EDUCATION SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT SERVED IOWA SCHOOLS FOR HALF A CENTURY. YOU’RE TAKING AWAY EXPERTISE FOR OUR CHILDREN CLOSE TO HOME. YOU’RE TAKING AWAY A SYSTEM THAT WORKS AND PUTTING IT IN PLACE OF IT, ONE THAT’S DESIGNED TO FAIL WITH LESS RESOURCES. THREE REPUBLICANS JOINED ALL DEMOCRATS IN OPPOSITION, INCLUDING STATE SENATOR CHARLIE MCCLINTOCK. THE PURPOSE OF THE DEBATE SHOULD ALWAYS BE TO ACHIEVE PROGRESS AND NEVER TO ACHIEVE VICTORY ON A VOTING BOARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO LIFE CHANGING LEGISLATION. BECAUSE WHEN THIS BILL PASSES AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNS IT, WHICH SHE WILL DO, OUR ONLY REWARD WILL BE THE DISAPPOINTMENT AND ANXIETY OF MANY EAA EMPLOYEES, TEACHERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS. BUT OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO’VE BEEN PUSHING FOR CHANGE FOR MONTHS SAY THEIR BILL BRINGS NEEDED REFORM TO AN AGING SYSTEM AND WILL IMPROVE EDUCATION ACROSS THE STATE. THIS BILL IS, IN ITS ENTIRETY, WILL NOT ONLY IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, IT WILL NOT ONLY HELP IMPROVE THE AA SYSTEM, WHICH IS A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR SPECIAL ED AND GENERAL EDUCATION, BUT IT’S GOING TO RAISE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY. THE GOVERNOR IS EXPECTED TO SIGN THE BILL, THOUGH IT LOOKS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN HER INITIAL PROPOSAL. REYNOLDS RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING, QUOTE, REFORMING THE SYSTEM CREATES ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, CONSISTENCY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, BETTER OUTCOMES FOR ALL IOWA STUDENTS AND THAT SHE LOOKS FORWARD TO THE WORK AHEAD TO IMPLEMENT THE BILL. IN JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, GOVERNOR REYNOLDS ANNOUNCED SHE WILL SIGN THIS BILL INTO LAW TOMORROW AT 1:30 P.M. THAT BILL DOES ALSO INCLUDE A FEW OTHER EDUCATION CHANGES. IT INCREASES PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING. NEXT YEAR BY 2.5%. IT ALSO INCLUDES PAY RAISES FOR TEACHERS AND EDUCATION SUPPORT STAFF. LIVE