Urbandale school district is looking for special education associates. It's not alone

Urbandale schools are looking for special education associates — and it's not alone.

The Urbandale Community School District is having a job fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 25 at Urbandale High School, 7111 Aurora Ave. — specifically to interview for special education associates. It's the second such event the district has held in July.

District spokesperson Dena Claire said in an email the district currently has about 30 special education associate openings, including substitute, part-time and full-time positions.

Claire explained that the associates support students who need additional assistance — monitoring for health conditions, supporting students in their learning, and assisting students at lunch, recess or as they move through the school building.

"A shortage of associates is an increasingly widespread challenge throughout the metro and across the state," Claire said. Urbandale has in recent years increased the hourly pay rate for the positions and this year will compensate for applicants' past years of experience as special education associates.

The Iowa Department of Education did not immediately provide data on shortages of paraeducators. But the department ranks special education teachers for grades 5 through 12 as highest among teacher shortages in the 2024-25 school year .

Melissa Peterson, the government and policy director of the Iowa State Education Association, told the Des Moines Register shortages in special education includes support staff as well as full-time teachers.

Peterson was not able to say whether the shortages have gotten worse over the past year but said, "We are going to continue to see shortages." She attributed the problem to underfunding of the state's education system and worried the state's recent overhaul of its Area Education Agencies — which provide special education and other services — would exacerbate the problem, especially in rural communities.

The changes have resulted in hundreds of AEA employees retiring, resigning or making plans to leave. Gov. Kim Reynolds has said changes to AEAs will result in a better, "right-sized" system to meet students' needs.

The state's budget includes $10 million for a new Division of Special Education within the Iowa Department of Education that will assume oversight duties over special education services.

Phillip Sitter covers the western suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com or on X at @pslifeisabeauty.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Urbandale school district is looking for special education associates. It's not alone