Green Hills AEA
Green Hills AEA is a state-mandated Iowa Area Education Agency providing special education, mental health, media resources, professional learning, and operational services to 43 public school districts and 6 non-public schools serving approximately 39,331 students across 17 counties in Southwest and South Central Iowa.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersCouncil Bluffs, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Green Hills AEA does
Green Hills AEA (Green Hills Area Education Agency) is a public educational service agency created by the Iowa state legislature in 1974 as one of nine mandated Area Education Agencies under Iowa Code. The agency serves 43 public school districts and 6 non-public accredited schools across a 17-county region in Southwest and South Central Iowa, reaching approximately 39,331 students. Its service portfolio spans special education (13 sub-services including school psychology, speech-language, occupational/physical therapy, hearing/vision, and assistive technology), social-emotional and behavioral health (School Mental Health Practitioner Program, Rising Hope Academy therapeutic classrooms, School-Based Interventionist Program, crisis response), media resources (130,000+ physical and digital items with van delivery), professional learning (licensure renewal, graduate credit, paraeducator certification), curriculum and instruction support (literacy, computer science, ELL, Early ACCESS birth-to-three), and operational services including vCISO cybersecurity (22 districts enrolled), AEA Purchasing, and AEA Learning Online.
The underlying technology consists of standard educational infrastructure — Insignia media library management systems, learning management platforms, and digital resource repositories — rather than proprietary or AI-native systems. Services are delivered through six regional offices (Council Bluffs headquarters plus Avoca, Creston, Missouri Valley, Osceola, and Red Oak) and embedded staff including 10 school mental health practitioners, school-based interventionists across 19 schools, and 30 trained crisis response personnel. The agency holds FERPA and WCAG compliance certifications and is governed by a Board of Directors accountable to the Iowa Department of Education.
Green Hills AEA operates as a government state entity funded through Iowa state educational allocations and operational sharing agreements with member school districts; it has no parent company, no equity investors, and no commercial pricing structure. Services are provided at no direct cost to families or students. Notable outcome metrics include a 93% graduation rate across served districts, 68% of students enrolled in PSEO/IB/AP coursework, 85% district adoption of high-quality instructional materials, and 91% of students attending 8+ mental health sessions meeting at least one treatment objective. The agency has earned consecutive Iowa School Psychologist of the Year awards (Angie Williams 2022, Lynn Thompson 2023).
Green Hills AEA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Green Hills AEA
- Legal name
- Green Hills Area Education Agency
- Website
- https://ghaea.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Green Hills AEA is a state-mandated Iowa Area Education Agency providing special education, mental health, media resources, professional learning, and operational services to 43 public school districts and 6 non-public schools serving approximately 39,331 students across 17 counties in Southwest and South Central Iowa.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Green Hills AEA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Support Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Psychoeducational & Educational Assessments (IEE Support) (EDAKACAD), Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Child-to-Staff Ratio & Staffing Compliance Monitoring (EDACAKAG)
Keywords
Where Green Hills AEA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Council Bluffs
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Green Hills AEA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Funding: Green Hills AEA is a public educational agency funded by the state of Iowa through the AEA system. Services are provided to school districts at no direct cost to families. The agency operates through operational sharing agreements with participating districts.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Green Hills AEA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Green Hills AEA provides specialized educational services to 43 public school districts and 6 non-public accredited schools across 17 counties in Southwest and South Central Iowa. Its portfolio spans special education services (including hearing, vision, occupational/physical therapy, speech-language, and assistive technology), school mental health programs, media resource sharing (130,000+ items), professional development for educators, crisis response, and technology/cybersecurity support. The agency is funded by the state of Iowa and delivers services at no direct cost to families through operational sharing agreements with school districts.
Product overview
Green Hills AEA is a regional Area Education Agency providing comprehensive educational support services to 43 public school districts and 6 non-public schools across 17 counties in Southwest and South Central Iowa, serving over 39,000 students. The organization offers a multi-faceted portfolio of services including School Mental Health Practitioner Program (providing therapy sessions), Media Resources (130,000+ physical and digital items), Assistive Technology and AAC Services with lending library, and 13 distinct Special Education Services (including Rising Hope Academy therapeutic classrooms, Hearing Services, Vision Services, Occupational/Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Services). Additional core services encompass Crisis Prevention and Response, Child Find, Professional Learning, School-Based Interventionist Program, PBIS, Suicide Prevention Resources, DCAP Workshops, Credentials to Careers Grant Support, Future Ready Iowa initiatives, Literacy Services, Computer Science Education Support, vCISO cybersecurity services, AEA Learning Online, and AEA Purchasing. This is not a unified software product but rather a coordinated service delivery model connecting schools with specialized educational expertise.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- School Mental Health Practitioner Program: Program bringing licensed mental health professionals directly into schools to work with students who need help managing behaviors, emotions, or circumstances that may hinder their academic success.
- Rising Hope Academy
- School-Based Interventionist Program
- School Mental Health Practitioner (SMHP) Program
Products and services
- School Mental Health Practitioner Program Licensed mental health professionals embedded in schools providing individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, and behavior management strategies to students in participating districts. The program currently supports 23+ school districts with 10 practitioners.
- Media Resources Physical and digital resource library providing over 130,000 items including print, non-print materials, and digital content (eBooks, streaming video, reference materials). Available for checkout by teachers with van delivery service.
- Assistive Technology and AAC Services Lending library and consultation services for assistive technology devices including adapted books, communication tools, switches, mounts, and Chrome extensions for accessibility. For students with disabilities.
- Special Education Services Comprehensive suite of 13 specialized services covering Assistive Technology, Brain Injury Resources, Family and Educator Partnership, Hearing Services, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, School Psychology, School Social Work, Significant Disabilities, Speech-Language Services, Vision Services, and Special Education Transition.
- Rising Hope Academy Therapeutic classroom environment for students in grades 1-5 with significant social-emotional behavioral health needs, providing interventions and support for successful transition back to home districts. Operates at three locations (Harlan, Orient-Macksburg, SWITCH/East Mills).
- Crisis Prevention and Response Crisis Prevention and Response team providing crisis prevention, intervention, and response procedures and support for local school districts, with 30 trained staff available for crisis response teams.
- Child Find Process to identify, locate, evaluate, and provide services to children from birth to age 21 who may need special education services.
- Professional Learning Professional development opportunities including licensure renewal courses, graduate credit courses, paraeducator certification, and substitute authorization training delivered face-to-face, virtually, and in blended environments.
- School-Based Interventionist Program Partnership between GHAEA, local school districts, and Iowa's Fourth Judicial District providing support in academic accountability, attendance, dropout prevention, and social-emotional learning.
- Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) School-wide system of support emphasizing proactive strategies for creating positive, supportive school cultures.
- Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) Cybersecurity service providing district security program development, vulnerability identification, policy creation, and K-12 security alignment support. Currently enrolled by 22 districts in the region.
- AEA Learning Online Online learning platform offering professional development courses and graduate credit opportunities for educators.
- AEA Purchasing Group purchasing services for member districts providing access to educational resources and materials.
- Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing (TDHH) Specialized instructional services for students with hearing loss from birth through age 21, including Early ACCESS services, direct instruction, and family education.
- Literacy Services Professional development and coaching in science of reading, high-quality instructional materials implementation, dyslexia support, and Early Literacy Implementation.
- Future Ready Iowa College, career, and future readiness initiative supporting data analysis, curriculum support, and postsecondary readiness through the AEA PREP (Postsecondary Readiness and Equity Partnership) program.
- Computer Science Education Support Professional development, coaching, and resources to help districts meet Iowa's K-12 computer science requirements and state mandates.
- Suicide Prevention Resource Site Comprehensive resources for educators, families, and students including prevention programs, intervention tools, and postvention support.
Quantifiable outcome
- 93% graduation rate across served districts
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Green Hills AEA
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Green Hills AEA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Green Hills AEA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Iowa Department of EducationcoreState agency overseeing Iowa's educational system. Green Hills AEA operates as one of nine AEAs under the Iowa Department of Education, following state-required standards for service and submitting annual progress reports.
- Iowa's Area Education AgenciescoreStatewide network of nine AEAs working together to provide equitable education across Iowa. Green Hills AEA participates in collaborative initiatives including AEA PREP (Postsecondary Readiness and Equity Partnership) and shared professional development resources.
- Southwest Iowa Mental Health & Disabilities Service Region (SWIA MHDS)majorRegional mental health services provider serving Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby counties. Collaborates with GHAEA on School-Based Interventionist Program.
- CROSS Mental Health RegionmajorCounty Rural Offices of Social Services serving Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Marion, Monroe, Ringgold, and Wayne counties. Partners with GHAEA on mental health services.
- Southern Hills Regional Mental HealthmajorRegional mental health organization serving Adair, Adams, Taylor, and Union counties. Collaborates with GHAEA on mental health service delivery.
- Iowa's Fourth Judicial District (Juvenile Courts)majorJudicial district partnering with GHAEA on the School-Based Interventionist Program, which is a cooperative effort between local school districts, the Juvenile Courts, and Green Hills AEA.
- Rising Hope Academy Partner Districtsmajor30 school districts partner with Rising Hope Academy which provides therapeutic classroom environments for students with significant social-emotional behavioral health needs. Locations include Harlan, Orient-Macksburg, and SWITCH (East Mills).
- Iowa Association of School BoardsminorState organization supporting school boards. Listed as a community partner resource on the GHAEA website.
- School Administrators of IowaminorProfessional organization for school administrators in Iowa. Listed as a community partner resource.
- Iowa Western Community CollegeminorCommunity college serving the region. Listed as a community partner resource.
- Southwestern Community CollegeminorCommunity college serving the region. Listed as a community partner resource.
- VODECmajorPartner organization receiving mental health services through the School Mental Health Practitioner Program for the 2025-2026 school year.
- FireflymajorPartner organization receiving mental health services through the School Mental Health Practitioner Program for the 2025-2026 school year.
- Iowa Department of Education (Credentials to Careers Grant)majorGHAEA joined forces with districts as part of the Credentials to Careers grant awarded by the Iowa Department of Education to support industry-recognized credentials in area schools.
- All Three Rising Hope AcademiesmajorGHAEA provides mental health services to all three Rising Hope Academy locations as part of the School Mental Health Practitioner Program for 2025-2026.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Green Hills AEA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Northwest Regional Education Service District: Oregon Regional ESD providing back-office and specialized educational services to school districts — a structural analogue to Iowa AEAs operating under a different state framework.
- Education Service Center Region 11: Texas Education Service Center providing similar school district support services (special education, professional development, technology) under a different state legislative framework; comparable functional role in a different geography.
- Erie 1 BOCES: New York Boards of Cooperative Educational Services providing cooperative educational services including special education, professional development, and shared services to component school districts — functionally analogous to Iowa's AEA model.
- Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC): Kentucky cooperative providing shared educational services and supports to school districts — analogous cooperative model to Iowa AEAs serving similar customer base.
Broad incumbents
- NWEA: Large nonprofit assessment and research organization serving K-12 schools with measurement services that Green Hills AEA's districts also use; broader incumbent in the educational services space touching similar customer base.
Direct peers
- Northwest AEA: Iowa AEA serving the northwest corner of the state with the same legislatively-mandated services. Direct peer for service mix, regulatory structure, and regional service model.
- Grant Wood AEA: Largest Iowa AEA serving the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City corridor; same statutory mandate and service portfolio as Green Hills AEA. Comparable peer for scale benchmarking.
- Heartland AEA: One of the other eight Iowa Area Education Agencies providing the same legislatively-mandated suite of special education, media, and professional learning services to school districts in a different geographic region of Iowa. Closest direct comparable to Green Hills AEA.
- Mississippi Bend AEA: Iowa AEA serving the Quad Cities region with the same legislatively-defined portfolio of educational support services as Green Hills AEA; directly comparable structure, governance, and funding model.
- Prairie Lakes AEA: Another Iowa AEA serving school districts in north-central Iowa with an identical statutory mandate and service mix (special education, media, technology, professional learning). Comparable in scale and structure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Green Hills AEA social profiles
Digital presenceGreen Hills AEA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Green Hills AEA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Green Hills AEA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Green Hills AEA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Green Hills AEA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Green Hills AEA
What does Green Hills AEA do?
Green Hills AEA provides specialized educational services to 43 public school districts and 6 non-public accredited schools across 17 counties in Southwest and South Central Iowa. Its portfolio spans special education services (including hearing, vision, occupational/physical therapy, speech-language, and assistive technology), school mental health programs, media resource sharing (130,000+ items), professional development for educators, crisis response, and technology/cybersecurity support. The agency is funded by the state of Iowa and delivers services at no direct cost to families through operational sharing agreements with school districts.
Is Green Hills AEA a public or private company?
Green Hills AEA is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Green Hills AEA founded?
Green Hills AEA was founded in 1974. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Green Hills AEA based?
Green Hills AEA is headquartered in Council Bluffs, United States, in the North America region.
How does Green Hills AEA make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Funding.
Who are Green Hills AEA's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Northwest Regional Education Service District, Education Service Center Region 11, Erie 1 BOCES and Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC). NWEA is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Northwest AEA, Grant Wood AEA, Heartland AEA, Mississippi Bend AEA and Prairie Lakes AEA.
Does Green Hills AEA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Green Hills AEA.
What industry is Green Hills AEA in?
Green Hills AEA's product category is Educational Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADABAJ, District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health), with a secondary code of EDAKACAD, Psychoeducational & Educational Assessments (IEE Support). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.