Green Hills AEA

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).

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

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

• Educational support services
• Special education services
• School mental health
• Professional development
• Assistive technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Council Bluffs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Iowa Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState 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 AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide 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)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional 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 RegionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty 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 HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional 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)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJudicial 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 DistrictsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner30 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 BoardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState organization supporting school boards. Listed as a community partner resource on the GHAEA website.
• School Administrators of IowaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional organization for school administrators in Iowa. Listed as a community partner resource.
• Iowa Western Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity college serving the region. Listed as a community partner resource.
• Southwestern Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity college serving the region. Listed as a community partner resource.
• VODECmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization receiving mental health services through the School Mental Health Practitioner Program for the 2025-2026 school year.
• FireflymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner 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)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGHAEA 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 AcademiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGHAEA 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

Regional 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/greenhillsaea
• Xx.com/greenhillsaea
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/green-hills-aea

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Green Hills AEA