Agency Accountability

Heartland AEA is a public agency and takes that role seriously. Below you can find links to agency compliance and financial documents.

AEA Accreditation

In the accreditation process, each of Iowa’s nine AEAs undergoes an intensive review of services designed to ensure that the agencies are meeting all requirements. The process includes interviews with representative local school personnel as well as agency staff members.

2022 Accreditation Report


Annual Desk Audits

All AEAs, school districts, preschool programs and non-public schools submit desk audit information to the Iowa Department of Education for compliance with state and federal legal requirements. AEAs, working toward continuous improvement of instruction and student learning, assure ongoing alignment with state standards for AEA programs (found on the About Iowa’s AEAs page).

Heartland AEA participates in these annual reviews and meets all of the standards in place.


Annual Progress Report

In accordance with Iowa Code 281-72.10(2), the following annual written progress report has been collected to showcase data from Heartland AEA for the 2022-23 year. 

Annual Progress Report 2022-23 


Audited Financial Reports

Each year certified public accountants audit the Agency’s financial statements as required by Iowa Code section 11.6. In addition, the auditors meet with the Audit Committee of the Agency’s Board of Directors, and the auditors present the report to the full Board of Directors. The report is filed with the Auditor of State and the Iowa Department of Education.

Fiscal Year 2023

Fiscal Year 2022

Fiscal Year 2021


Budget Documents

The Agency’s budget document outlines the Agency’s budget for each fiscal year. The document is prepared by the Agency’s Business Office staff and is presented to the Board of Directors by the Chief Administrator. The document also identifies proposed sources and uses of funds along with selected historical information.

Fiscal Year 2025

Fiscal Year 2024

Fiscal Year 2023


Machine-Readable Files for Insurance Purposes

Heartland AEA’s health coverage is self-funded through Wellmark. Wellmark creates and publishes these Machine-Readable Files on behalf of Heartland AEA.

Machine-Readable Files

Important Contacts

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Susie Meade

Susie Meade

  • Chief Academic Officer

Education: Bachelor’s degree, secondary education; Master’s degree, special education; Doctorate degree, educational administration

Experience: Family & consumer science teacher; Special education teacher; School administration: assistant middle school principal, elementary principal, director of special education, assistant superintendent, superintendent; AEA administration: chief administrator, chief academic officer
Joined Heartland AEA in 2023

Expertise: Leadership of systems and system development, general education and special education

Professional affiliations: School Administrators of Iowa, American Association of School Administrators

How I’ve made an impact: As a school leader, I’ve led successful school improvement processes which resulted in buildings and districts identifying key needs/priorities, developing implementation plans and sustaining school improvement efforts so that all students were able to exhibit growth and improve academically initially and over time.

Brian Whalen

Brian Whalen

  • Director of Business Services