This document provides a selected summary of school laws relating to area schools and standards for area community colleges and vocational schools in Iowa. Area schools are authorized to offer the first two years of college work, pre-professional education, vocational and technical training, inservice training and retraining of workers, programs for high school completion, concurrent enrollment programs for high school students, and vocational rehabilitation education. Part I of the document reprints Chapters 280A and 286A of the Code of Iowa. Chapter 280A contains enabling policy concerning establishment of area schools, the definition of area schools, elections to incur indebtedness, acquisition of real property, faculty development, and merger of multiple areas. Chapter 286A contains area school funding formulas, rules governing disbursement of funds to area schools, and prescription of a uniform accounting system. Part II contains departmental rules and clarifying guidelines promulgated jointly by the State Board of Public Instruction and the State Board of Regents, which provide standards for area vocational schools and community colleges in the areas of administration, faculty, curriculum and evaluation, student services, physical plant, and accreditation. (JDS)