DES MOINES (Department of Education) — The Iowa Department of Education awarded over $2.85 million in competitive grants to 10 school districts to establish therapeutic classrooms for learners whose social-emotional or behavioral needs impact their ability to be successful in their learning environment.
“Therapeutic classrooms across Iowa provide vibrant, safe, and healthy learning environments to best support students’ cognitive and behavioral development,” said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “We commend this year’s awardees and their community partners for their leadership and commitment to implement best practices in skill building, stress and trauma coping, mental health treatment, and crisis prevention and intervention.”
The districts awarded a Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant for the 2024-25 school year are:
- Clinton Community School District
- College Community School District
- Fort Madison Community School District
- Fremont Mills Community School District
- Glenwood Community School District
- Ottumwa Community School District
- North Scott Community School District
- Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community School District
- Washington Community School District
- Woodbine Community School District
The Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant was established through state legislation signed into law in 2020 and is part of a statewide effort to increase mental health supports for children, youth and families. This is the fourth round of funds. Twenty-two school districts were awarded grants during the first three rounds of funds in the 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years.
In determining awards, priority was given to competitive district applicants who had applied during the last year and had not received an award. Additional consideration was given to representation across small, medium and large districts; collaboration with other agencies to provide the therapeutic classrooms; and partnership across Mental Health and Disability Service (MHDS) regions.
Proposals submitted by the 10 awarded districts will serve over 300 pre-K through grade 12 students, establish 27 new therapeutic classrooms and will expand mental health supports for youth across five of the state’s MHDS and Area Education Agency regions.
Grants will be distributed this fall for district implementation during the 2024-25 school year.
More information about Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grants is available on the Iowa Department of Education’s website.