The Iowa Department of Education has awarded more than $2.35 million in competitive grants to 10 school districts across the state to establish therapeutic classrooms for learners whose emotional or behavioral needs impact their ability to be successful in their learning environment — and two southeast Iowa school districts are among the recipients: the Van Buren County Community School District in Keosauqua and the Oskaloosa 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 support the mental health needs of children, youth, and families. The 2026-27 school year marks the sixth year of grant funding. Therapeutic supports include such things as skill building, support to cope with stress and trauma, mental health treatment, and crisis intervention and follow-up.
Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow praised this year’s awardees. “Therapeutic classrooms across Iowa provide vibrant, safe, and healthy learning environments that best support students’ individual cognitive and behavioral needs,” Snow said. “We commend this year’s awardees and their partners for their leadership and commitment to modeling best practices in skill building, coping, treatment, and crisis prevention and intervention in the communities they serve.”
In determining awards, applicants were funded in rank order based on competitive scoring, with priority given to returning applicants with no prior grants and first-time applicants. Awardees are located in all seven of the state’s Behavioral Health Districts and represent small, medium, and large districts. The 10 awarded districts will collectively serve more than 215 pre-K through 12th grade students, establish 19 new therapeutic classrooms, and expand youth mental and behavioral health supports across 15 Iowa counties. District implementation begins this fall for the 2026-27 school year.
In addition to Van Buren County and Oskaloosa, the other awarded districts are Cedar Falls Community School District, George-Little Rock Community School District, Lewis Central Community School District in Council Bluffs, South Tama County Community School District in Tama, Spirit Lake Community School District, Storm Lake Community School District, United Community School District in Boone, and Winterset Community School District.
More information about the Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant program is available on the Iowa Department of Education’s website at educate.iowa.gov.
