McKenzie Snow, Director of Iowa Department of Education | Iowa Department Of Education
The Iowa Department of Education has allocated over $2 million in grants to eight school districts. These funds aim to establish therapeutic classrooms for students whose emotional or behavioral challenges affect their learning.
"Therapeutic classrooms across Iowa provide vibrant, safe and healthy learning environments that best support students’ individual cognitive and behavioral needs," stated McKenzie Snow, Director of the Iowa Department of Education. She praised the awardees and their community partners for demonstrating leadership in skill building, stress management, mental health treatment, and crisis prevention.
The school districts receiving the Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant for the 2025-26 academic year include Bondurant-Farrar CSD, Cedar Rapids CSD, Cherokee CSD, Davenport CSD, Durant CSD, Keokuk CSD, Pella CSD, and Spencer CSD.
Initiated through state legislation in 2020, this grant program is part of a broader effort to enhance mental health resources for children and families statewide. Now in its fifth funding round, these grants can be used to create new therapeutic classrooms or improve existing ones with essential components like skill development and crisis intervention.
Priority was given to districts that had previously applied but not received an award and to new applicants with competitive scores. Additional consideration ensured representation from small to large districts. Districts collaborating with other agencies within Iowa's Behavioral Health Districts were also prioritized.
The proposals from these eight districts will benefit over 150 pre-K through grade 12 students by establishing 17 new therapeutic classrooms. This initiative will expand mental health services across eight counties within five Behavioral Health Districts in the state.
The grants are set for distribution this fall for implementation during the upcoming school year. Further details about the Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grants can be found on the Iowa Department of Education’s website.
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