2 northeast Iowa schools benefit from $2.3M Iowa Department of Education therapeutic classroom grants

(ABC 6 News) – The Iowa Department of Education on Tuesday awarded over $2.3 million in competitive grants to ten school districts to establish therapeutic classrooms for learners whose social-emotional or behavioral needs impact their ability to be successful in their current learning environment.

“We want our kids to be at their best when they’re in school and this grant supports school districts taking that next step to further support their students so they have every opportunity to be successful,” said Gov. Reynolds. “This work is critically important and we must continue to work collaboratively with schools, community mental health providers, and our Area Education Agencies to support students and their whole health.”

The ten districts awarded a Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant for the 2022-23 school year include:

• Charles City Community School District (northeast Iowa)
• Decorah Community School District (northeast Iowa)
• Ballard Community School District
• Bettendorf Community School District
• Coon Rapids-Bayard Community School District
• Council Bluffs Community School District
• Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District
• Monticello Community School District
• Williamsburg 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.

Therapeutic supports include such things as social-emotional skill building, skills to cope with stress and trauma, mental health treatment and crisis intervention and follow-up.

This is the second round of funds. Six school districts were awarded grants during the first round of funds for the 2021-22 school year.

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 equity across small, medium and large districts, collaborations with other agencies to provide the therapeutic classroom/s and Mental Health and Disability Service (MHDS) Region.

Proposals submitted by the ten awarded districts will serve nearly 200 pre-K-12 students and will expand mental health supports for youth across seven of the state’s MHDS regions and seven of the AEA regions.

Grants will be distributed this fall for district implementation during the 2022-2023 school year.

More information about Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grants is available on the Iowa Department of Education’s website.