One of eight schools receiving portion of $2M
Classrooms will support students with varying learning needs
Cherokee Community School District is among eight schools awarded over $2 million in grants by the Iowa Department of Education last week to create therapeutic classrooms.
The aim of the grant is to help schools create learning environments for students with emotional or behavioral needs that impact their ability to learn in a traditional classroom setting, according to a release issued by the department last week.
“Therapeutic classrooms across Iowa provide vibrant, safe and healthy learning environments that best support students’ individual cognitive and behavioral needs,” said McKenzie Snow, director of the Iowa Department of Education.
Spencer Community School District joined Cherokee as another Northwest Iowa grantee for the 2025-26 school year.
The Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant was established by state legislation and signed into law as a part of a larger statewide effort to increase support for mental health programs for children, adolescents and families, the release states.
Districts may use the money to establish new classrooms or enhance “critical components” in current classrooms or programs that are being used as therapeutic classrooms.
When determining recipients for the funding, priority was given to competitive district applicants that had applied in previous years and were not awarded along with new district applicants that scored competitively. Additional consideration was given to ensure representation across small, medium and large districts.
Applicants collaborating with other agencies to provide therapeutic classrooms in Iowa’s Behavioral Health Districts also received priority.
With the grant money, over 150 pre-K through 12th grade students will be served across the eight districts. A total of 17 new therapeutic classrooms will be created and student mental health support will be expanded across the eight counties located within five of the state’s Behavioral Health Districts.
Cherokee Community School District, Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant
