George-Little Rock Community School District is among 10 Iowa districts awarded state funding to establish therapeutic classrooms for students whose emotional or behavioral needs can affect their success at school.
The Iowa Department of Education announced Wednesday that more than $2.35 million will be distributed through its Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant program for the 2026-27 school year.
George-Little Rock said the grant will help ensure learners with varying needs have the space and tools necessary to succeed in school. An individual award amount for the district was not included in the state’s announcement.
Supporting Students’ Individual Needs
Therapeutic classrooms are designed to provide safe and supportive learning environments for students who need additional emotional or behavioral assistance. Services can include skill building, help coping with stress and trauma, mental health treatment, crisis intervention and follow-up support.
“Therapeutic classrooms across Iowa provide vibrant, safe and healthy learning environments that best support students’ individual cognitive and behavioral needs,” Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow said.
Snow also commended the awarded districts and their community partners for supporting treatment, crisis prevention and intervention.
More than 200 Students to be Served
The 10 awarded districts plan to establish 19 new therapeutic classrooms serving more than 215 pre-K through 12th-grade students across 15 counties.
Spirit Lake and Storm Lake are also among the districts receiving funding. Other recipients include Cedar Falls, Lewis Central, Oskaloosa, South Tama County, United Community, Van Buren County and Winterset.
The program was established through legislation signed into law in 2020 as part of a statewide effort to address the mental health needs of children, young people and families. The upcoming school year will mark the sixth year grants have been awarded.
Applications were competitively scored, with priority given to returning applicants that had not previously received funding and first-time applicants. The selected districts represent all seven of Iowa’s Behavioral Health Districts and include small, medium, and large school systems.
Districts will begin implementing the grant-funded programs this fall.
