Charles City is one of only 10 Iowa school districts which will share in over $2.3 million in grants to establish “therapeutic classrooms.”
Interim Superintendent Dr. Anne Lundquist informed the Charles City School Board this week of the grant coming to the 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 support for children, youth, and families. Therapeutic supports include such things as social-emotional skill building; coping with stress and trauma; mental health treatment; and crisis intervention and follow-up.
School District Finance Director Evan Marten, who helped write Charles City’s grant application, noted that details on how the grant money will be implemented are still being worked out, but the initial plans call for the therapeutic classrooms to be for students at elementary school level.
Grants are scheduled to be distributed to Charles City and the other recipients, including Decorah, this fall for district implementation during the 2022-2023 school year.
