Oskaloosa Schools Receive $540,000 Grant to Help Students With Mental Health and Learning Needs

Steven Sattz with Oskaloosa Community School District stopped by to discuss a new program designed to help students.

OSKALOOSA, Iowa – The Oskaloosa Community School District has received a $540,000 state grant to offer more support for students with learning, behavioral, and mental health needs.

The funding is provided by the Iowa Department of Education through its Therapeutic Classroom Incentive Grant program. It will help the district improve services for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Steven Sattz, associate principal at Oskaloosa Elementary School, recently spoke with Oskaloosa News to explain how the grant will be used.

Giving Students the Help They Need

Sattz said the program is about more than just adding another classroom. The goal is to give students different levels of support based on what each student needs.

Some children might need help from a teacher or counselor from time to time. Others may need more support because of learning disabilities, behavioral challenges, or mental health concerns.

The district aims to provide this support while keeping students in their regular classrooms whenever possible.

Part of the grant is already being used to bring in specialists who work with teachers each week. These specialists help staff support students with intellectual disabilities and behavioral needs.

The district is also improving programs that help students manage their behavior and stay focused during the school day.

A New Learning Option

One of the district’s bigger plans is to create a special learning program outside the regular school buildings.

This program would serve students who need more intensive mental health and behavioral support than what their regular classroom can offer.

Right now, some Oskaloosa students travel to other communities for these services. A local option could reduce travel and keep students closer to their families and schools.

The goal is to offer a structured learning environment where students can get extra support before returning to their regular classrooms when they are ready.

District officials have said they plan to open the program in the second half of the 2026-2027 school year. Planning is still in progress.

Keeping Students Connected

Federal law requires schools to provide appropriate educational services to students with disabilities.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, schools must educate students with disabilities alongside their classmates whenever their needs can be met with the proper support.

Some students may need extra help in their regular classroom, while others might do better in a separate learning setting.

Parents are involved in decisions about special education services.

Iowa’s therapeutic classroom program can also help students who do not qualify for special education but still need extra support for behavioral or mental health needs.

Oskaloosa Among 10 Districts Selected

The Iowa Department of Education announced the grant awards on July 29th, 2026.

Oskaloosa was one of 10 districts chosen to receive a share of more than $2.35 million in funding.

Schools across Iowa requested more than $11 million. The approved funding is expected to help over 215 students through 19 new therapeutic classrooms across the state.

Planning Beyond the Grant

The grant will cover startup costs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Sattz said the district hopes these improvements will continue even after the grant money is used up.

A team of district staff meets each month to plan the new programs and figure out how to keep them running in the future.

Working with families will also be an important part of the process. School officials want parents and teachers to team up to understand each student’s needs and find the best way to help. district’s goal is to give more students the support they need to learn, grow, and succeed without having to leave their home community for specialized services.

Families who want to learn more can contact their child’s school or visit www.oskyschools.org.