IEP Related Services in Alabama
What related services can be included in an IEP in Alabama?
Alabama requires that IEPs include all related services needed for a child with a disability to benefit from special education, as specified in Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.05 and 34 CFR 300.34. Related services include transportation, speech-language pathology, audiology, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, counseling services, recreation, social work services, school health services, medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes, and parent counseling and training. Services must be based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable. There can be no delay in implementing related services while payment source is being determined. Alabama's School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) program, a joint initiative between ADMH and ALSDE involving 116 school systems and 18 community mental health centers, provides an additional pathway for mental health related services. The IEP must specify the frequency, location, duration, and projected start date of each related service.
What Alabama Requires
The IEP must specify all related services needed for the child to benefit from special education, including frequency, location, duration, and projected start date (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.05; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(4)).
Related services must be based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.05).
No delay in implementing related services is permitted while determining payment sources; Medicaid or insurance billing cannot delay service delivery (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.05).
A child needing only related services and not specially designed instruction is NOT considered a child with a disability under IDEA (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.04).
Alabama's School-Based Mental Health program connects community mental health providers with LEAs to provide supplemental mental health services to both general and special education students (ADMH SBMH Program).
Transportation is a related service that must be provided when required for a child to receive FAPE; IEP must specify if transportation is a required service (34 CFR 300.34(c)(16)).
Key Timelines
Related services must begin on the projected start date specified in the IEP; no delay for payment source determinations (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-8-9-.05).
Related services must be reviewed at each annual IEP meeting (34 CFR 300.324(b)).