IEP Related Services in Georgia
What related services can be included in an IEP in Georgia?
Related services in Georgia are transportation and such developmental, corrective, and other supportive services as are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education (34 CFR §300.34; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 160-4-7-.21). Georgia follows the federal definition and list of related services, which includes but is not limited to: speech-language pathology services, audiology services, interpreting services, psychological services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, recreation (including therapeutic recreation), early identification and assessment, counseling services (including rehabilitation counseling), orientation and mobility services, medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes, school health services and school nurse services, social work services in schools, and parent counseling and training. The IEP Team determines which related services are necessary based on the individual child's needs. Related services must be documented in the IEP with the projected start date, frequency, location, and duration (34 CFR §300.320(a)(7)). In Georgia, related services are provided by qualified personnel as defined in Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 160-4-7-.21, including certified speech-language pathologists, licensed occupational therapists, licensed physical therapists, school psychologists, school social workers, and other appropriately credentialed professionals. Related services may be provided in the general education classroom, a pull-out setting, or other locations as determined by the IEP Team. Georgia's GO-IEP system requires the IEP to specify whether each service is provided in the general education or special education setting. The IEP Team must also consider whether assistive technology services are needed as a related service (34 CFR §300.324(a)(2)(v)). Transportation as a related service must be provided when necessary for the child to benefit from special education, and may include specialized equipment such as adapted buses, lifts, or ramps (34 CFR §300.34(c)(16)).
What Georgia Requires
Related services include speech-language pathology, audiology, psychological services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, orientation and mobility, school health services, social work, parent counseling and training, and transportation (34 CFR §300.34; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 160-4-7-.21).
The IEP must document each related service with projected start date, frequency, location, and duration (34 CFR §300.320(a)(7)).
Related services must be provided by qualified personnel as defined in Georgia's certification and licensure requirements (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 160-4-7-.21).
The IEP Team must consider assistive technology devices and services as a potential related service for every student (34 CFR §300.324(a)(2)(v)).
Transportation as a related service must include specialized equipment when necessary for the child to access special education (34 CFR §300.34(c)(16)).
Related services are based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable and must be individually determined based on the child's needs (34 CFR §300.320(a)(4)).
Georgia's GO-IEP requires specification of whether each service is provided in the general education or special education setting.
Key Timelines
Related services must be made available as soon as possible following development of the IEP (34 CFR §300.323(c)(2)).
Related services are reviewed at least annually as part of the IEP annual review (34 CFR §300.324(b)(1)).
The need for related services is reassessed during reevaluations, which must occur at least every 3 years (34 CFR §300.303(b)).
Progress on related service goals must be reported to parents at least as often as report cards are issued (34 CFR §300.320(a)(3)).