IEP Related Services in Iowa
What related services can be included in an IEP in Iowa?
Iowa IEPs must specify all related services required to enable the student to benefit from special education, with frequency, location, duration, and projected start date (281 IAC 41.320(1); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(7)). Iowa's related services definition under 281 IAC 41.34 mirrors the federal definition in 34 CFR 300.34 and includes: speech-language pathology, audiology, psychological services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, school social work, counseling, recreation including therapeutic recreation, school health and nursing services, parent counseling and training, transportation, assistive technology services, orientation and mobility, interpreting services, and early identification and assessment. Iowa's Area Education Agency (AEA) system is the primary provider of most related services including speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, school psychology, and school social work (Iowa Code § 273.1; Iowa Code § 256B.4). When an AEA provides related services, the IEP must identify the AEA as the responsible entity. All services must be provided at no cost to the family as part of FAPE regardless of which entity provides them.
What Iowa Requires
The IEP must specify each related service with projected start date, frequency, location (setting), and duration (281 IAC 41.320(1); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(7)).
Iowa AEAs are the primary providers of speech-language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, school psychology, and school social work services; the IEP must identify AEA vs. LEA responsibility for each service (Iowa Code § 273.1; Iowa Code § 256B.4; 281 IAC 41.39).
Related services must be provided at no cost to the family regardless of which entity — LEA or AEA — provides them, as both share FAPE responsibility (Iowa Code § 256B.4; 34 CFR 300.17).
Assistive technology services are considered a related service and, when determined necessary by the IEP team, must be provided including for home use (281 IAC 41.5; 34 CFR 300.105).
Transportation to and from school is a related service that must be provided at no cost when it is required for the student to access FAPE (281 IAC 41.34; 34 CFR 300.34(c)(16)).
Parent counseling and training is a related service when it is required to assist a parent in understanding the needs of the child or enabling the child to receive FAPE (281 IAC 41.34; 34 CFR 300.34(c)(8)).
Under Iowa HF2612 (effective 2024), AEA special education directors became Iowa DOE employees, but AEA personnel continue to provide direct related services to students (Iowa HF2612 (2024)).
Key Timelines
Related services must begin on the projected start date in the IEP and be in effect at the beginning of each school year (281 IAC 41.320(1); 34 CFR 300.323(a)).
Related services must be reviewed at least annually as part of the IEP review (281 IAC 41.324).
Transfer students must receive comparable related services while a new IEP is being developed (34 CFR 300.323(e)-(f)).