IEP Related Services in Michigan
What related services can be included in an IEP in Michigan?
In Michigan, related services are defined by 34 CFR 300.34 and incorporated into the IEP through MARSE R 340.1721e. Related services include any services required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education. Michigan's 56 Intermediate School Districts (ISDs), also called Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESAs), play a major role in related service delivery — many ISDs employ or contract with speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, school psychologists, social workers, and other specialists who serve students across multiple local districts. When an ISD provides a service, the ISD remains responsible for FAPE alongside the local district — the responsibility is shared but FAPE obligations cannot be contracted away. Common related services in Michigan IEPs include: speech-language pathology and audiology, psychological services, counseling services (including rehabilitation counseling), school social work services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, orientation and mobility services, medical services (diagnostic only), parent counseling and training, transportation, and assistive technology services. Transportation is a related service and must be specified in the IEP when the student's disability requires it. Community Mental Health (CMH) agencies in Michigan often partner with schools to provide mental health related services such as counseling and social work, but such services must still be written into the IEP to be an IDEA obligation.
What Michigan Requires
The IEP must specify each related service with its frequency, duration, location, and projected start date — vague service listings are insufficient (34 CFR 300.320(a)(7); R 340.1721e).
Michigan's 56 ISDs/RESAs often employ or contract specialists who deliver related services — when an ISD provides a service, both the ISD and local district share FAPE responsibility (R 340.1702; MCL 380.1751).
Transportation is a related service and must be included in the IEP when the student's disability requires specialized transportation (34 CFR 300.34(c)(16); R 340.1721e).
Related services must be based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable (34 CFR 300.320(a)(4)).
Community Mental Health (CMH) partnership services used by the student must be written into the IEP with frequency and duration to constitute IDEA-enforceable obligations.
The IEP team must determine related services based on the student's individual needs — the fact that a service is available or unavailable through the ISD does not limit what must be offered (R 340.1721e).
Key Timelines
Related services must begin on the projected start date documented in the IEP and be in effect at the start of each school year (34 CFR 300.323(a); R 340.1721e).
Any change to frequency, duration, or provider of a related service requires Prior Written Notice and, for placement changes, parental consent (34 CFR 300.503).
Annual IEP review must evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of each related service (34 CFR 300.324(b)).
If a related service provider is unavailable, the district must provide compensatory services — it cannot simply omit the service because a provider is hard to find (34 CFR 300.323; MDE guidance).