IEP Related Services in Montana
What related services can be included in an IEP in Montana?
Montana defines related services as 'services in accordance with regulations of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act that are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education' (MCA § 20-7-401). The full federal definition at 34 CFR 300.34 applies, encompassing speech-language pathology, audiology, interpreting services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, early identification, counseling, orientation and mobility services, medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes, school health services, social work, parent counseling and training, and transportation. Montana's OPI publishes specific guidelines for occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology services in schools. Montana's special education funding structure through cooperatives (ARM 10.16.39) specifically supports delivery of related services to rural school districts—a cooperative hires therapists who travel between member districts, enabling small rural districts to access services that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive. Under ARM 10.16.3807, related services are separately identified as an allowable special education cost category. Medicaid-reimbursable school-based mental health and behavioral health services (ARM 37.86.2201–2221), when documented in the IEP, can be billed to Montana Healthcare Programs through qualified providers including licensed clinical professional counselors, licensed clinical social workers, and school psychologists. Transportation as a related service is specifically addressed in ARM 10.16.3820, which governs transportation for students with disabilities.
What Montana Requires
Related services are defined as services required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education, consistent with 34 CFR 300.34 (MCA § 20-7-401).
The IEP must specify all required related services with projected start dates, frequency, location, and duration (ARM 10.16.3340; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(4), (7)).
Montana school-based mental health services documented in the IEP are Medicaid-reimbursable when provided by eligible professionals (school psychologists, LCPCs, LCSWs) per ARM 37.86.2201–2221.
Transportation as a related service must be provided when necessary for the student to benefit from special education, governed by ARM 10.16.3820.
Montana cooperatives (ARM 10.16.39) may deliver related services such as speech, OT, and PT across rural member districts through shared staffing models.
OT and PT services must follow Montana OPI Guidelines for the Provision of Occupational and Physical Therapy in schools (OPI, 2018).
Key Timelines
Related services must be provided as specified in the IEP beginning on the projected start date and for the documented frequency and duration (34 CFR 300.323(a)).
The IEP team must review related service needs at the annual IEP review (ARM 10.16.3340; 34 CFR 300.324(b)).