IEP Related Services in New Jersey
What related services can be included in an IEP in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, related services are developmental, corrective, and other supportive services required to assist a student with a disability to benefit from special education. Under N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.3 and 34 CFR 300.34, related services include speech-language pathology, audiology, psychological services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, counseling services (including rehabilitation counseling), social work services, school health and nursing services, parent counseling and training, transportation, recreation, assistive technology services, orientation and mobility services, and interpreting services. The IEP must specify the type, frequency, duration, location, and projected start date of each service (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.7(e)(8)). A distinctively NJ feature is the mandate to consider integrated therapy services — delivering OT, PT, speech, and other related services within the student's natural educational setting rather than through a pull-out model — when the IEP team determines it is educationally appropriate (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.7(e)(5)). The Child Study Team (CST) — comprising a school psychologist, learning disabilities teacher-consultant (LDTC), and school social worker (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.3) — evaluates students and recommends related services. A speech-language specialist evaluation may serve as the complete multi-disciplinary evaluation when accompanied by a classroom teacher impact statement (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.4(g)(3)), streamlining referrals for communication impairment. Under N.J.S.A. 18A:46, all related services must be provided at no cost to parents as part of FAPE. Districts may contract with outside agencies, educational services commissions, or jointure commissions if they cannot provide services directly (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.1). Assistive technology devices and services must be provided if required by the IEP and may extend to home use when necessary for FAPE (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.7(c)(10); 34 CFR 300.105).
What New Jersey Requires
The IEP must specify each related service with its type, frequency, duration, location, and projected start date (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.7(e)(8); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(7)).
Integrated therapy — delivering OT, PT, speech, and related services within the student's educational setting — must be considered when appropriate; this is a distinctive NJ requirement (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.7(e)(5)).
The CST (school psychologist, LDTC, school social worker) evaluates and recommends services; a speech-language evaluation may serve as the full multi-disciplinary evaluation with a teacher impact statement (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.3; N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.4(g)(3)).
All related services are part of FAPE and must be provided at no cost; districts may contract with external agencies to fulfill this obligation (N.J.S.A. 18A:46; N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.1).
Assistive technology devices and services must be provided when required by the IEP and may be used at home when necessary for FAPE (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.7(c)(10); 34 CFR 300.105).
Related service progress must be monitored and reported to parents at least as frequently as report cards, consistent with the goals reporting requirement (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.7(e)(16)).
Key Timelines
Related services must begin on the projected start date documented in the IEP and be in effect at the beginning of each school year (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.7(e)(8); 34 CFR 300.323(a)).
Related services must be reviewed at least annually as part of the IEP review (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.7(i)).
For transfer students, the receiving district must provide comparable services immediately and develop a new IEP within 30 days (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-4.1(g)).