Mental Health Services in South Dakota IEPs
What mental health services are available through an IEP in South Dakota?
Mental health services in South Dakota special education are delivered primarily through related services such as psychological services, counseling services, and social work services, as well as through the emotional behavioral disability (EBD) eligibility category defined under ARSD 24:05:24.01:16. Students identified with EBD or other disabilities who have mental health needs may receive counseling, psychological services, or social work services as related services documented in their IEPs under ARSD 24:05:27:01.03. The South Dakota Department of Education's mental health initiative (doe.sd.gov/mentalhealth) supports school-based mental health professionals including school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, and community-based clinical mental health counselors and social workers. South Dakota's school-based mental health framework complements PBIS and the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), with Tier 3 intensive supports available for students with significant behavioral and mental health needs. Medicaid billing for school-based mental health services is available under South Dakota's Medicaid billing policies (administered by South Dakota DSS) for eligible services provided to students with IEPs. The emotional behavioral disability category in South Dakota includes students with schizophrenia and excludes socially maladjusted students unless the IEP team determines the student also has an emotional behavioral disability (ARSD 24:05:24.01:16). Students with mental health needs who do not qualify for special education may receive services under Section 504 plans.
What South Dakota Requires
Psychological services, counseling services, and social work services are recognized related services that must be provided at no cost if required for the student to benefit from special education (ARSD 24:05:27:01.03; 34 CFR 300.34).
The emotional behavioral disability category (ARSD 24:05:24.01:16) covers students who exhibit one or more qualifying characteristics to a marked degree over a long period of time, including inability to learn, inability to maintain relationships, inappropriate behavior, pervasive unhappiness, or physical symptoms related to school problems.
Students with EBD or other disabilities who have mental health needs must have those needs addressed in their IEP, including through appropriate related services and behavioral supports (34 CFR 300.324(a)(2)(i)).
Social maladjustment alone does not qualify a student for the EBD category unless the IEP team also determines that the student has an emotional behavioral disability (ARSD 24:05:24.01:16).
South Dakota's MTSS/PBIS framework supports school-based mental health services at all tiers, with Tier 3 intensive services available for students with the most significant needs.
Key Timelines
Mental health related services must begin on the IEP-specified date and be provided at the frequency, duration, and location documented in the IEP (ARSD 24:05:27:01.03).
Annual IEP review must reconsider whether mental health-related services remain appropriate given the student's current needs (34 CFR 300.324).
Crisis intervention supports must be addressed in the IEP or BIP when a student's mental health needs create safety concerns (34 CFR 300.324(a)(2)(i)).