Mental Health Services in Tennessee IEPs
What mental health services are available through an IEP in Tennessee?
Tennessee does not have a standalone special education rule specifically dedicated to mental health services, but mental health supports are addressed through the IEP process as related services. Under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.02(12), the definition of related services explicitly includes psychological services, counseling services (including rehabilitation counseling), and social work services. These may be included in the IEP when required for the student to benefit from special education. Tennessee has developed school-based mental health supports through TN-MTSS. The Tennessee Department of Education coordinates with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) for students who may need community-based mental health services.
What Tennessee Requires
Psychological services, counseling services, and social work services may be provided as related services in the IEP if required for the student to benefit from special education (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.02(12); 34 CFR 300.34(c)(2),(8),(14)).
For students with Emotional Disturbance, the IEP team must consider whether psychological and counseling services are required as part of FAPE (34 CFR 300.34; 34 CFR 300.324(a)(2)).
The IEP team must consider positive behavioral interventions and supports for students whose behavior — including behavior arising from mental health conditions — impedes their learning or the learning of others (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.12; 34 CFR 300.324(a)(2)(i)).
Tennessee encourages coordination between school-based services and community mental health providers through TDMHSAS to provide wraparound supports for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities (34 CFR 300.154 (interagency coordination)).
School psychological services in the IEP must be provided by personnel meeting applicable Tennessee licensure requirements (34 CFR 300.156).
Key Timelines
Mental health-related services must be implemented as soon as possible after the IEP is developed (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.12(3)).
The need for mental health-related services must be reviewed at least annually as part of the IEP review (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.12).