IEP Related Services in Tennessee
What related services can be included in an IEP in Tennessee?
Tennessee requires that IEPs include all related services the child needs in order to benefit from special education. Under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.12(1)(d) and Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-102(12), the IEP must specify related services to be provided, including the projected start date, frequency, location, and duration of each service. Tennessee's definition of related services in Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-102(12) and 0520-01-09-.02(12) includes transportation and developmental, corrective, and other supportive services including speech-language pathology, audiology services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, counseling services (including rehabilitation counseling), interpreting services, orientation and mobility services, and medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes; as well as school health services, school nurse services, social work services in schools, and parent counseling and training. All related services must be provided at no cost to the family as part of FAPE (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-102(6)). Service providers must meet applicable Tennessee professional licensure requirements. If the Commissioner of Education finds an LEA has failed to provide FAPE, the Commissioner may withhold all or any portion of state funding (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-109).
What Tennessee Requires
The IEP must specify all related services the child requires to benefit from special education, including the projected start date, frequency, location, and duration of each service (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.12(1)(d),(g); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(4),(7)).
Related services must be provided at no cost to the family as part of FAPE (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-102(6); 34 CFR 300.17).
Tennessee defines related services in Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-102(12) and 0520-01-09-.02(12) to include transportation, speech-language pathology, audiology, OT, PT, psychological services, counseling, interpreting, orientation and mobility, school health services, school nurse services, social work services, and parent counseling and training.
Transportation is a related service and must be provided at no cost if required for the child to benefit from special education (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.05(2)(e); 34 CFR 300.34(c)(16)).
Service providers must meet applicable Tennessee state professional licensure requirements for their respective disciplines (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-106; 34 CFR 300.156).
If an LEA fails to provide FAPE including required related services, the Commissioner of Education may withhold all or any portion of state funding (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-109).
Key Timelines
Related services must begin on the projected start date specified in the IEP, which must be implemented as soon as possible after the IEP is developed (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.12(3)).
Related services must be reviewed at least annually as part of the IEP review and revised based on the child's continuing needs (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.12; 34 CFR 300.324(b)).
Any IEP team member may request a meeting within 10 school days to address service-related concerns (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.12(4)).
Sources
Related IEP Guides
IEP Services Explained: What Your Child Should Be Getting
Understand IEP related services — speech, OT, PT, counseling, and more. Learn direct vs. consultative models and what to do if services aren't delivered.
The IEP Says 30 Minutes of Speech. My Child Gets 15.
What to do when your child's IEP services aren't delivered as written — how to discover the gap, document it, and hold the school accountable.
Compensatory Services: What Your Child Is Owed When the School Falls Short
What compensatory services are, when your child is entitled to them, how to request them, and what to do when IEP services are missed.