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, 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 0520-01-09-.02(12) includes transportation and developmental, corrective, and other supportive services including speech-language pathology, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, counseling, interpreting services, orientation and mobility services, and medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes; as well as school health services, social work services, and parent counseling and training. All related services must be provided at no cost to the family.
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; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(4)).
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 0520-01-09-.02(12) to include transportation, speech-language pathology, OT, PT, psychological services, counseling, interpreting, orientation and mobility, school health 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 state professional licensure requirements for their respective disciplines (34 CFR 300.156).
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).