IEP Related Services in Texas
What related services can be included in an IEP in Texas?
Related services in a Texas IEP are defined under 34 CFR §300.34(a) as transportation and such developmental, corrective, and other supportive services as are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education. The IEP must include a statement of the related services to be provided to the child, or on behalf of the child, based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable (34 CFR §300.320(a)(4)). The list of related services under IDEA includes, but is not limited to: speech-language pathology and audiology services, interpreting services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation (including therapeutic recreation), early identification and assessment of disabilities, counseling services (including rehabilitation counseling), orientation and mobility services, medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes, school health and school nurse services, social work services in schools, and parent counseling and training (34 CFR §300.34(a)). This list is not exhaustive; any developmental, corrective, or supportive service may qualify as a related service if required for the child to benefit from special education. In Texas, the ARD committee determines what related services are needed based on the student's evaluated needs and the IEP goals. Related service goals function as instructional services and are classified as either academic or functional goals depending on their purpose and content alignment. The IEP must document the projected date for the beginning of each related service, and the anticipated frequency (how often the service will be provided, e.g., number of times per day or week), location (where the service will be delivered), and duration (the length of each session and the period over which the service will be provided) (34 CFR §300.320(a)(7)). Texas districts must establish ARD committees that make decisions concerning related services in accordance with 34 CFR §§300.5, 300.6, 300.34, 300.41, 300.42, 300.105(a), and 34 CFR §§300.320-300.324 (19 TAC §89.1050(b)). For students with visual impairments, related services must include orientation and mobility services as part of the Expanded Core Curriculum (TEC §30.002(c)(4)(B)(ii); 34 CFR §300.34(c)(7)). For students who are deaf or hard of hearing, the ARD committee must consider the child's language and communication needs and ensure access to direct communication with peers and professionals in the child's language and communication mode (TEC §29.303; 34 CFR §300.324(a)(2)(iv)). Extended school year (ESY) services must be considered when the ARD committee determines the student requires services beyond the regular school year to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) (19 TAC §89.1065). Districts are also required to consider assistive technology devices and services as a related service for every student with a disability (34 CFR §300.324(a)(2)(v); 34 CFR §300.5; 34 CFR §300.6).
What Texas Requires
The IEP must include a statement of related services to be provided based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable (34 CFR §300.320(a)(4))
Related services include speech-language pathology, audiology, interpreting, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, counseling, orientation and mobility, school health services, social work, parent counseling and training, and transportation — the list is not exhaustive (34 CFR §300.34(a))
The IEP must document the projected start date, frequency, location, and duration of each related service (34 CFR §300.320(a)(7))
For students with visual impairments, orientation and mobility services are required as part of the Expanded Core Curriculum (TEC §30.002(c)(4)(B)(ii); 34 CFR §300.34(c)(7))
For students who are deaf or hard of hearing, the ARD committee must consider language and communication needs and ensure direct communication opportunities in the child's mode (TEC §29.303; 34 CFR §300.324(a)(2)(iv))
Assistive technology devices and services must be considered for every student with a disability (34 CFR §300.324(a)(2)(v); 34 CFR §300.5; 34 CFR §300.6)
Extended school year (ESY) services must be provided when the ARD committee determines the student requires services beyond the regular school year to receive FAPE (19 TAC §89.1065)
Key Timelines
Related services must be made available as soon as possible following development of the IEP (34 CFR §300.323(c)(2))
The frequency, location, and duration of each related service must be specified with projected start dates in the IEP (34 CFR §300.320(a)(7))
Related services are reviewed at least annually by the ARD committee as part of the annual IEP review (34 CFR §300.324(b)(1))
Extended school year services decisions must be made on an individual basis by the ARD committee, considering regression and recoupment data (19 TAC §89.1065)