IEP Related Services in Washington D.C.
What related services can be included in an IEP in Washington D.C.?
In Washington D.C., related services are defined by federal IDEA (20 U.S.C. § 1401(26); 34 CFR 300.34) and include transportation, speech-language pathology, audiology, interpreting services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, social work, counseling, rehabilitation counseling, orientation and mobility, school nurse services, and assistive technology services. DC's LEAs—including DCPS and all DC public charter schools—must provide all related services necessary for the child to benefit from special education. DC Official Code § 38-2561.02 establishes placement priorities (DCPS/charter, then DC nonpublic, then out-of-state) that affect how related services are delivered in different settings; for students placed in DC nonpublic schools at public expense, the LEA must participate in the initial IEP meeting (DC Official Code § 38-2561.06) and retains FAPE obligations even when absent from subsequent IEP meetings. The DC Department of Behavioral Health provides mental health services in many DC schools that may supplement IEP-mandated counseling services.
What Washington D.C. Requires
Related services in DC include all categories defined under IDEA 34 CFR 300.34: transportation, speech-language pathology, audiology, interpreting, psychological services, PT, OT, recreation, social work, counseling, rehabilitation counseling, orientation/mobility, school nurse services, and assistive technology.
All required related services must be documented in the IEP with specific frequency, duration, location, and provider information (34 CFR 300.320(a)(4)).
For students placed in DC-funded nonpublic special education schools, the LEA must participate in the initial IEP meeting; absence from subsequent meetings does not relieve the LEA of FAPE responsibility (DC Official Code § 38-2561.06).
Related services at DC nonpublic schools must not include aversive interventions as defined in DC Official Code § 38-2561.01; placements in programs using aversive interventions are prohibited (DC Official Code § 38-2561.03).
DC charter schools acting as LEAs have the same obligation to provide related services as DCPS; the charter school is the LEA for students enrolled there (DC Official Code § 38-2571.02).
Transportation as a related service must be provided when necessary for the child to access special education; it must be listed in the IEP (34 CFR 300.34(c)(16)).
Parents may challenge the adequacy of related services through DC's robust dispute resolution options including state complaint, mediation, due process, or Ombudsman (DC Official Code §§ 38-2571.03, 38-354, 38-356).
Key Timelines
Related services must be in place at the beginning of each school year for every eligible child (34 CFR 300.323(a)).
For new placements, related services must begin as specified in the IEP within a reasonable time after placement (34 CFR 300.323(c)).
For students placed in nonpublic schools by the LEA, services must begin consistent with the IEP; any delay is an IDEA violation (34 CFR 300.323).