Mental Health Services in Wisconsin IEPs
What mental health services are available through an IEP in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin provides for school-based mental health services as related services under the IEP. Under Wis. Stat. § 115.76(14) and 34 CFR 300.34, counseling services, psychological services, and school social work services are recognized related services includable in a student's IEP. Students with mental health conditions that adversely affect educational performance may qualify for special education under Wisconsin's Emotional Behavioral Disability (EBD) category — which uniquely requires behavioral evidence across three settings and, for sudden onset, a licensed mental health professional's diagnosis (Wis. Admin. Code PI 11.36(7)) — or under Other Health Impairment. Wisconsin has invested in school mental health infrastructure through DPI's Division for Learning Support, and a 2021 state budget initiative expanded school-based mental health services through the IDEA federal flow-through and state grant programs. Mental health related services specified in the IEP must include frequency, duration, and location. Wisconsin's CESAs (Cooperative Educational Service Agencies) also provide mental health consultation and support services to member districts, particularly rural districts.
What Wisconsin Requires
Counseling services, psychological services, and school social work services are recognized related services that may be included in an IEP (Wis. Stat. § 115.76(14); 34 CFR 300.34).
Students with mental health conditions adversely affecting educational performance may qualify under EBD (requiring multi-setting behavioral evidence and, for sudden onset, a licensed mental health professional's diagnosis) or Other Health Impairment (Wis. Admin. Code PI 11.36(7)).
When behavior impedes learning due to mental health concerns, the IEP team must consider positive behavioral interventions and supports (34 CFR 300.324(a)(2)(i)).
Mental health related services must be specified in the IEP with frequency, duration, and location (Wis. Stat. § 115.787(2)(f)).
Wisconsin's 12 CESAs provide mental health consultation, support, and contracted services to member districts, particularly serving rural and small districts without in-house capacity (Wis. Stat. § 116.01).
Key Timelines
Mental health related services must begin on the projected start date specified in the IEP (Wis. Stat. § 115.787(2)(f)).
Services must be reviewed at least annually at the IEP meeting (Wis. Stat. § 115.787(4)).
If a student's mental health needs change significantly, the IEP team should reconvene to revise services promptly (Wis. Stat. § 115.787(4)(b)).