What Is a Related Service?

Related services are the developmental, corrective, and supportive services a child with a disability needs to benefit from special education. The IEP Team decides for each student, at each IEP review, which related services are needed — and documents the decision with the same specificity required for special education services.

• IDEA, 20 U.S.C. §1401(26);  34 CFR §300.34, definition of related services https://sites.ed.gov/idea/regs/b/a/300.34 

• 34 CFR §300.320, IEP content including related services  https://sites.ed.gov/idea/regs/b/d/300.320 

• Alabama Administrative Code, Rule 290-8-9-.05  IEP, and Rule 290-8-9-.07(5)  related services

The benefit standard.  A service qualifies as a related service only when it is required to assist the child to benefit from special education. The IEP Team, not the service provider or the parent acting alone, makes the determination, and it is made individually for each student.

What qualifies.  Related services include, but are not limited to: audiology services; counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling; early identification and assessment of disabilities in children; interpreting services; medical services for diagnostic and evaluation purposes only; occupational therapy; parent counseling and training; physical therapy; psychological services; recreation, including therapeutic recreation; speech-language pathology; social work services in schools; school nurse services; school health services; orientation and mobility services; and transportation.

What is excluded.  Related services do not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, the optimization of that device's functioning (such as mapping), maintenance of the device, or the replacement of the device. This exclusion does not limit a child's right to receive any listed related service the IEP Team determines necessary, and it does not limit the LEA's responsibility to monitor and maintain medical devices needed to maintain the child's health and safety (breathing, nutrition, or operation of other bodily functions) while the child is transported to and from school or is at school.

Document with specificity. On the IEP's Special Education and Related Services page, each related service must be documented with the service type, the anticipated frequency, the amount of time, the beginning and ending duration dates, and the location of services. The location must be specific (for example, regular education classroom, resource room, school bus, lunchroom, gym) and supports the appropriate LRE code. Adapted physical education is a direct service, not a related service.

Deliver as written.  The first IEP must be completed before any special education or related services are provided, and services must be implemented as documented.

• Discuss each related service at every IEP meeting and record the Needed / Not Needed determination.

• Document frequency, amount of time, duration dates, and specific location for every related service.

• Confirm each service connects to the student's present levels and annual goals.

• Ensure the service begins only after the IEP and consent for services are in place.

• A related service listed without frequency, amount of time, or location

• Services begun before consent for the provision of services is obtained

• A service continued year to year without the IEP Team's annual review

• Adapted physical education documented as a related service

SES Policies and Procedures  https://www.alabamaachieves.org/special-education/policies-and-procedures/: Mastering the Maze, Special Education and Related Services page.