FAQs: Special Education & Related Services

Has the definition of “specially designed instruction” changed?

The IDEA regulations define special education as “specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.” [34 C.F.R. § 300.39(a)(1)] The regulation continues: “[s]pecially designed instruction means adapting, as appropriate to the needs of the eligible child … the content, methodology, or delivery of instruction.” [Id. at subsection (a)(3)] The United States Department of Education/Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) “recognizes that classrooms across the country are changing as the field of special education responds to innovative practices and increasingly flexible methods of teaching. [However], [w]hile the needs of many learners can be met using such methods [best teaching practices or services that are part of a school’s regular education program], they do not replace the need of a child with a disability for unique, individualized instruction that responds to his or her disability and enables the child to meet the educational standards within the jurisdiction of the public agency that apply to all children.” [Letter to Chambers, 59 IDELR 170 (OSEP 2012)] If a child with a disability can access the general education curriculum without specially designed instruction or related services, the child’s eligibility under the IDEA would be called into question.

If a special education teacher provides accommodations and helps a student with his/her assignments, is that specially designed instruction?

The regulations that implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) define special education as specially designed instruction, which “means adapting, as appropriate to the needs of an eligible child . . . the content, methodology, or delivery of instruction.” [34 C.F.R. § 300.39(b)(3)] While this means that special education is different from general education, it also means that special education is something more than providing accommodations and/or assisting a student with assignments. Although students eligible for special education may need some accommodations to access the general education environment, simply providing accommodations and/or academic support does not equate with specially designed instruction.

Can paraprofessionals provide specially designed instruction?

The federal IDEA regulations allow appropriately trained and supervised paraprofessionals to be used to “assist in the provision of special education and related services . . . to children with disabilities.” [34 C.F.R. § 300.156(b)(2)(iii)] However, the United States Department of Education/Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) explains that, “this provision should not be construed to permit or encourage the use of paraprofessionals as a replacement for teachers or related service providers who meet State qualification standards.” [Analysis of Comments and Changes, Subpart B – State Eligibility, Federal Register, Vol. 71, No. 156, p. 46612 (August 14, 2006)] Therefore, paraprofessionals can work with a student to reinforce instruction provided by a special education teacher and assist in the delivery of specially designed instruction, but they cannot be the sole provider of the specially designed instruction.

What exactly are related services, and is adapted/adaptive PE a related service?

“Related services” means transportation and such developmental, corrective, and other supportive services that are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education. [34 C.F.R. § 300.34(a)] Related services include: “speech-language pathology and audiology services, interpreting services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, including therapeutic recreation, early identification and assessment of disabilities in children, counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling, orientation and mobility services, and medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes. Related services also include school health services and school nurse services, social work services in schools, and parent counseling and training. . . . Related services do not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, the optimization of that device’s functioning (e.g. mapping), maintenance of that device, or the replacement of that device.” [Id. at subsections (a) and (b)(1)]

The regulations that implement the IDEA do not identify adapted PE as a related service; however, special education is defined to mean “specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, including – – (i) Instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings; and (ii) Instruction in physical education.” [34 C.F.R. § 300.39(a)(1)] (Emphasis added) If an eligible student needs adaptive PE in order to receive a free appropriate public education, as determined by the child’s IEP team, the school must make such service available.

Can an IEP team determine that training for a parent is an appropriate related service to be included on a student’s IEP?

One of the related services outlined in the regulations that implement the IDEA includes Parent Counseling and Training. The regulation states that this means assisting parents in understanding the special needs of their child, providing parents with information about child development, and helping parents acquire the necessary skills that will allow them to support the implementation of their child’s IEP. [34 C.F.R. § 300.34(c)(8)]

According to the regulations that implement the IDEA, who can provide counseling services?

“Counseling services means services provided by qualified social workers, psychologists, guidance counselors, or other qualified personnel.” [34 C.F.R. § 300.34(c)(2)]

Does a school need to conduct a formal evaluation to add a related service to a student’s IEP?

Schools must ensure that children are assessed in all areas related to the suspected disability. [34 C.F.R. § 300.304(c)(4)] Accordingly, if a secondary disability is suspected, then the school should proceed with an evaluation (in accordance with all procedural requirements). If the child’s IEP team determines that additional special education and/or related services are necessary in order for the child to receive a free appropriate public education, but no additional disability categories are suspected, the team can revise the IEP without further evaluation.

Does a school need to conduct a formal evaluation to remove a related service from a student’s IEP?

The regulations that implement the IDEA state that “a public agency must evaluate a child with a disability . . . before determining that the child is no longer a child with a disability.” [34 C.F.R. § 300.305(e)(1)] However, if the IEP team is merely making a determination that a related service is no longer needed, no evaluation would be required before removing that related service from a student’s IEP. Put another way, because the related service is part of the student’s FAPE, the student’s need for such a service is an IEP team decision. However, if a student, for example, qualifies for special education under the category of speech-language impairment (SLI) and receives speech services in that regard, and the IEP team believes that the child no longer requires speech services, then the school must begin the evaluation process to determine whether the student continues to be a child with a disability. (If the student’s MET determines that no additional assessments are needed and that the team has sufficient information and data to make a determination, then no additional assessments would be required, but the school would still need to complete the evaluation process.)

The IDEA lists medical services (for diagnostic or evaluation purposes) as a related service. What does medical services mean?

“Medical services means services provided by a licensed physical to determine a child’s medically related disability that results in the child’s need for special education and related services.” [34 C.F.R. § 300.34(c)(5)] Medical services are limited to services that are for diagnostic and evaluation purposes only.