School Based Services
The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) issued a memo (April 2 2024) directing that districts must consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests for medically necessary ABA therapy in school settings under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
BIT currently works within Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester District 2 school districts.
An observation must be conducted prior to approving ABA services within the school system to determine medical necessity of need.
General Information about Medically Approved ABA
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a scientific, systematic, and evidence-based approach to understanding and changing behavior to improve individuals' lives. ABA is a medical service and is provided based on medical necessity. The proposed dosage (i.e., service hours) of ABA therapy is determined by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), using data from skill and behavioral assessments, direct observations, caregiver/teacher input, and analysis of learning and environmental barriers.
Because ABA is a medical service, it is separate from a student’s IEP and school-provided support. The number of ABA hours a student may receive in school depends on many factors. An observation will be conducted by the student’s BCBA/BCaBA to determine hours needed based on the level of behavior intervention support required to allow the student access to the curriculum without behaviors being the barrier to their education. The student’s history of behaviors in school will also be reviewed by their supervisor and will differ from services provided at home or in other environments. These factors will all be taken into consideration when requesting medically necessary hours for insurance authorization.
ABA services in the school setting are delivered by a team consisting of a supervising BCBA/BCaBA and one or more Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). RBTs provide the daily therapy sessions, while supervisors oversee assessment, treatment planning, teacher/staff collaboration, and ongoing monitoring of progress.
As the student’s teacher and school team, your partnership is essential to ensure ABA services integrate smoothly and support the student’s learning and behavioral success. Below are expectations and guidelines for incorporating ABA services within the school setting.
Assessment and Continuation of School Services
The BCBA/BCaBA will complete an initial assessment (including home and school observations) before recommending hours within the school setting.
The ABA services will only be scheduled during times medically recommended by the BCBA/BCaBA based on assessment and observation data.
ABA goals will address behavioral and functional needs that impact the student’s ability to access learning. Academic instruction remains the responsibility of the school, though collaboration with teachers and alignment with IEP goals will be considered.
The treatment plans and hours may change based on ongoing data collection, reassessment, or insurance/school approval.
