SECTION 346.1. Educational Settings

(a) In the educational setting, the physical therapist conducts appropriate screenings, evaluations, and assessments to determine needed services to fulfill educational goals. When a student is determined by the physical therapist to be eligible for physical therapy as a related service defined by Special Education Law, the physical therapist provides written recommendations to the Admissions Review and Dismissal Committee as to the amount of specific services needed by the student (i.e., consultation or direct services and the frequency and duration of services).

(b) The physical therapist implements physical therapy services in accordance with the recommendations accepted by the school committee members and as reflected in the student's Admission Review and Dismissal Committee reports.

(c) The physical therapist may provide general consultation or other physical therapy program services for school administrators, educators, assistants, parents and others to address district, campus, classroom or student-centered issues. For the student who is eligible to receive physical therapy as a related service in accordance with the student's Admission Review and Dismissal Committee reports, the physical therapist will also provide the consultation and direct types of specific services needed to implement specially designed goals and objectives included in the student's Individualized Education Program.

(d) The types of services which may require a physician's referral in the educational setting include the provision of individualized specially designed instructions and the direct physical modeling or hands-on demonstration of activities with a student who has been determined eligible to receive physical therapy as a related service. Additionally, they may include the direct provision of activities which are of such a nature that they are only conducted with the eligible student by a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. The physical therapist should refer to §322.1 of this title (relating to Provision of Services).

(e) Evaluation and reevaluation in the educational setting will be conducted in accordance with federal mandates under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 USC §1414, or when warranted by a change in the child's condition, and include onsite reexamination of the child. The Plan of Care (Individual Education Program) must be reviewed by the PT at least every 60 school days, or concurrent with every visit if the student is seen at intervals greater than 60 school days, to determine if revisions are necessary.

Source Note: The provisions of this §346.1 adopted to be effective November 11, 1993, 18 TexReg 7555; amended to be effective November 6, 1995, 20 TexReg 8794; amended to be effective April 28, 1997, 22 TexReg 3589; amended to be effective November 29, 2004, 29 TexReg 11032; amended to be effective March 5, 2007, 32 TexReg 1075; amended to be effective February 13, 2012, 37 TexReg 690; amended to be effective September 29, 2013, 38 TexReg 6203