Public school districts are, by definition, not mental health service providers. However, there are times when a student’s medical needs and educational needs are deemed by fact-finders to be so intertwined that students require residential placement to access their education. The decision to place a student in a residential educational program, like all other educational placement decisions, is required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to be made by an Individualized Education Program team (IEP team) comprising professionals from the student’s school district of residence and the parents.

That team must decide whether the student requires a residential educational placement in order to receive a free appropriate public education. If parents disagree with an IEP team placement decision, they can initiate a special education due process hearing against their school district of residence.