Compensatory services (often called "comp ed") are extra services a school district provides to make up for special education services a student was entitled to and didn't receive.
Why they exist
Under federal special education law (IDEA), a child with a disability is entitled to a free appropriate public education, set out in the child's IEP. If the school doesn't provide what the IEP promises, such as missed speech sessions, a SETSS teacher who never started, or tutoring that was never delivered, the child has lost instruction. Compensatory services make up that loss.
What they can cover
- One-to-one academic tutoring, often in reading, writing or math
- Special education teacher support (SETSS)
- Related services such as speech, occupational or physical therapy, and counseling
Who usually qualifies
Most often a student with an IEP whose school didn't deliver part of it. The usual reasons are a staffing shortage, a service that never started, or long gaps. Families with records of what was missed, such as emails, attendance logs and IEPs, are in a stronger position.
How many hours?
There's no fixed formula. Awards are decided case by case, often related to how much service was missed and what the child needs now to catch up. Awards often carry a deadline, so hours that sit unused can be lost.
