IEP Assessments 
Information for School Districts

In the state of California music therapy is an IEP related service, meaning a child may qualify for services through the school district. This is not to say that any child with special needs or a love for music will qualify for IEP based music therapy services. In order to be approved for services, the student must undergo an assessment to determine if music therapy is educationally necessary for that student to make progress on their IEP goals. 
  • IsoRhythms Music Therapy utilizes the Music Therapy Special Education Assessment Scale or MT-SEAS to complete IEP based music therapy assessments. The MT-SEAS produces a numeric score for the SEMTAP (Special Education Music Therapy Assessment Process), which compares a student’s performance in the music therapy and non-music settings.
  • The SEMTAP/MT-SEAS are criterion-referenced assessments that are individualized based on the student’s IEP needs and goal areas. ​
  • Qualification for music therapy services is determined if the student receives a higher score within a music therapy setting in a specified domain area. If a student scores 25% higher in the music therapy setting compared with the non-music setting within a domain area, then the student qualifies for music therapy services.    
ASSESSMENT PROCESS:

1. Formal Request for Assessment is made
    by any member of the student's IEP team.

2. Music Therapist gathers information from
    parent(s), teacher(s), and other staff or
    professionals who work with the student.

3. Music therapist completes a review 
    student's records and determines potential 
    goals that may be addressed through music
    therapy to focus assessment on.

4. Music therapist conducts an observation of
    student working on goals in a non-music
    setting

5. Music therapist performs the music therapy
    assessment session, assessing the student's
    non-music related goals through music
    therapy interventions.

6. Music therapist submits completed
    assessment paperwork to the school
    district. 

7. Music therapists presents assessment results
    at IEP Meeting. 
​

​
IEP Based Music Therapy Assessments are preformed for a flat contract rate. 
Please contact darcy@isorhythmsmt.com for more information about scheduling an assessment. ​