For students with IEPs, states have regulations with varying requirements of if a student graduates with typical peers the senior year. Many states reguations indicate that if all the class credit requirements have been met, then the student WILL graduate with typical peers.
However, many parents don’t realize a special ed student (with an IEP under IDEA) might be able to continue to get “schooling” from their school district past the senior year. Check the state law to see what the age ceiling is for you student to continue attending school.
In this instance, many school districts may not require continued participation in the traditional high school setting but may offer services in a specialized setting. This would need to be indicated in the IEP document through the IEP process. Parents can request this type of “schooling”.
One of the beauty’s of the IDEA (aka “Special ed law”) is that Congress intended to it to be individualized for the student; hence the “IEP”. Getting a student’s program from the school is sometimes easier said than done. Parents need an experienced advocate to go with them to participate in the IEP meeting. The presence of an advocate make a difference!
SEPAL advocates are available to assit parents with the IEP process. Contact specialeducationrights.com for information. SEPAL google voice # 816-865-6262
