Education Law

As with every other decision regarding a student with a disability, the decision about whether a student is ready to graduate rests, in part, with the student’s IEP Team.

If your child is a high school senior and has an IEP then you want to consider the following factors prior to the end of the school year:

1. Whether your child has met the graduation requirements, including the state graduation exam;
2. Whether your child has met the goals and objectives set forth in his or her current IEP; and
3. Whether your child has been provided with the required transition services in order to promote movement from school to post-high school activities.

Transition services are often where IEPs fall short.  Starting no later than age 16, the IEP Team should be adding transitional services to the IEP.  Transition services may include self advocacy skills, community service experiences, job experiences, job seeking help, basic living skills and more depending on the needs of the student.

If any one of the above requirements are not met, then you should speak first with your child’s IEP Team and then with the school principal about whether or not your child should graduate.  Under the IDEA, your child is eligible for services through the public school district until he or she is 21 years old or until he or she graduates. 

So, think carefully about the decision and if your child is not ready to graduate then work with the IEP Team to develop a good program for the next school year.  If, on the other hand, your child is ready to graduate then celebrate and enjoy this special milestone that your child worked so hard to achieve.

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