5 Things Parents Need to Know About Graduation and Special Education to Help Your Child
Are you the parent of a high school child receiving special education services? Are you concerned that your child with autism is not receiving the appropriate transition services to prepare for life after school? Would you like more information about graduation and special education? This article will give you 5 things you will need to know as a parent as your child heads toward graduation.
1. A child with a disability has the right to be educated from 3 years to 22 years. Check your child’s IEP if they are in high school and make sure the graduation date listed is up to, not before, your child’s 22nd birthday.
2. Special education staff cannot graduate your child just because they have enough credits. Special education staff are required by law to take other things into account when determining the graduation date. My son Shaun’s school tried this trick on me and I didn’t bite, but successfully advocated against graduation, because he still needed services.
3. The definition of special education is: individual-based education that prepares a student for post-school learning, employment, independent living, and financial self-sufficiency. If a child continues to need functional skills training, further academic learning, help in areas of skill deficits, transition services, job skills and training, and/or related services, she is not ready to graduate.
4. Many states have developed a certificate of completion instead of giving children a regular high school diploma. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) states that special education services end when a child receives a regular education diploma. Services do not end if the child receives a certificate of completion and still requires special education services to benefit from her education.
5. 26 states in the US have or plan to have high level exit exams. This may affect your child’s ability to attend post-school learning. Due to litigation, some states have offered exemptions to children with disabilities. Check with your state department of education to determine if they have high-stakes exit exams.
Many states do not have enough adult disability services for all the people who need them. This is why it is critical that your child stay in school as long as he can. Use this information to help your child receive the transition services she needs so that he is prepared for post-school learning and independent living.
