Can my child still get special education services after they graduate high school?

Once a student graduates with a high school diploma, they are no longer eligible for special education and related services through the school district. Dr. Sarah Pelangka explains, “If a student has their certificate of completion, they can, by law, remain in the post-secondary program until their twenty-second birthday, give or take, depending on when their birthday falls within the year. If they graduate with a diploma, their special education services end.” But while the school district is no longer allowed to provide services after graduation, a student does have access to services through other agencies.

For more information on this topic, check out our article Building a Goal-Oriented Future: Earning a Diploma or a Certificate of Completion.