At an ARD committee meeting about graduation for a student with a specific learning disability in mathematics, what should the committee communicate regarding special education services?

• A. Special education services end at graduation.
• B. Special education services continue indefinitely after graduation.
• C. Services are automatically transferred to the neighborhood school.
• D. Services are permanently terminated for all students after graduation.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that special education services are provided through a student’s IEP while they are enrolled in school, but those services end when the student graduates with a high school diploma (or ages out). At the ARD meeting for graduation, the committee should tell the student and family that, once graduation occurs, the district’s obligation to provide special education services under IDEA ends. The student will receive a diploma and a Summary of Performance documenting what they’ve achieved. If there’s a plan to pursue postsecondary paths, supports outside of the IEP—such as Vocational Rehabilitation or a district transition program up to age 21, if available—may apply, but they are not automatic or part of continued IEP services. This is why the message that aligns with how special education services are structured is that they end at graduation.