EXITING SPECIAL EDUCATION

When a learner has reached the maximum age for eligibility (21 years old), the learner must be exited from special education services. In Iowa, a learner who reaches 21 years of age during the school year will be eligible to finish the school year.  Learners with summer birthdays who turn 21 before the first day of school will not be eligible to enroll for an additional year, except in the case of a formal exception.

Exceptions with Special Approval: In rare circumstances, an LEA and/or AEA may continue special education and related services to an eligible individual beyond the school year in which the learner turns 21 if the person had an accident or prolonged illness that resulted in delays in the initiation or interruption in that individual’s education program. The AEA Director of Special Education must request approval from the Iowa Department of Education, which may be granted for up to the learner's 24 birthday.

Is a meeting required? No.

• Although a meeting is not required, the LEA may want to consider offering the learner/parents the opportunity to have a meeting.

Is a reevaluation required? No.

Steps to exit a learner per Reaching Maximum Age:

1. Confirm the learner is years old and/or completed the school year in which the learner reaches 21 years old.
2. Update progress monitoring information for each IEP goal.
3. Summarize the learner’s academic achievement and functional performance, including recommendations on how to assist the student in meeting his/her postsecondary goals, by completing a Postsecondary Summary.
4. Provide prior written notice to the learner/family stating the student will be exited from special education services per reaching the maximum age of 21 years old.
5. Inform the learner/family of their procedural safeguards regarding accessing student records and the destruction of records.
6. Provide the learner/family a copy of the final IEP exit documentation.
7. Complete the final exit process in the state IEP system.

Upon exit per reaching the maximum age, the learner is no longer considered eligible for special education services.

When a learner is unable to meet the academic requirements for a diploma, the district may issue a Certificate of Achievement or Completion of Attendance. The IEP team should inform the learner/family such an award does not end the student’s right to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Therefore, the student could continue to receive special education services rather than be exited.

Is a meeting required? No.
Is a reevaluation required? No.

Steps to exit when a learner is graduating by certificate:

1. Confirm the learner will be receiving a Certificate of Achievement (or Completion of Attendance) and no longer plans to access FAPE.
2. Update progress monitoring information for each IEP goal.
3. Consider summarizing the learner’s academic achievement and functional performance, including recommendations on how to assist the learner in meeting his/her postsecondary goals, by completing a Postsecondary Summary.
4. Provide prior written notice to the learner/family stating the learner will be exited from special education services and is still eligible to receive FAPE until graduation with a regular diploma or age 21.
5. Inform the learner/family of their procedural safeguards regarding accessing student records and the destruction of records.
6. Provide the learner/family a copy of the final IEP exit.
7. Complete the final exit process in the state IEP system.

When an IEP team has determined the learner no longer requires specially designed instruction in order to access and make progress in the general education curriculum, the learner must be exited from special education services.

Is a meeting required? Yes.
Is a reevaluation required? Yes.

Steps to exit a learner who is no longer eligible:

1. Complete the reevaluation process, document, and review the results with the IEP team.
2. Update progress monitoring information for each IEP goal.
3. Provide prior written notice to the learner/family stating the learner will be exited from special education services as the learner is no longer eligible per the Iowa Eligibility Standards.
4. Inform the learner/family of their procedural safeguards regarding accessing student records and the destruction of records.
5. Provide the learner/family a copy of the final IEP exit documentation.
6. Complete the final exit process in the state IEP system.

Parents and age of majority learners can unilaterally withdraw their consent to special education and related services at any time. The parent’s/age of majority learner’s revocation of consent must be in writing.

As long as a parent, or age of majority learner, has the legal authority to make educational decisions, the public agency must accept either parent’s, or age of majority learner’s, revocation of consent.

Upon revocation of consent, the public agency should inform learner/parent:

• The learner will no longer have IDEA discipline protections.
• The learner will no longer be considered an eligible individual and the district is not deemed to have knowledge the learner is an individual with a disability.
• The learner will no longer be provided with the general education accommodations specified in the IEP.
• The learner/parent may not demand a Section 504 Plan, but the learner/parents could work with the district to request.
• The learner’s participation in non-school programs (e.g. SSI, ACT/SAT testing accommodations, etc.) may be impacted.

NOTE: When a parent chooses to enroll their child in Competent Private Instruction (homeschooling) without dual enrollment or Independent Private Instruction, the student is treated as if the parent has revoked consent for special education in writing. For additional information on Competent Private Instruction, click here.

Is a meeting required? No.

Is a reevaluation required? No.

Steps to exit a learner per parent revocation of consent:

1. Update progress monitoring information for each IEP goal.
2. Provide prior written notice to the learner/parent stating the learner will be exited from special education services per parent revocation of consent.
3. Inform the learner/parents of their procedural safeguards regarding accessing student records and the destruction of records.
4. Provide the learner/parents a copy of the final IEP exit documentation.
5. Complete the final exit process in the state IEP system.

When a learner is no longer attending school and the school district has determined the learner to be considered a ‘dropout’, the student must be exited from special education services.

Is a meeting required? No.

• Although a meeting is not required, the LEA may want to consider offering the student/family the opportunity to have a meeting.

Is a reevaluation required? No.

Steps to exit when a learner is considered a dropout:

1. Confirm the learner is no longer attending and that the school district officials have determined the learner has met the criteria of a dropout.
2. Update progress monitoring information for each IEP goal.
3. Provide prior written notice to the learner/family stating the student will be exited from special education services due to dropping out of school.
4. Inform the learner/family of their procedural safeguards regarding accessing student records and the destruction of records.
5. Provide the learner/family a copy of the final IEP exit documentation.
6. Complete the final exit process in the state IEP system.

When a learner moves out of state, the student must be exited from special education in Iowa.

Is a meeting required? No.

• Although a meeting is not required, the LEA may want to consider offering the learner/family the opportunity to have a meeting if the LEA is informed of the plan to move out of state.

Is a reevaluation required? No.

Steps to exit when the learner has moved out of Iowa:

1. Confirm the learner has moved out of state with school district officials.
2. Update progress monitoring information for each IEP goal.
3. If possible, provide prior written notice to the learner/family stating the student will be exited from special education services due to the student/parent moving out of state.
4. If possible, inform the learner/family of their procedural safeguards regarding accessing student records and the destruction of records.
5. Complete the exit process in the state IEP system.

When a learner is no longer attending school and the public agency is unable to determine the location of the learner, the student must be exited from special education services.

Is a meeting required? No.

Is a reevaluation required? No.

Steps to exit when the location of a learner is unknown:

1. Confirm the learner is no longer attending and that there is no information available regarding the learner’s location with district official(s).
2. Update progress monitoring information for each IEP goal.
3. If possible, provide prior written notice to the learner/family stating the student will be exited from special education services.
4. If possible, inform the learner/family of their procedural safeguards regarding accessing student records and the destruction of records.
5. Complete the exit process in the state IEP system.

When a learner passes away, the learner must be exited from special education services.

Is a meeting required? No.

Steps to exit when a student passes away:

1. Confirm the learner has passed away. (A copy of the obituary may be placed in the student’s record.)
2. Update progress monitoring information for each IEP goal.
3. Provide family a copy of the final IEP documentation, including notice of exit.
4. Inform the family of their procedural safeguards regarding accessing student records and the destruction of records.
5. Complete the final exit process in the state IEP system.