Skip to main content

Intermediate School District 917

Purposeful. Personalized. Partners.

Graduation

Graduation

Legal guardians must sign a Prior Written Notice (PWN) indicating a discontinuation of services in anticipation of a student’s graduation from high school (either on an IEP-Driven Diploma Plan, or by Meeting State Standards for High School Completion) and aging out of Special Education Services. 

An IEP Team meeting should be held within 3 weeks of the student graduating or aging out. The meeting is held to review the student's Summary of Performance, amend the IEP for services changing (ending), and a PWN needs to be written detailing the changes made.

Graduation Checklist for Teachers

Summary of Performance in SpedForms 

Must be completed for all students discontinuing Special Education Services

Please see the Summary of Performance in Secondary Transition for more information

IEP Amendments

  • The anticipated graduation date will be updated on the transition services page (if needed).
  • The service minute grid changed to reflect the date services will end.
  • The LRE needs to be updated to indicate the change in setting.

Sample LRE statement: 

MM/DD/YYYY: CHLD's IEP Team met so that they could present their Graduation Portfolio, which is a requirement of their IEP-Driven Diploma Plan, to review their Summary of Performance as they have met the stipulations of their IEP-Driven Diploma Plan for graduation, and discontinuation of special education services due to high school graduation. The district updated their anticipated graduation date that can be found on the transitions page of this IEP, as well as ending their service minutes to reflect the end of special education services, as they have met the requirements set by (RESIDENT DISTRICT) and ISD 917 to graduate and receive their high school diploma.

  • The termination form should be completed and turned in to the administrative assistant. 

Prior Written Notice

 

The Prior Written Notice must be written to include the changes to the IEP, particularly the service ending.

Below is a sample language. Please edit as it pertains to your student. These examples do not constitute all situations that may occur.  

  • Following the IEP Team Meeting held on xx/xx/xx to discuss CHLD’s Summary of Performance and discontinuation (completion) of special education services due to (receiving a diploma based on meeting state high school standards, meeting requirements of an IEP Driven Diploma plan, OR aging out of special education services), the district is proposing the following amendments: 

    • The district is proposing to update CHLD's anticipated graduation date found on the transitions page of CHLD’s current IEP to reflect the change of their high school graduation date. 

    • The district is proposing to end special education services for CHLD, as they have met the IEP-Driven Diploma requirements for graduation. Special education services will be discontinued as of (DATE). 

    • The district is proposing to end special education services for CHLD as they have met the State High School Standard requirements for graduation, and special education services will be discontinued as of (DATE). 

    • The district is proposing to end special education services for CHLD as they will turn 22 on xx/xx/xxxx, and special education services will be discontinued as of (DATE). 

    • The district is proposing to update CHLD’s Least Restrictive Environment to reflect the change in special education placement.

  • The district is proposing that special education services end when CHLD receives their High School Diploma OR ages out due to turning 22 years old, therefore, services will no longer be provided.

    • Most recent evaluation report (date)
    • IEP progress reports
    • Review of credits and transcript.
    • Home district input, parent input, and service provider input.
    • Team review of present levels of performance

    • The team considered postponing graduation, but determined that CHLD has met graduation requirements and progressed sufficiently on their IEP-Driven Diploma goals and objectives, and that they will graduate on (DATE). 
    • The team considered postponing graduation into the next school year to meet CHLD’s transition needs in the areas of employment, post-secondary education, and independent living, however, this was decided against as they have created a graduation binder that met the criteria for these areas.

  • Special education services will be discontinued following the last day of school, June _, 202_.  (Modify if aging out day before birthday or a random graduation date.) Parents/guardians have been informed that upon graduation and accepting a diploma,  special education services will be ending.

Resources