Graduation Planning
In Maine, children in Special Education with an IEP are eligible to remain in high school as long as they don't turn 21 before the end of the school calendar year (i.e., If your child's month of birth is in April, and the school year ends in June he or she would need to have his or her final year be before their 20th birthday. If you child's month of birth is July and the school year ends in June the child could remain in school all the way through his or her 20th year, completing school just prior to turning 21).
There may be advantages to staying in school longer - or advantages to completing school on either side of 18. This decision will have to be made for each person individually, based on what serves him or her best.
Section 28 services go until either age 18, or until graduation from high school.
Section 29 services can begin at age 18 and can coincide with the completion of high school. There may be advantages to establishing and securing Section 29 services prior to aging out of high school, so the service will have no interruption as the individual ages out of school.
There may be advantages to staying in school longer - or advantages to completing school on either side of 18. This decision will have to be made for each person individually, based on what serves him or her best.
Section 28 services go until either age 18, or until graduation from high school.
Section 29 services can begin at age 18 and can coincide with the completion of high school. There may be advantages to establishing and securing Section 29 services prior to aging out of high school, so the service will have no interruption as the individual ages out of school.