Termination of Special Education Services
Special Education services may be terminated for various reasons that may include:
In all cases when there is a recommendation to terminate special education services, the IEP team should be convened to discuss the request and the parent(s)/guardian(s) or student (age 18 or older) must be informed. When the IEP team is recommending termination of the services, updated testing and/or documentation of need to support the recommendation is needed:
Termination of a primary special education service
a. Examples: Speech, adapted physical education, services from a special educator.
b. The IEP team must consider the recommendation/request and determine that either the disability does not exist or services are not required at this time.
c. Where necessary further evaluation will be completed to assist the IEP team to determine the educational need.
d. At the IEP team meeting, the current program and services must be reviewed. If all participants are in agreement that the service is no longer
needed, then the primary special education service(s) will be terminated. Written notice of the recommendation to terminate the service will be provided to the parent following the conclusion of the IEP team meeting.
e. All related services are terminated if the primary service is terminated.
Termination of a related special education service
a. Example: Speech, physical therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, etc.
b. The IEP team must consider the recommendation/request and determine that the disability area does not exist or the service is no longer needed to support the primary special education service and the student’s placement in the least restrictive environment.
c. Where necessary, further evaluation will be completed to assist the IEP team to determine educational need.
d. At the IEP team meeting, the current program and services must be reviewed. If all participants are in agreement that the service is no longer needed, then the IEP related service(s) will be terminated. Written notice of the recommendation to terminate the service will be provided to the parent following the conclusion of the IEP team meeting.
Termination upon request of the parent
a. If the parent(s)/guardian(s) (or student age 18 or older) request that an IEP service be terminated an IEP team will be convened to review the request.
b. The IEP team will review the student’s educational program and progress
and determine if the service is needed to support the student in the least restrictive environment.
*If the team determines that the service is no longer needed then the steps previously described in sections one or two may be followed and services may be terminated.
* If the majority of the IEP team determines that the services are needed then the IEP will remain as written and the parent(s)/guardian(s) will be provided notice of the IEP team decision and the rights of appeal (mediation/due process).
Graduation is considered a change in educational placement. Parental/student notice is needed.
a. Graduation should always be addressed as part of the transition planning process.
b. It should be addressed through appropriate goals/objectives in the IEP with the student as a participant in the process.
“Termination of special education services as of (date)”.
c. It is recommended that at least eighteen months before “graduation” a letter will be sent to the parent(s)/guardian(s) or student (18 years of age or older) by the Director of Special Education with notification of the intent to terminate special education services upon graduation (or age 21). A letter will also be sent six months prior to the termination of services.
Age – twenty-one (22)
On the day before the student's twenty-second birthday, all services in the IEP will terminate.
When an IEP team is considering termination of special education services:
1. The decision of the team will always be provided in writing after the meeting.
2. A copy of the Parental Rights and Procedural Safeguards of the law will
always be provided.
- Student has met goals/objectives in the IEP and it is determined that services are no longer needed.
- Student has been evaluated/reevaluated and no longer meets the criteria for the disability and a transition from the services has been completed.
- The parent requests that services be terminated and the IEP team concur with the request because the student is successful in meeting the standards/ requirements in the general education setting.
- Graduation
- Age
In all cases when there is a recommendation to terminate special education services, the IEP team should be convened to discuss the request and the parent(s)/guardian(s) or student (age 18 or older) must be informed. When the IEP team is recommending termination of the services, updated testing and/or documentation of need to support the recommendation is needed:
Termination of a primary special education service
a. Examples: Speech, adapted physical education, services from a special educator.
b. The IEP team must consider the recommendation/request and determine that either the disability does not exist or services are not required at this time.
c. Where necessary further evaluation will be completed to assist the IEP team to determine the educational need.
d. At the IEP team meeting, the current program and services must be reviewed. If all participants are in agreement that the service is no longer
needed, then the primary special education service(s) will be terminated. Written notice of the recommendation to terminate the service will be provided to the parent following the conclusion of the IEP team meeting.
e. All related services are terminated if the primary service is terminated.
Termination of a related special education service
a. Example: Speech, physical therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, etc.
b. The IEP team must consider the recommendation/request and determine that the disability area does not exist or the service is no longer needed to support the primary special education service and the student’s placement in the least restrictive environment.
c. Where necessary, further evaluation will be completed to assist the IEP team to determine educational need.
d. At the IEP team meeting, the current program and services must be reviewed. If all participants are in agreement that the service is no longer needed, then the IEP related service(s) will be terminated. Written notice of the recommendation to terminate the service will be provided to the parent following the conclusion of the IEP team meeting.
Termination upon request of the parent
a. If the parent(s)/guardian(s) (or student age 18 or older) request that an IEP service be terminated an IEP team will be convened to review the request.
b. The IEP team will review the student’s educational program and progress
and determine if the service is needed to support the student in the least restrictive environment.
*If the team determines that the service is no longer needed then the steps previously described in sections one or two may be followed and services may be terminated.
* If the majority of the IEP team determines that the services are needed then the IEP will remain as written and the parent(s)/guardian(s) will be provided notice of the IEP team decision and the rights of appeal (mediation/due process).
Graduation is considered a change in educational placement. Parental/student notice is needed.
a. Graduation should always be addressed as part of the transition planning process.
b. It should be addressed through appropriate goals/objectives in the IEP with the student as a participant in the process.
“Termination of special education services as of (date)”.
c. It is recommended that at least eighteen months before “graduation” a letter will be sent to the parent(s)/guardian(s) or student (18 years of age or older) by the Director of Special Education with notification of the intent to terminate special education services upon graduation (or age 21). A letter will also be sent six months prior to the termination of services.
Age – twenty-one (22)
On the day before the student's twenty-second birthday, all services in the IEP will terminate.
When an IEP team is considering termination of special education services:
1. The decision of the team will always be provided in writing after the meeting.
2. A copy of the Parental Rights and Procedural Safeguards of the law will
always be provided.
| Parent Notice of Termination of Special Ed Services |
