In July 2025, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released Special Education Policy Memo SY2025-2026 — 2: Graduation and Transition Planning for Students with IEPs. For many parents of teens or young adults with disabilities, this memo raises important questions about how and when their child graduates, and how it impacts ongoing transition services.
In this post, I’m sharing a quick overview of what the memo covers, along with some excellent resources from other experts who have already broken it down in detail.
What Is the Special Education Policy Memo SY2025-2026 — 2?
From DESE’s website, the purpose of this memo is to:
- Clarify the process for determining when a student with an IEP is ready to graduate and whether they can opt out of receiving a diploma to continue receiving transition and other special education services. (In Massachusetts, it is until the age of 22 years old).
- Explain how the passage of Question 2 (November 2024) and the May 2025 amendments to state Competency Determination (CD) requirements affect diploma eligibility.
- Address graduation considerations for students placed in out-of-district programs by their school district.
- Share best practices for schools, students, and parents to plan transition services, graduation timelines, and avoid disputes.
Helpful Resources to Understand the Changes
I’m a big believer in not reinventing the wheel — and luckily, several professionals have already provided excellent breakdowns of this memo. Here are some you might find especially helpful:
- Article: Rethinking Graduation: What It Means for Students on IEPs by Kelley Challen, Transition Specialist and owner of Challen Transitions.
- Podcast: A Special Education Teacher, Administrator, and Lawyer Walk Into a Bar — Pop-Up Episode: The Summer Scoop: IEPs and the Road to Graduation
- Facebook Breakdown: Ask Advocacy Facebook Page — Check the July 22nd post for a clear bullet-point list of the pros and cons in the new guidance.
Call to Action
- Unclear on what this means for your student? Request an IEP team meeting — the sooner, the better, especially if your child is a senior.
- Remind the team about FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) — Meeting credit requirements alone is not the full picture. Transition planning must also address the three key pillars: Education/Training, Employment, and Independent Living Skills.
- You can revisit my earlier post on the three pillars of transition planning for a refresher.
-Cheryl
#Life Without a Filter 