Disability Resources

What is diploma deferral?  

Getting your diploma tells the school district that you are done with school and that they do not need to provide you with free and appropriate public education services anymore. 

However, what if you need more time with your resources from school? You could defer your diploma.

In Florida, Diploma Deferral means letting the school district keep your already earned diploma while you continue to receive special education, transition and related services. Once you decide you are ready to leave the public school system, you can let the district know you are ready to pick up your diploma.

Diploma Deferral has rules

• Only a student who is eligible to graduate can defer their diploma.
• Only a student with an IEP plan that includes transition services (a TIEP) may defer their diploma.
• The school district must offer continued education and transition services that help the student meet their transition goals.
• Once a student defers their diploma, they need to enroll in programs that support their transition goals, such as college classes, industry certification, college high school program, work-study, internship, or pre-apprenticeship program.

If your TIEP team agrees, you can continue to get special education services after the standard four years of high school. Deferral lets you stay in school after the standard 4 years until you choose to accept your standard high school diploma or until you turn 22. When deferral ends looks different for each school district:

• Some schools let you stay in school until your 22nd birthday 
• Some programs end the semester you turn 22  
• And some let you stay through the entire school year that you turn 22. 

To defer your diploma,  

• You must meet all your requirements for a standard diploma, either through general education standards or alternate standards, if you're on Access Points in Florida.  
• During your IEP meeting in the 11^th grade your TIEP team will ask you to decide if you want to defer your diploma or accept it and leave school when you meet your graduation requirements.  
• You must decide before your first day of senior year, however you can change your mind up until May 15^th of your senior year in high school. 

Timeline and Deadlines to be Mindful of

• By the first day of your senior year in Florida, you must have had a diploma deferral conversation with your IEP team.
• If you have not formally deferred your diploma in writing, by or before May 15 of your senior year, you may lose the ability to stay until age 22 if you accept your diploma.
• If you have met your graduation requirements through Access Points (alternate standards), you should think long and hard before accepting your diploma before age 22. More than likely, you still need special education, transition and related services. If the school district says you do not qualify for deferral, please contact Disability Rights Florida for assistance in determining if the school district is violating your rights. 

Reflection Questions to Determine if You Should Defer Your Diploma

• What is the student's progress towards their annual and short-term objectives in relation to their postsecondary goals? 
• What specially designed instruction and transition service needs does the student receive?  
• Will the student need special instruction and services to achieve their post-graduation goals? 

How to Prepare to Defer Your Diploma

• Consider your options based upon transition assessment data and your postsecondary goals. 
• CTE programs leading to industry certification, dual enrollment, extended transition programs, etc. 
• Keep track of deadlines and eligibility requirements 
• Connect with agencies that can help 
• VR and Pre-Employment Transition Services, the Division of Blind Services, etc. 
• Look at other options 
• Maybe you don’t want to defer or are unable to defer. Consider all of your post high school options and supports 

Document the Deferral Decision in the IEP

Whatever you choose, be sure to document the deferment program option, along with the specific course of study that aligns with the option. In your documentation, include all relevant program details such as expected dates of completion, any relevant credentialing, certificate, course, or skill acquisition that the student is expected to complete or earn. 

Can I still participate in senior year activities, like a graduation ceremony?  

Yes! When you meet your graduation requirements, you can participate in all senior activities, including walking at a graduation ceremony.  

Remember, a student's standard diploma is associated with the school year in which they meet the diploma requirements. Whatever year you complete them is when you would participate in these activities.  

Once you’ve deferred and completed your graduation requirements: 

• Schools should print a deferred student’s standard diploma and keep it at a designated school or district site until deferment (FAPE) ends. 
• Deferred students do not take receipt of the printed standard diploma until they exit K-12 (FAPE ends). 
• The IEP team will not revisit documenting the deferment eligibility process or decision. 
• However, the IEP team will keep track of the student's progress towards their annual goals and deferment program. They may also set guidelines for program completion and diploma acquisition.