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December 2023

Meeting all requirements for a Florida standard diploma must occur prior to being eligible to defer, per Section 1003.4282(9)(c), Florida Statutes. As a result, deferment is not intended to support students in completing requirements to earn a standard diploma.

March 2024

Preparation for extended transition programs for students with disabilities begins well before their senior year in high school. In fact, discussions about the deferment process, encompassing eligibility requirements and program options, are initiated during individualized education program (IEP) meetings and begin no later than when a student reaches the age of 14 and before entering high school. If a student doesn’t reach the age of 14 until high school, these discussions must occur in middle school prior to the student entering 9th grade.

Each year thereafter, or as needed, information regarding the deferment process is reviewed and documented during IEP meetings. In addition, prior to the year the student is expected to meet graduation requirements, the IEP team will collaboratively make a decision about plans for the student to defer the receipt of the standard diploma. This schedule, outlined in s. 1003.5716, F.S., aims to keep parents and students well-informed about the deferment process. Additionally, the annual discussions on deferment ensure that the IEP adequately supports students who receive their standard diploma upon meeting graduation requirements, or appropriately plan for extended transition services and supports for those eligible to defer receipt of the standard diploma.

May 2024

Only students with disabilities (and who have met graduation requirements for a standard diploma) may be eligible to defer receipt of their standard diploma, per s. 1003.4282 (8)(c), F.S. Furthermore, potentially eligible students must also:

• Have an individual education plan that prescribes special education, transition planning, transition services, or related services through age 21; and
• Is enrolled in accelerated college credit instruction pursuant to s. 1007.27, F.S. industry certification courses that lead to college credit, an early college program, courses necessary to satisfy the Scholar designation requirements, or a structured work-study, internship, or pre-apprenticeship program.

Note that deferment eligibility is not limited to a particular student disability classification or category!

August 2024

Meeting all requirements for a Florida standard diploma is a prerequisite for deferral, as per s. 1003.4282(9)(c), F.S. As a result, deferment is not intended to support students in completing requirements to earn a standard diploma.

Students with disabilities may stay in school to work on meeting graduation requirements up to age 22, but this is not a deferment program.

October 2024

A frequently accessed deferment option for students meeting requirements to defer receipt of a standard diploma includes structured work-study programs. Structured work-study programs are flexible and can be adapted to meet the needs of students. Self-advocacy, independent living, and pre-employment skills may be the cornerstone of a structured work-study program for students with more significant needs. For many students, structured work-study programs can provide opportunities to engage in their communities, gain employment skills, and prepare to acquire competitive employment immediately upon exiting K-12.

Training: Using Deferment and Extended Transition Programming (ages 18-22) to Support Postsecondary Readiness for Students with Disabilities (Updated)

This training helps school districts understand the deferment process and eligibility requirements, covering legislation, timelines, IEP team implications, college and career readiness, postsecondary options, and extended transition programs. It also includes frequently asked questions (FAQs), logistical guidance, and best practices.

Training: Deferment and Extended Transition Programming (ages 18-22): Information for Parents, Families, and Community-Based Transition Stakeholders (Updated)

This training helps parents, families, and community stakeholders understand the deferment process and eligibility requirements. It covers legislation, timelines, IEP activities, extended transition programs, and postsecondary options and includes resources from Project 10 and the Florida Department of Education.

Training: Writing Effective Transition IEPs (Updated)

This training provides an in-depth view of the various transition planning activities. This training provides information and guidance from transition assessments through the potential deferment of the standard diploma and participation in an 18-22 program.

Training: Graduation Requirements (Updated)

This training focuses on graduation requirements, including college and career readiness skills; graduation rates for Florida’s students with Disabilities; Florida high school completion options, including those restricted to students with disabilities; and the necessary criteria for students with disabilities to defer receipt of the standard diploma.

Publication: Secondary Transition Roadmap for Families

This resource assists families to become familiar with graduation and post-school options available to students with disabilities. This sixteen-page booklet shares easy-to-follow directions that guide families and students toward transition destinations, including high school graduation and beyond. Included in the resource is a section dedicated to deferment.

Publication: Transition Requirements Checklist

This comprehensive checklist of transition requirements provides age-specific details about when they should occur in the Transition Individual Educational Plan (TIEP). The checklist includes deferment documentation requirements.

Publication: Graduation Options Charts

This document includes two graduation options charts. Each of them contains detailed descriptions of all the credit requirements for each of the common graduation options. The first chart describes graduation requirements for students who entered 9th grade prior to the 2023-24 school year, and the second chart describes graduation requirements for students who entered 9th grade in or after 2023-24.

Publication: The 411 on the Big 5

This resource provides contacts and links for five organizations outlined in s. 1003.5716, F.S., that assist students and families with transitions: Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), Division of Blind Services (DBS), Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living (FACIL), Florida Center for Students with Unique Disabilities (FCSUA), and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). It addresses how each agency supports transition-age youth, application processes and age requirements, and key insights for families and schools.

Publication: Project 10’s Postsecondary Options At-a-Glance

This document summarizes the various options available for students following their exit from K-12 enrollment. The summary includes the names of the postsecondary options and a brief description and relevant considerations for each option. When used digitally, this document also contains numerous embedded hyperlinks to direct resources.