What Is Known About Schools’ Transfer of Rights Practices for Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

We performed a scoping review of literature on schools’ transfer of rights practices under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) with respect to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The review found only limited empirical evidence of how IDEA transfer of rights policies are implemented in schools and affect students and parents. We found a substantial disconnect between this limited empirical evidence and generalizations about school practice made in recent literature that is not empirically based. In addition, we found some misunderstanding of relevant federal policy and little attention to variation in states’ policies and schools’ practices. Further research is needed to understand the intersection of relevant public policy, school practice, and student postsecondary education, employment, and independent living outcomes.