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What is the Age of Majority?

The age of majority is when your child obtains the rights of any Iowa citizen and is legally responsible for his or her own decision, including educational decision. In Iowa, your child reaches the age of majority when he or she turns 18 or gets married. If your child under 18 is tried, convicted, and sentenced as an adult and is confined in an adult correctional facility, your child’s right to make educational decisions transfer during the period of incarceration.

Glossary of Terms
FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education): rights given under IDEA for the supports and services needed to benefit from school, at no cost to the student or his/her family.
Age of majority: at age 18, or in special situations like marriage, all rights given in Iowa to a legal adult are transferred from the parent/guardian to the student.
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act): the law that provides special education. It also identifies educational rights and the procedures that schools must follow.
Rights: privileges given by law.
Responsibilities: things you must do to make sure you benefit or keep your rights.
Due process: the procedures followed if there is a disagreement between the IEP team and the parent/guardian/ student about the student’s needs.
Informed consent: understanding what has been agreed upon to do or have done.
Individualized Education Program: also called an IEP. It states what the school will provide and what the student will work on in the coming year.
Transition: this term refers to the right the student has for the school to assist in preparing for the job, education and the way the student wants to live after graduation.
Assistive technology: this term refers to devices or services, or both, that are needed in order for the student to benefit from education.

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What is the Age of Majority?

What is the Age of Majority?

Q. What does it mean to transfer educational rights at the age of majority and how does it apply to schools?

Q. Why is the school talking to my child about this?

Q. What is required of the school district to document the transfer of rights?

Q. When does the student start using the transfer of rights?

Q. What is considered reasonable notice when a student turns 18? If the student’s 18th birthday is during a school break (like summer or winter break), is the school responsible for notifying the student several months in advance?

Q. Why aren’t students who are not on IEPs notified of the transfer of rights?

Q. Can I still be a participant in my child’s IEP?

Q. What if I disagree with a decision regarding my child’s educational program?

Q. What if the parents are divorced? Do each receive notifications on the transfer of rights?

Q. My child turned 18. Does that mean that he or she can make all of his or her own decisions, even if my child has a significant disability?

Q. What is does “competent” and “incompetent” mean?

Q. What if I do not believe my child is capable of making competent decisions?

Q. What is the teacher or educator’s role in determining competency?

Q. What if the student is not legally incompetent but he or she does not feel ready to make educational decisions? Are there any alternatives to a guardianship proceeding?

Q. What is the difference between guardianship and conservatorship?

Q. What happens when a child who is already under guardianship reaches the age of majority? Does the guardianship remain in effect?

Q. What is a Power of Attorney?

Q. When can the Power of Attorney for Educational Decision Making form be signed? Does the student have to wait until he or she turns 18 or is married or can it be signed prior?

Q. To whom can the 18-year-old student transfer the rights when completing a Power of Attorney? Can it be someone other than the parent(s)?

Q. Can the student revoke the Power of Attorney?

Q. What is the school’s responsibility after the student revokes the Power of Attorney?

Q. Can my child use an “X” for a signature?

Q. What happens when a person is not 18 years of age but is transferred to a juvenile corrections facility?

Q. What happens for wards of the state when they turn 18?

Q. What can I do to help prepare my son or daughter for the transfer of rights?

Q. What if I have additional questions or concerns regarding my child?