What must the school do legally when a student with special education needs turns 18 and requests to be removed from special education services?

When a student with special education needs turns 18, they gain the legal rights to make decisions regarding their own education, including the right to consent to or refuse special education services. This transition signifies that the student is now considered an adult under the law and has the authority to make choices about their educational path, including the ability to request removal from special education services.

Option C reflects this legal framework by recognizing the student's new status as an adult, which empowers them to make independent decisions about their educational support. Furthermore, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) emphasizes that once a student reaches the age of majority, the rights to make educational decisions transfer from parents to the student. Thus, the school's responsibility is to honor the student's request for removal from special education, provided that the decision is made voluntarily and without coercion.

The other options do not align with this legal obligation. Keeping a student in special education against their wishes would violate their rights as an adult. Removing a student with parental consent would not be necessary since the student is now capable of making that decision for themselves. Transitioning the student to another program without their consent also wouldn't meet the legal requirements that safeguard their autonomy in decision-making.