School Leavers Program

Leaving school is a time of big change with important decisions for students and parents. The School Leavers Program connects students with a community-based planner called a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) who will work with them, their family, their Student Planning Team, and the community to create a Transition Plan for adulthood.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the School Leavers Program?

Leaving school is a time of significant change that comes with important decisions, requiring a team approach that supports students as they continue to prepare for their future and explore options and opportunities in their community after graduation.

The School Leavers Program will welcome its first participants in Fall 2025, with a focus on Grade 12 students. Through the Program, students are paired with a community-based planner called a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) who will work with them, their family, their Student Planning Team, and the community to support their Transition Plan. Transition planning for life after school is an important part of a student’s Individual Program Plan (IPP) developed by the Student Planning Team.

The School Leavers Program was developed in partnership between the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) and the Disability Support Program (DSP), Department of Opportunities and Social Development (OSD; formerly Department of Community Services).

2. Who is eligible for the School Leavers Program?

The School Leavers Program will focus on Grade 12 students who will be transitioning from school to roles and opportunities within their community. The Program will centre on Grade 12 students who have

  • an intellectual developmental disability and/or one or more significant disabilities
  • support from a multi-disciplinary team (including Learning Support Teachers and other supports)
  • an Individual Program Plan (in the areas of functional academics, social development, and life skills) with a focus on transition planning from school-to-community
3. How was my child selected?

The School Leaver Program will support 100 students, focusing on Grade 12 students, starting Fall 2025. Students who are eligible for the School Leavers Program were identified by the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD). A randomized selection process was used to select students who were then invited to register for the program.

Program spaces were allocated in proportion to the number of students who met the criteria from high schools within the Regional Centres for Education (RCEs) and le Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP).  The School Leavers program also includes designated spaces for eligible Indigenous/Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian/Black students who self-identified.

For every student, whether they are in the School Leaver Program or not, transition planning is a mandated component of the Individual Program Plan (IPP). Starting at age 14, transition planning forms part of a student's annual plan. More information about this process is available here: Transition - A Lifelong Process, Transition Planning.

4. How do Local Area Coordinators help School Leavers?

Local Area Coordinators (LACs) are a new role offered by the Disability Support Program (DSP). The purpose of the LAC role is to enhance community integration and capacity by working alongside people with disabilities to build inclusive, supportive environments.

For the School Leavers Program, LACs will work with students and their families to explore options for their future beyond school. An LAC can work with the Student Planning Team (SPT), making connections with local programs, community resources and opportunities that meet the student’s interests and transition goals. 

Coordination and collaboration between all members of the SPT make this a simpler, more streamlined process, that aligns with the student’s Individual Program Plan (IPP). After these meetings, the LAC continues to work with the student and family to develop and support their transition plan.

The LAC role was created following the findings of the Human Rights Review and Remedy for the Findings of Systemic Discrimination Against Nova Scotians with Disabilities, also known as the Remedy. More information about the Remedy can be found here: https://www.dsp-transformation.ca/.

5. How often will the LACs be meeting with the School Leaver and/or family?

The frequency of meetings with the LAC will be determined based on needs identified by the student and their family/support network. LACs may also attend Student Planning Team meetings.

6. What happens if student interest and/or registrations exceed available School Leavers Program spaces?

The School Leaver Program aims to support 100 students in the 2025-2026 school year, focusing on students in Grade 12. Only invited students who have completed the registration form will be enrolled in the program. 

For every student, whether they are in the School Leaver Program or not, transition planning is a mandated component of the Individual Program Plan (IPP). Starting at age 14, transition planning forms part of a student's annual plan.

More information about this process is available here: Transition - A Lifelong Process, Transition Planning.

7. Does the School Leavers Program consider equity-deserving groups?

The School Leavers program includes designated spaces for eligible Indigenous/Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian/Black students who self-identified.

8. What does the School Leavers Program mean for schools?

The School Leavers Program is an additional support to students with an intellectual developmental disability and/or one or more significant disabilities as they plan for community life beyond school. The Program does not replace school-based transition planning, which remains an important part of a student’s Individual Program Plan (IPP).

Through the Program, students are paired with a community-based planner called a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) who will work with them, their family, their Student Planning Team (SPT), and the community to support their Transition Plan.

After these meetings, the LAC continues to work with the student and family to develop and support their transition plan. The School Leaver Program will look different for each student as they decide how and where they meet with their LAC and what community resources and opportunities to explore.

 

9. Why create a new program when schools already do transition planning?

The School Leavers Program does not replace other supports a student may receive, such as transition planning efforts with a Student Planning Team. Students in the School Leavers Program will have the opportunity to work with the Local Area Coordinator who will support their transition from school to community. This new approach will help to more effectively and intentionally strengthen the bridge between the public education system and the programming and services offered through the Disability Support Program (DSP). 

The School Leavers Program was developed in response to the findings of the Human Rights Review and Remedy for the Findings of Systemic Discrimination Against Nova Scotians with Disabilities, also known as the Remedy. It states, “intentional efforts targeting school leavers can prevent crisis and out of community placement while creating local community pathways. More information about The Remedy can be found here: https://www.dsp-transformation.ca/

 

10. When will information about future years be available?

Details about the 2026-2027 School Leavers Program will be updated on this website once more information is available.

The Human Rights Remedy commits to offering supports to additional students through the School Leavers Program each year. The School Leavers Program may change over time based on feedback gathered from the 2025-2026 soft launch, community needs and resources, and ongoing improvements to the broader Disability Support Program.

11. What is the Human Rights Remedy?

The Remedy is the name given to a broad range of measures to address systemic discrimination in Nova Scotia against people with disabilities who receive social assistance support. It arose in response to the October 2021 decision of Nova Scotia Court of Appeal case that found the Province of Nova Scotia discriminated against people with disabilities.

The Disability Rights Coalition (DRC) and the then Department of Community Services (currently the Department of Opportunities and Social Development) initiated a review process with independent experts to recommend a Remedy to end this discrimination and change how supports are provided in Nova Scotia.  The School Leavers Program is one of several initiatives included in the Remedy.

More details on the Remedy can be found here:  https://www.dsp-transformation.ca/

12. Will my personal information be collected and used?

Yes, personal information will be collected when students register for the School Leaver Program. This personal information is required to facilitate the School Leavers Program. Local Area Coordinators will have personal information so they can reach out to School Leavers in Fall 2025.

More information about privacy is included in the Registration Form. Collection of personal information is authorized by the Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. 

13. What other supports exist for my child?

Within the Disability Support Program (DSP):

  • For youth under age 19, the Direct Family Support for Children (DFSC) provides funding to help families to support their child with a disability at home. DFSC provides funding for the purchase of respite services to assist with scheduled breaks for family care givers.
  • Those age 19 and older may access planning support through Local Area Coordinators within their regions. They may also apply for DSP-funded supports, which involves an eligibility determination process and an assessment of their support needs.

For every student, whether they are in the School Leaver Program or not, transition planning is a mandated component of the Individual Program Plan (IPP). Starting at age 14, transition planning forms part of a student's annual plan.

More information about this process is available here: Transition - A Lifelong Process, Transition Planning.

 

14. Does participating in the School Leavers Program mean my child is no longer eligible to be a Returning Graduate?

No, it does not. While the program helps families and students prepare for their future and explore options and opportunities in their community after graduation, participation does not mean a student cannot return to school as a returning graduate if they chose in consultation with their Student Planning Team.

More Information

School Leavers Program Information Sheet: https://www.ednet.ns.ca/school-leavers/files-schoolleavers/docs/SchoolLeaversInfoSheet_EN_WEB.pdf  

Email: school-leavers@novascotia.ca