Illinois special education students used to be pulled out of school as soon as they turned 22. Now they can finish out the year with their classmates.

Under a previous law, Mark, 21, who has autism and seizure disorders, would have been abruptly yanked from the special education transition program at Lincoln-Way School District 210 on Dec. 9, when he turns 22. But legislation signed this week by Gov. J.B. Pritzker means he can stay on to finish the school year.