The programme, which was established about 20 years ago, is run by Logan Park High School at the former King Edward Technical College building in Stuart St, Dunedin.
However, the Ministry of Education announced recently it would cut funding to the centre at the end of this year, after a resourcing audit found the facility appeared to be operating outside the adult student in secondary education policy.
To remain within the policy, the pupils needed to be working to achieve an NCEA or equivalent qualification.
In a submission to the decision, Logan Park High School principal Jane Johnson said the pupils' level of intellectual ability was not conducive to that level of education, and conceded they did not fit the ministry's definition.
So she has asked the ministry to continue funding the programme for a further six months while the group looks for alternative sources of funding.
A group of about 60 parents, teachers and administrators met to investigate ways of establishing a secure funding stream for the centre, which has 22 special needs adult students.
Ms Johnson said the group was looking at the possibility of gaining funding from the Tertiary Education Commission; linking the programme to another adult disability programme in the city; approaching the Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of Health to see if they would fund the programme as it was, or under other programmes in Dunedin which were already funded.
The group would also investigate whether funds could be gained from charitable organisations.
The centre operated on about $117,000 a year under the school's adult community education programme.
Ms Johnson said it was important to continue the educational content of the course, which could be lost if funding was moved to another provider.
The centre was appreciated by parents and pupils because it gave them a safe and stimulating environment with a structured programme, she said.
The centre also provided a place of learning for the wider community with its buddy system, which enabled tertiary students in areas such as occupational therapy to engage with the pupils and further their understanding of people with disabilities.
