Prior to this change, schools were required to conduct a reevaluation before terminating a student’s special education services. Now, when a student with a disability graduates with a regular diploma or reaches the maximum age for receiving special education services as set by the state (turning 22 years of age in most cases), the school district is not required to perform a reevaluation. Instead, the school district must now provide a summary of the student's academic and functional performance.

The SOP is a description of the student’s academic achievement and functional performance that includes recommendations to assist the student in meeting his or her postsecondary goals. The student’s SOP must include recommendations for helping the student meet his or her goals after high school. The summary may include the information and documentation of the student’s abilities and disabilities that will be necessary to access supports and services in post-school activities, such as higher education or the workplace. It should provide specific, meaningful and understandable information to the student, the parents and any agency, including postsecondary schools or state departments of voc rehab, that may provide services to the student after high school.

While schools are not required to conduct any new tests or evaluations as part of the SOP, parents and students should work with the school so that the information provided will be adequate to satisfy the disability documentation required to qualify him or her as a person with a disability under other federal laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Individualized Education Program (IEP) team should discuss what needs to be included in the students SOP prior to termination of special education services. Parents should be sure to bring up the development of their student’s SOP if it has not been addressed by the IEP team. It is important to ensure that the information provided in the summary will satisfy any requirements connected with the student’s post-school goals. While many states have developed a standard format for the SOP, parents should feel free to request any additional information that is not provided but may be needed to accomplish post secondary goals.

The specific information that must be included in a student’s SOP will vary by state. Some states have developed SOP forms that require rather extensive information, while others have opted for minimal information. Parents should become familiar with their state's requirements by contacting the state Department of Education or Parent Training and Information Center (PTI). A listing of all PTI is available at www.TAALLIANCE.org.

At a minimum, the SOP for a student terminating special education services should include the following:

• Accurate and understandable descriptions of academic achievement and functional performance, including independent living abilities
• Recommendations that will realistically help the student to meet postsecondary education, training, employment and independent living goal.

The SOP may include specific information or documentation needed to satisfy postsecondary education or training institutions, community services providers, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, especially Section 504. In addition, the SOP might provide information about the specific accommodations provided to the student during high school and the accommodations that will be needed for post secondary success.