Summary of Performance

This section on Secondary Transition is useful in assisting in understanding the what is a Summary of Performance (SOP), why it is needed, who needs it, when is it to be completed, the purpose of a SOP and additional factors regarding a SOP

Why do the Summary of Performance?

• It is required under reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
  of 2004 (IDEIA). The law came into effect on July 1, 2005. [Section 614,©(B)(ii)]

Who needs a Summary of Performance?

• Students with disabilities who will graduate this year with a regular high school diploma;
• Students with disabilities who have not graduated from high school but have exceeded the
  age eligibility for a free appropriate public education (22nd birthday).

What is a Summary of Performance?

• Summary of the student’s academic achievement;
• Summary of the student’s functional performance;
• Recommendations on how to assist students in meeting their postsecondary goals.

What is the purpose of the Summary of Performance?

• To provide guidance so that the student knows what accommodations and supports might
  be helpful in postsecondary settings;
• To assist students in transitioning from high school to post-high school;
• To provide students with summative documentation that goes with the student when he/she
   leaves high school.

o The Summary of Performance does not automatically meet the requirements of
   documenting a student’s disability under ADA for postsecondary institutions.
o Accommodations written in the Summary of Performance are not guaranteed at
   the postsecondary level.

When is a Summary of Performance completed?

• It is completed during the last year the student is in high school. The specific timing during
  that last year is individually based on the student’s postsecondary goal(s), so it may be 
  different for all students.

o Best practice would suggest that the Summary of Performance be completed near
   the end of the student’s education program.

Notes:

• The Summary of Performance is individualized and driven by the student’s
  postsecondary goal(s).
• The Summary of Performance does not require any additional assessments.
• The Summary of Performance is NOT a part of the Individualized Education Program
  (IEP); therefore, an IEP meeting does not have to be conducted to complete the
  Summary of Performance.
• Districts are currently meeting this requirement by:

o Utilizing the information from the IEP (Other information, Child’s Profile,
   Future Planning, and Age Appropriate Transition Assessments) and adding 
   recommendations on how to assist the student in meeting the student’s
   postsecondary goals;
o Creating a separate form or document to meet this requirement.

• IDEIA does not require that a meeting or an IEP meeting be held to complete the
  Summary of Performance, but given the information needed to complete the
  Summary of Performance, members of the IEP team need to be involved. If a district
  involves these members by choosing to have an IEP meeting, required procedures 
  must be followed in conducting the meeting, including prior written notice and
  invitations that include the student.
• Districts should utilize existing records retention policies for the Summary of
  Performance, but would not be required to keep the Summary of Performance
  longer than two years for purposes of Due Process Compensatory Action.

Source: Ohio Department of Education (www.ode.state.oh.us)