IEP Summary of Performance (SOP) 101

“A summary of performance is a document that the school must provide before the student leaves the school system, whether it's at 18 or 22,” explains Carey. “It is done when the student is exiting the district, so either when they receive a diploma through the regular pathway, or when they are aging out of the adult transition program.”

As Dr. Pelankga adds, “It is a condensed version of the IEP that should follow the student to support them in post-secondary settings (kind of like a ‘cheat sheet’). It should be easy-to-read and straight to the point.” It’s also “most helpful for students who won’t be able to advocate for themselves and share this information with others independently,” she adds.

Note what an SOP is not: “Per IDEA, the SOP does not determine whether a student is eligible for another support program, nor does it explicitly denote requirements for accommodations (Section 614(c)(5); rather, it can serve as a roadmap, to help navigate and facilitate the discussion,” Dr. Pelangka adds.

As Carey explains, what exactly is in an SOP is not defined in IDEA, so it will vary from district to district. However, this is her recommendation: “It's going to summarize their academic and functional performance levels. It should explain the student’s transition needs, and as they're leaving the school system, what their transition needs are.” It should also include information on the student’s abilities and future goals or dreams.

An SOP is done with the IEP team, including the student, who should assist in its development.

As Carey explains, “It should be specific and meaningful, and it should be written so the student can understand it. And that is key. Your student needs to be able to understand what it says. So if your child has comprehension concerns or something like that, the school needs to make sure your child can understand it, and it should also make recommendations about how the student might be able to meet their post-secondary goals — college or employment or independence, whatever they're working on — and it should be reviewed at that final IEP transition meeting that you have.”

If you’re wondering what an SOP looks like, here is a sample SOP form from LAUSD.

Dr. Pelangka and Carey explain that an SOP can serve as a helpful roadmap for a young adult’s next steps, guiding future goals and even helping determine if a student is eligible for Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) services.

“Similar to the transition plan, this is a great time for students to actively participate in their IEP, if they aren’t already doing so,” Dr. Pelangka says. “They can even be taught to present their own SOP to the team, thereby learning how to advocate and share it with future employers/collegiate staff. It’s a required document for those who are graduating/aging out, so it’s important for families to be aware of this. Also, include teacher input, family member input, and additional familiar people to the student.”

Here’s are a few more reasons why an SOP is so valuable:

• Guides future goals: it should have recommendations to help the student meet their post-secondary goals, and provide some guidance for the next year or two after high school.
• Quick reference guide: an SOP acts as a quick, at-a-glance resource for future employers or educators, helping them understand and decide if they can meet the student's needs.
• Captures the whole picture: it can summarize the students needs, dreams, strengths, abilities, etc., and help guide support and planning in the future.
• Supports ongoing success: this document can guide your family, key people in your child’s life, and agencies like Regional Center and DOR in continuing to help your child achieve their goals after high school.

Here are a few examples of an SOP working in the real world:

• If your child is going to college, the Disabilities Services Office can use the SOP to determine what accommodations your young adult might need to be successful in college, such as testing accommodations, accessible supports and services, and more.
• If your student wants to attend a college program but finds routine changes, noise, and new environments challenging — while thriving with structure and schedules — this information can help the school match them with a compatible dorm mate (someone quieter) and create routine-based supports for a smoother transition.
• If your young adult is in a job coaching or tailored day services program, the SOP can give new providers valuable insights into how they learn, their interests, and past achievements. Recording a plan, along with hopes and dreams, can help drive services in your Regional Center IPP or shape vocational goals for DOR.
• If your student dreams of working at a local restaurant, loves greeting people, and enjoys meeting new faces but finds writing, memorization, and numbers challenging, this insight can help the owner see that they’d shine as a host or hostess, while serving as a waiter might be more difficult.

For more information on transitioning to adulthood, head over to our articles The Transition to Adulthood, Individualized Transition Plan (ITP) 101, and 12 Frequently Asked Questions about High School IEPs and the Transition to Adulthood.