Implementing the SOP for Effective Transition

Abstract

This article provides two case studies of students with disabilities who are each exiting high school with a quality Summary of Performance (SOP) that enhances their successful transition to either college or employment. The authors present and discuss the essential components of the SOP for two students: one with a learning disability and a postsecondary goal of college and the other with a cognitive disability and a postsecondary goal of supported employment. Finally, the authors examine the benefits of completing quality SOPs for the student, the family, adult service providers, and employers.

A Comprehensive Review of the Literature on Summary of Performance

“…Two articles (12.5%) specifically targeted students with learning disabilities (i.e., Gormley, 2007; Madaus & Shaw, 2006b). One article (6.25%) targeted students with learning disabilities and students with intellectual disabilities (i.e., Izzo & Kochhar-Bryant, 2006). Finally, one article (5.6%) targeted students with moderate to severe disabilities (i.e., Kochhar-Bryant, 2007).…”

“…In terms of adult outcome area, 10 articles (62.5%) provided information that related broadly to adult life, rather than to a specific adult outcome area (Bowen & Rude, 2006; Dukes et al, 2007; Field & Hoffman, 2007; Kochhar-Bryant & Izzo, 2006; Leconte, 2006; Madaus et al, 2006; Madaus & Shaw, 2006a, 2006b; Martin et al, 2007; Sitlington & Clark, 2007). Four articles (25%) specifically targeted two outcome areas, postsecondary employment and postsecondary education (i.e., Izzo & Kochhar-Bryant, 2006; Kochhar-Bryant, 2007; Lamb, 2007; Shaw, 2006). Two articles (12.5%) targeted developing a SOP in terms of only postsecondary education (i.e., Banerjee & Shaw, 2007; Gormley, 2007).…”

“…Articles were reviewed to determine the inclusion of a SOP template or case study examples. The majority of articles did not include a SOP template ( n = 13, 81.3%; Banerjee & Shaw, 2007; Bowen & Rude, 2006; Dukes et al, 2007; Field & Hoffman, 2007; Izzo & Kochhar-Bryant, 2006; Kochhar-Bryant, 2007; Lamb, 2007; Leconte, 2006; Madaus et al, 2006; Madaus & Shaw, 2006a, 2006b; Shaw, 2006; Sitlington & Clark, 2007). Three articles (18.8%) provided a SOP template (Gormley, 2007; Kochhar-Bryant & Izzo, 2006; Martin et al, 2007).…”

“…A well-developed SOP will provide adult service agencies, institutions of higher education, secondary schools, students, and families with a resource designed to decrease the discrepancy between postsecondary goals (i.e., what students plan to do) and postschool experiences (i.e., what students actually do) for students with disabilities (Izzo & Kochhar-Bryant, 2006). SOPs provide a synthesis of information gathered during high school in simple language, including academic and functional performance data as well as recommendations to improve the likelihood of postsecondary success.…”

Learning to Achieve: A Review of the Research Literature on Serving Adults with Learning Disabilities

“…In theory and practice, the SOP is available to provide a wide variety of specific information to guide professionals who will work with individuals with LD in settings beyond their high school years (Izzo & Kochhar-Bryant, 2006;. It provides a starting point for programming and services beyond the school-age years not seen since the first federal mandatory special education law, P.L.…”