The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1990 requires that the Individualized Education Program (IEP) of each student with disabilities, beginning no later than age 16, contain a statement of needed transition services. Since 1992, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has monitored the implementation of the transition services provisions of the Act by those States and entities receiving IDEA-Part B monies. This article presents an analysis of the extent to which states and entities implemented the transition services requirements during the 1993-94 through 1996-97 monitoring cycles based on OSEP's monitoring reports. This study reviewed the status of implementation prior to the 1997 amendments to IDEA that added the requirements for a statement of transition service needs. This article offers recommendations for policy changes to ensure that students receive the required transition services consistent with IDEA's statutory and regulatory provisions.
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