Transition IEPs and Expressed Needs, Preferences, and Interests

In Sinan v. School District of Philadelphia, 48 IDELR 97 (E.D. Pa. 2007), the parents of a 19-year-old special education student contended the district failed to mention vocational and practical living goals in their child's IEP; therefore, the transition plan was incomplete. According to the parents, IDEA obligated the district to plan for a student's postsecondary vocational and practical training regardless of the expressed desires of the parents. According to the district, the plan called for the student to meet with college guidance counselors and that the transition plan was limited to college preparation rather than vocational goals at the parents' insistence. Observing that "case law does not offer strong support for the plaintiffs' proposition that the district has an affirmative duty to provide for vocational and practical training in all transition plans, without regard to a student's individual needs and preferences," the court held that "the transition plan's focus on college planning was appropropriate given [the student's] needs, preferences and interests at the time."