SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                               ------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  January 25, 2000




                    USA GROUP SECONDARY MARKET SERVICES, INC.
               (Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware                          333-77301                35-1872185
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(State or Other                   (Commission              (IRS Employer
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation)   File Number)             Identification No.)



           30 South Merdian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-3503
           ---------------------------------------------------------
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (317) 951-5640


                                 Not Applicable
                   ------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)




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Item 5.  Other Events.

In connection  with the offering of SMS Student Loan Trust 2000-A  Floating Rate
Asset Backed Notes,  Class A-1 and Class A-2 (the "Senior Notes")  pursuant to a
Prospectus dated January 12, 2000 and a Prospectus  Supplement dated January 12,
2000,  Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP has prepared a tax opinion  attached hereto
as Exhibit 8.1

The Senior  Notes will be issued  pursuant to an  Indenture  (the  "Indenture"),
dated as of January 1,  2000,  between  the SMS  Student  Loan Trust  2000-A and
Bankers Trust Company, as indenture trustee.

Capitalized  terms  not  defined  herein  have  the  meanings  assigned  in  the
Indenture.


Item 7.  Financial statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

         (c)  Exhibits

              EXHIBIT NO.
              -----------

              8.1   Opinion of Stroock & Stroock  &  Lavan LLP  with  respect to
                    federal tax matters


<PAGE>






                                   SIGNATURES


                    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act
of 1934,  the  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                           USA GROUP SECONDARY MARKET
                           SERVICES, INC. as originator of the Trust
                                                                    (Registrant)


                           By: /s/ Cheryl E. Watson
                              ---------------------
                              Name: Cheryl E. Watson
                              Title: Senior Vice President and
                                     Chief Financial Officer

Date:  February 2, 2000



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NUMBER      DESCRIPTION
--------------      -----------

      8.1           Opinion  of  Stroock & Stroock  &  Lavan LLP with respect to
                    federal tax matters