Goals on an IEP are the most important indicator of how well your child is in gaining skills.
Your child’s IEP goals should address the skills that need support due to learning and attention issues. Are the supports academic or behavioral? Do they require in-classroom assistance or a resource room?
Effective IEP goals are strengths-based which means that they are specific, measurable, attainable, and results-oriented goals.
You can track your child’s progress toward IEP goals throughout the year to stay informed.
They are reviewed, at least once a year, but more often as needed.
The purpose of an IEP goal is to help the student gain mastery towards grade level standards.
When reviewing goals, start from Present Levels of Performance; what is the student able to do now.
Next, be specific in what should be addressed – which skill or subject area.
Next, how will the goal be measured? Standarized tests, assessments, writing samples, screening?
Next, make sure that the student can realistically progress throughout the school year. How will the student accomplish the goal? And, for how long and with what support or services?
A goal should be very specific and detail exactly what the student will focus on and accomplish.
Make sure goals are clear and understandable for all.
Are goals standard based? Do they list ways for measuring? Can the goals be attained? And, if not, what will be done to help the student more specifically.
And, more importantly, ask questions and make sure that your voice is part of the development of goals.
