Goals

How does the IEP team decide what my child’s goals are going to be?

At every IEP meeting, the IEP team reviews a set of measurable goals that were set at the previous meeting and also reviews how much progress was made towards reaching those goals. Information towards meeting these goals is from a variety of sources including your child’s most recent IEP evaluation, standardized testing, and reports from teachers.

What should the goals be based on?

Partly, your child’s goals are going to be based on their present level of performance. The present level of performance describes how your child is doing now and their current skills and areas of weakness. You can also request a strength assessment to evaluate your child’s areas of strength. Remember, even if it doesn’t feel this way, your child is much more than their disabilities, and it is important to remember that at an IEP meeting.

What does a “measurable goal” mean?

Goals cannot be broad statements about what your child will accomplish in a year. They must be able to be measured through some sort of statistics, though they do not have to be based on academics. For example, if your child is struggling to speak with other people, a measurable goal can be for your child to initiate a conversation with a peer without the help of an aide three out of five opportunities to do so.