IEP goals describe what a student will learn or focus on.
IEP goals set the bar for measuring the student’s progress with the provided services and support.
We have discussed having high expectations for your child and the importance of communicating those expectations. Now, it is time to write goals that will help your child reach those expectations.
- You will not have to do this alone.
- This is a team effort; you will work with school personnel to develop the goals based on your child’s strengths and needs.
- IEP goals should build on the child’s strengths and address the skills that need support.
- The team will discuss the specially designed instruction and related services needed to support your child.
- Specially designed instruction and services are based on your child’s present levels of performance (PLOP).
- Your child’s present levels of performance are determined by the educational evaluation your child has recently completed.
Writing a goal is a step-by-step process with a clear outcome. The outcome keeps your child working toward your high expectations. Your child’s goals should not be general; they should be written as SMART goals. A SMART goal helps guide the goal-setting process.
To write SMART goals, each goal should be:
- S= Specific (Be specific about what you want your child to accomplish)
- M= Measurable (How will you know you met your goal? – helps you track progress)
- A= Attainable (Is it realistic for your child to reach the goal? Is it challenging your child but still achievable?)
- R= Relevant (Does the goal benefit your child? Does it align with your high expectations?)
- T= Timely (Give your goal a deadline.)
By including these criteria in the goals, we can focus on the efforts and increase the chances of achieving the goals.
Example of a social-emotional SMART goal:
Student will ask for help from peers rather than the teacher in the classroom 50% of the time for the next 6 months.
This goal encourages social connections when the child is older, which will contribute to meaningful relationships and employment in the future.
Example of an academic SMART goal:
By the end of the IEP period, the student will form upper and lower case letters with improved accuracy and legibility in 80% of written assignments.
Attainable: Is this goal realistic for your child at this time?
Relevant: Is it important for your child to accurately and legibly print?
Resources:
IEPs: Setting IEP goals – Understood
How to tell if your child’s IEP goals are SMART – Understood
Next Topic: High Expectations for the Life Span
Hello,
I am so happy you are visiting the Early Childhood Insights blog! I want to tell you a bit about me – I am a mother to two grown boys and a grama. I have worked in the classroom and as a special education advocate, helping families. I enjoy helping families navigate their children’s educational journey. I have personally experienced the journey of special education with my son. I could have done more to help him earlier if I had known more. My passion is introducing families to topics early on and prompting them to ask questions to those working with their children. I encourage and support them to become informed parents. Information is power, and you are your child’s best advocate. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have.
Marcie Beers
mlbeers@iu.edu
Project Manager, Early Childhood Center IIDC
Mother, Special Education Advocate
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