There is a lot that goes into choosing and creating IEP goals. Do you know what information to use to guide you? Do you know where to find it? How do you integrate the information in the family’s vision statement? With so much to consider, it can be a daunting task to choose the IEP goals that will benefit your student the most.
The seven steps below can help guide you to determine what goals should be included in the IEP.
Steps to Choosing the Most Appropriate IEP Goals
1. Look at the Student’s Progress on Last Year’s Goals
2. Look at the Latest Evaluation Report
3. Look at Any Work Samples
If the student has not had an IEP or if the one last year was unsuccessful, you will want to look at work samples. This might be from a report card, grades on a homework assignment, samples of how they do in class, or even something from home like a drawing. You could also ask teachers or parents for samples from when they have worked with the student.
What is important is to look at how the student is behaving, what his work looks like, and if it is something he can improve upon or not. Technology gives us another option: With so many surveys, checklists, and other forms on the internet, you might be able to find a sample that will help you determine the student’s strengths and weaknesses. When looking, you might want to see what other teachers have used or look at samples from other children your student’s age.
4. Look at the Grade Level Standards
It is important to look at the standards that your state has set or your student’s grade level. They will vary from state to state and even district to district, but it will give you a good idea of what information has been deemed necessary for success in school. This can help guide what should be included in the IEP goals so that they are meaningful and appropriate.
5. Then Determine What IEP Goals to Work On
After going through the previous steps, you should have a good idea of where your student is in relation to their peers. If he is struggling and falling behind, you will want to look at goals that help him catch up. That might mean having short-term goals or review sessions during the school day so the students can work on skills or concepts they are struggling with.
If, however, the student is succeeding and doing well at tasks or subjects, then you will want to look at what he can do next. That might be moving on to a more advanced math course or being exposed to different areas of study.
If you’re looking at the grade level content standards and have baseline data on the students, but still are not sure where to go next – give our IEP Matrix a try.
6. Think of How You Can Write Functional Academic Goals
Functional academic goals should be written to include what the student is doing right now, not just what he will have to learn in the future. When writing functional academic goals, make sure you use language that shows progress towards mastery and always describe the expected behavior using positive terms. You should also be looking at functional academic goals beyond just academic areas, but also in the areas of self-care, home living, social skills, and community involvement.
7. Don’t Forget to Align the IEP Goals with the Present Levels and the Family’s Vision
The IEP goals for a student should be related to what he and his family envision for the future. While parents, teachers, and administration will all discuss this statement it’s important to consider it when choosing IEP goals. You can use the information from that meeting, as well as, any prior evaluations or work samples in creating appropriate goals for your students.
IEP goals should be chosen with care and a clear understanding of what the child currently needs and what the goals for his academic success look like. Take into consideration all of the factors of his progress, current levels, and what the family’s goals are for the student when choosing IEP goals.
- Don’t forget to keep IEPs strengths-based and student-focused.
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