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Last week, a parent and a special education teacher sent an identical email to Wrightslaw: Help! I need good IEP goals and objectives.
I know my son's IEP is not appropriate. The school's IEP goal for him is 'Commitment to academic success.' I need to find good IEPs to help me construct a model. Can you give me examples of well-written IEPs? - Diane, parent
I am a first year special education teacher. I need to see some good IEP goals. I haven't had enough experience with this. Can you point me in the right direction? - Mary, special educator
As IEP season rolls on, Pete and Pam have been swamped with emails from parents and educators who have questions about how to write good IEP goals.
What makes writing IEP goals so tricky?
If you use Google to search for "IEP goals," you will find thousands, tens of thousands, perhaps millions of IEP goals. None of these IEP goals may be helpful.
Why? When you develop an IEP, you need to focus on the unique needs of one child at one point in time. A goal or activity that is appropriate for that one child may be entirely inappropriate for another child - even a child with the same "label."
When you ask for a list of "good IEP goals," you put the cart before the horse!
When you read (and do the assignments) in the Wrightslaw Game Plan for SMART IEPs, you'll find writing appropriate IEP goals easy. You will learn to use objective tests to identify the child's present levels and unique needs, develop appropriate academic and functional goals, and monitor the child's progress.
Bonus: You will feel more confident at the next IEP meeting!
Use the SMART IEP Pop-Up Tool Use the SMART IEP Pop-Up Tool
The SMART IEP Pop-Up Tool is a series of questions about developing IEPs. When you click a question, you get the answer, the federal law and regulation supporting the answer, and links to more information about that topic. (Updated with Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 3rd Edition published in April 2023)
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