As a parent, how can you know that the school team has written good IEP goals for your child? How can you confidently participate in the IEP process without feeling like the school is speaking a different language? Here are some actionable steps you can take to ensure that your child’s IEP goals are measurable and appropriate.
Why Do IEP goals matter?
IEP goals drive the specialized instruction your child needs to make progress. They must be based on your child’s individual needs, and progress reporting on each goal should help guide the team’s understanding of whether your child is receiving the appropriate education they are guaranteed under law.
As education attorneys, we frequently ask ourselves the following questions about IEP goals that we are reviewing. As a parent, you should also ask these questions.
Do the IEP Goals Address My Child’s Needs?
Schools may fail to set goals that are relevant to your child’s biggest challenges. You may have a child who struggles with reading fluency, for example, but whose IEP only contains a goal for reading comprehension. Without a reading fluency goal, your child’s education program will not address this need. Be sure you understand the areas of need, and why each goal was chosen. You can do this by looking at the “present levels of performance” section of the IEP, where needs should be listed.
Ask yourself:
- Do the goals cover all of the needs identified in the present levels of performance?
- Is measurable data required specifically by each goal?”
- Are the goals ambitious (meaning, will they be appropriately challenging? Teams often write goals that are too easy.)?
- Should goals be added or changed to better reflect my child’s areas of weakness?
Note that if your child needs help with phonics and decoding, their goals should focus specifically on those skills—not just general “reading improvement.” Also, “reading comprehension” is often given as a goal to students who really need decoding and reading fluency goals. This is one of the most common mistakes we see in Maryland IEPs when working with our clients on their child’s IEP goals.
Does My Child Need Functional or Social Skills Goals?
Many IEPs focus on academics but forget important life skills like:
- Communication skills (for nonverbal children, students who have speech delays, or students struggle with pragmatics)
- Social skills (for children who struggle with peer interactions)
- Executive functioning (for children who need help with organization, planning, or transitions)
- If your child needs support to develop daily life skills, don’t hesitate to ask for additional goals in these areas.
Did the Team Consider Your Observations and Concerns when Developing Goals?
You know your child best. If you’ve noticed struggles at home—whether in homework, daily routines, or social interactions—bring those concerns to the IEP team.
The IEP process allows you to submit a “parental Input Statement” ahead of your meeting. This is one opportunity to provide the IEP team with information about both the strengths and areas of concern for your child. You can also contact the team when they send you a draft IEP in advance of the meeting. You are getting a draft in advance, aren’t you?
You might say:
“At home, I notice that Emma struggles to read sight words that she has already be taught. How can we make sure her IEP includes a goal for that?”
This helps guide the conversation toward goals that actually benefit your child’s real-life progress.
What Should You Do If the School Pushes Back?
It’s not uncommon for schools to resist making changes to an IEP. If that happens, here’s what you can do:
- Remain calm and persistent. Didn’t get an answer to your question? Ask again.
- Request documentation. If a school refuses to change a goal, ask them to put the reason in writing. You have the right to this reasoning.
- Seek outside support. A special education advocate or education attorney can help if the school is not meeting your child’s needs.
You don’t have to be an expert in special education to effectively participate in your child’s IEP meeting. By asking the right questions and advocating for relevant goals, you can help shape an education plan that truly supports your child’s needs.
This blog post is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need advice from an education lawyer or special education advocate, you can schedule a call HERE.