If you are like many parents, you feel anxious and insecure at IEP meetings. What do you know? What can you offer? What should you do?

Some parents believe that if they are not educators, thay have nothing ot value to offer in planning their child's educational program. Other parents realize that their child's IEP is not appropriate bit do not know how to resolve the problem. If you are a parent of a child with a disability, you are probably confused too. How do you write IEP goals and objectives?

Learning About SMART IEP's

The term SMART IEP's describes IEP's that are specific, measurable, use action words, are realistic and relevant, and time-limited.

S Specific

M Measurable

A Use Action Words

R Realistic and Relevant

T Time-limited

Let's briefly examine each of these concepts.

Specific

SMART IEP's have specific goals and objectives. Specific goals target areas of academic achievement and functional performance. They include clear descriptions of the knowledge and skills that will be taught and how the child's progress will be measured.

Look at these two goals. Which one is specific?

Timmy will increase study skills for academic success.

Timmy will demonstrate the following study skills: skimming written material and use reference materials in social studies class.

Measurable

SMART IEP's have measurable goals and objectives. Measurable means you can count or observe it. Measurable goals allow parents and teachers to know how much progress the child has made since the performance was last measured. With measurable goals, you will know when the child reaches this goal.

Which of these two goals is measurable and observable?

Timmy will improve his reading skills?

Given second grade material, Timmy will read a passage of text orally at 110-130 wpm with random errors.

Action Words

IEP goals include three components that must be stated in measurable terms

(a) direction of behavior (increase, decrease, maintain, etc.)

(b) area of need (i.e. reading, writing, social skills, transition, communication, etc.)

(c) level of attainment (i.e. to age level, without assistance, etc.)

SMART UEP's use action words like: "The child will be able to..." Which of these goals is specific, measurable and include action words?

Timmy will decrease his anger and violation of school rules?

Provided with anger management training and adult support, Timmy will be able to remove himself from environments that cause him to lose control of his behavior so that he has no disciplinary notices.

Realistic and Relevant

SMART IEP's have realistic, relevant goals and objectives that address the child's unique needs that result from the disability. SMART IEP goals are not based on district curricula, state or district tests, or other esternal standards. Which of these goals is specific, measurable, and realistic?

Timmy will demonstrate improved writing skills.

Timmy will improve his writing and spelling skills so eh can write a clear, cohesive, and readable paragraph consisting of at least 3 sentences, including compound and complex sentences that are clearly related.

Time-limited

SMART IEP goals and objectives are time-limited. What does the child need to know and be able to do after one year of special education? What is the starting point for each of the child's needs (present levels of academic achievement and functional performance)?  Time-limited goals and objectives enable you to monitor progress at regular intervals.

Assume your child is in the fifth grade. Timmy's reading skills are at the early third grade level. Here is a specific, measurable, time0limited goal that tells you what Timmy can do now and what he will be able to do after one year of special education:

Present Level of Performance: Given third grade material, Timmy reads 50-70 wpm with 4-6 errors.

Annual Goal: Give fifth grade material, Timmy will read 120 wpm with only random errors.

To ensure that Timmy meets his goal, we will measure this progress at nine-week intervals (4 times during the school year).

After 9 weeks, given third grade material, Timmy will read 110 to 120 wpm with 1-2 errors

After 18 weeks, given fourth grade material, Timmy will read 10-100 wpm with 1-3 errors

After 27 weeks, given fifth grade material, Timmy will read 70-100 wpm with 1-3 errors.

At the end of the year, Timmy will read 120 wpm with only random errors.

This is just an overview of SMART IEP's. If you would like further information on this subject, please feel free to contact our office.