How are my child's needs and goals determined?

Your child's needs and goals are determined for their Individualized Education Program (IEP) through a combination of evaluation and IEP Team discussion. This is an important part of the special education process that helps determine the right support for your child..

Evaluating Your Child's Current Performance

The first step in determining your child's needs and goals is to assess their current performance. This involves:

1. Reviewing evaluation results from tests and assessments
2. Looking at classroom work and performance
3. Considering observations from teachers, parents, and other school staff
4. Examining how your child's disability affects their involvement and progress in the general curriculum

This information creates a picture of your child's present levels of educational performance, which serves as the starting point for developing goals.

Identifying Areas of Need

Based on the current performance assessment, the IEP team (which includes you as the parent) will identify specific areas where your child needs support. These could be academic skills, social or behavioral needs, physical abilities, or other educational needs resulting from your child's disability.

Developing Annual Goals

Once the areas of need are clear, the team will create annual goals for your child. These goals should:

• Be measurable, so progress can be tracked
• Be achievable within one year
• Address the needs identified in the present levels of performance
• Focus on helping your child access and make progress in the general curriculum
• Include a statement of supports and levels of independence.

For example, if your child struggles with reading comprehension, a goal might be: "By the end of the school year, when given a 5th-grade level text, [Child's Name] will be able to identify the main idea and three supporting details with 80% accuracy in 4 out of 5 trials. The following supports will be provided: [name support] and phased out through [include a phase-out plan]."

Breaking Down Goals into Objectives

For some students, especially those taking alternate assessments, the annual goals are broken down into short-term objectives or benchmarks. These provide smaller, more manageable steps towards achieving the larger annual goal. This also provides a timeline to evaluate and increase or phase out supports.

Considering Multiple Areas

Remember, goals aren't just academic. Depending on your child's needs, goals might address:

• Academic skills (reading, writing, math)
• Social skills
• Behavioral needs
• Communication skills
• Physical abilities
• Functional skills for daily living

Your Role as a Parent

As a parent, you play the central role in this process. You know your child best, so your input is invaluable. Share your observations, concerns, and hopes for your child during IEP meetings.

Regular Review and Adjustment

Goals aren't set in stone. They should be reviewed at least annually, and can be adjusted if your child is progressing faster or slower than expected. You can request a review of the IEP at any time if you feel the goals need to be reconsidered.

Getting Support

If you're feeling overwhelmed or unsure about this process, help is available. The free "Ask an Advocate" webinar and free consultation offered at Advocacy Unlocked can provide guidance on understanding and participating in the goal-setting process.

The goal is to create an educational program tailored to your child's unique needs. By actively participating in this process, you're helping to ensure your child receives the support they need to succeed.