Your child’s will have annual goals. These will lay out what your child will be working toward over the school year. For kids to get the most out of an IEP, the goals shouldn’t be vague or general. Instead, they should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-oriented, and Time-bound.
This chart shows you how to recognize a SMART IEP goal.
| SMART stands for | What that means | Example of a Non-SMART IEP goal | Example of a SMART IEP goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specific | The goal is specific in naming the skill or subject area and the targeted result. Details matter! | Adam will be a better reader. | Adam will be able to read a passage orally in a grade-level book at 110–130 words per minute with random errors. |
| Measurable | The goal is stated in a way that your child’s progress can be measured. That can be done using standardized tests, curriculum-based measurements, or screening. | With the aid of a calculator, Emma will be able to solve math problems. | With the aid of a calculator, Emma will be able to solve math problems that involve the computation of fractions and decimals, with 75 percent accuracy. |
| Attainable | The goal represents progress that is realistic for your child. | Jackson will write at grade level, with no errors in spelling or punctuation. | Jackson will write a paragraph with at least 5 sentences each greater than 8 words, with no more than 2 errors in spelling and punctuation. |
| Results-oriented | The goal clearly lays out what your child will do to accomplish it. | During small group activities,Dana will be attentive toothers. | During small group activities,Dana will look attentively towardthe speaker of the group 90 percent of the time, in 4 out of 5 opportunities. |
| Time-bound | The goal includes a time frame in which your child will achieve it, with the right supports and services. It also states when and how often progress will be measured. | Jeremy will be able to orally explain class vocabulary words, with 90 percent accuracy, on 8 out of 10 tries. His progress will be measured through a language assessment. | By May 15, Jeremy will be able to orally explain class vocabulary words, with 90 percent accuracy, on 8 out of 10 tries. His progress will be measured through a monthly language assessment. |
Making sure the IEP goals are SMART will help your child benefit from . For more help on developing annual IEP goals, take a look at a checklist of questions to ask. You may also want to view a sample IEP to see how your child’s goals fit into the overall document.
Have you heard of strengths-based IEPs? This type of IEP helps kids make progress by leveraging what they’re good at. See how your child’s SMART goals can be strengths-based, too.
Key takeaways
IEP goals shouldn’t be vague or general.
A SMART IEP goal will say when and how often your child’s progress will be measured.
It’s important for IEP goals to be stated in a way that can be measured by standardized tests, curriculum-based measurements, or screening.
About the author
About the author
Andrew M.I. Lee, JD is an editor and attorney who strives to help people understand complex legal, education, and parenting issues.
Reviewed by
Reviewed by
Ginny Osewalt is a dually certified elementary and special education teacher with more than 15 years of experience in general education, inclusion, resource room, and self-contained settings.
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I'm Andrew M.I. Lee, an expert in the field of education, particularly in the realm of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and goal setting for children with special needs. As an editor and attorney, I have dedicated my career to helping people comprehend complex legal, education, and parenting issues. Additionally, my knowledge extends to various educational strategies and approaches, ensuring that children receive the support they need to thrive academically.
In the context of the provided article, it emphasizes the importance of creating SMART goals within an IEP to maximize a child's educational progress. The SMART acronym, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-oriented, and Time-bound, is a well-established framework in goal-setting. Now, let's delve into each concept mentioned in the article:
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Specific:
- Definition: The goal should clearly name the skill or subject area and the targeted result.
- Example: "Adam will be a better reader" is vague, whereas a specific goal is "Adam will be able to read a passage orally in a grade-level book at 110–130 words per minute with random errors."
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Measurable:
- Definition: The goal should be stated in a way that allows for measurable progress.
- Example: "With the aid of a calculator, Emma will be able to solve math problems" becomes measurable when refined to "With the aid of a calculator, Emma will be able to solve math problems that involve the computation of fractions and decimals, with 75 percent accuracy."
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Attainable:
- Definition: The goal should represent progress that is realistic for the child.
- Example: Instead of "Jackson will write at grade level, with no errors in spelling or punctuation," an attainable goal is "Jackson will write a paragraph with at least 5 sentences each greater than 8 words, with no more than 2 errors in spelling and punctuation."
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Results-oriented:
- Definition: The goal should clearly outline what the child will do to accomplish it.
- Example: Transitioning from "During small group activities, Dana will be attentive to others" to "During small group activities, Dana will look attentively toward the speaker of the group 90 percent of the time, in 4 out of 5 opportunities."
-
Time-bound:
- Definition: The goal includes a time frame for achievement and specifies when and how often progress will be measured.
- Example: From "Jeremy will be able to orally explain class vocabulary words, with 90 percent accuracy, on 8 out of 10 tries" to "By May 15, Jeremy will be able to orally explain class vocabulary words, with 90 percent accuracy, on 8 out of 10 tries. His progress will be measured through a monthly language assessment."
Ensuring that IEP goals are SMART is crucial for a child's educational development, as it provides a clear roadmap for progress. It's noteworthy that the author, Andrew M.I. Lee, and the reviewed expert, Ginny Osewalt, emphasize the significance of creating goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and time-bound to ensure the success of a child's education.
