There are many elements to a well-written IEP. Two of the most important are SMART goals and well-written baselines.
SMART Goals
When creating a child’s IEP, it is important to have the team collaborate on SMART IEP goals. SMART is an acronym for goals that are: Specific, Measurable, Appropriate, Realistic, and Time-sensitive. Goals that follow the SMART guidelines are easier for trained observers to record data and determine whether or not a student is making progress.
Here are two examples: “John will play appropriately with others during recess,” and, “With one verbal prompt, Emma will initiate an activity of her choice during recess with a peer (such as tag, soccer, et cetera) and take at least 3 turns in the activity for 3 minutes in 4 out of 5 opportunities.”
John’s goal cannot be measured objectively. Whether he is succeeding or even working towards achieving the goal is subjective. Emma’s goal can be measured by collecting data.
Well-Written Baselines
While writing SMART goals is an important part of the IEP process, so is writing specific baselines that directly correspond to the goal. There are many instances where baselines are written and do not include the goal; we cannot evaluate progress on a goal if we do not know where the student began.
In the goal examples listed above, a vague baseline might be “Emma does not like being on the playground.” This is a common example of an irrelevant baseline. While this is helpful information about Emma’s preferences, the goal is not set to measure her like or dislike of the playground. A specific baseline for John might be: “With two verbal prompts, John engages with a peer in an activity of his choice for 1 minute.”
Why are baselines sometimes inconsistent with goals?
There are a variety of reasons why your child’s baselines are poorly written. It could be carelessness, lack of training, or an intent to make the progress on goals harder to track. Regardless, make sure your child’s baselines are specific and measurable.
As parents, we understand. As advocates, we can help.
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