How Do You Write Smart IEP Goals?
Individual Education Plans are often established for students who are struggling due to developmental delays or disabilities. Students who are observed to be missing accepted grade-level benchmarks may be assigned an IEP. However, setting vague goals such as “increasing academic performance” are inadequate and often yield poor results. A simple acronym has been designed to help parents and educators design more concrete IEP goals. The acronym SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant, and Time-Limited. When all of these aspects are included in an IEP goal, the effectiveness of the overall plan is dramatically increased. Designate a time to meet for a discussion. Teachers and parents need to meet, preferably with the student, to discuss the shortcomings of that child’s academic performance. Working cooperatively will make the IEP process smoother and less confusing for everyone involved. Identify a specific area in which the student needs to improve. Instead of stating
