How should the independence conclusion be completed if team members have differing opinions/judgments regarding the students behavior?
The team is seeking evidence that supports a shared opinion. This is achieved by identifying convergent data that supports the conclusion. An independence conclusion considers the extent to which the behaviors that are the focus of the IEP goal are occurring in varied settings. This is only experienced by seeing the behaviors occur or skills applied beyond the direct influence of the professional supporting the IEP goal. The IEP team is seeking an understanding of the behaviors. Everyone’s experience is valid. It may be that behaviors are not uniformly demonstrated in all environments. This is important information that may give direction to future content of the IEP.
