What is the difference between short-term objective and a benchmark?
Appendix A to Part 300 — Notice of Interpretation describes short-term objectives as measurable intermediate steps and benchmarks as major milestones that enable parents, students, and educators to monitor a student’s progress toward achieving the annual goals that are part of the IEP at intermediate times during the year. Appendix A adds: “…IEP teams may continue to develop short-term instructional objectives, that generally break the skills described in the annual goal down into discrete components. The revised statute and regulations also provide that, as an alternative, IEP teams may develop benchmarks, which can be thought of as describing the amount of progress the child is expected to make within specified segments of the year. Generally, benchmarks establish expected performance levels that allow for regular checks of progress that coincide with the reporting periods for informing parents of their child’s progress toward achieving the annual goals. An IEP team may use either
