Being SMART

Writing a cogent, comprehensive, and understandable IEP is tough.  Even with a standardized format, goal banks, and computerized writing tools, writing an IEP can daunting for even long-experienced folks.  Sandwiched between basic information on the first page and everyone’s signatures on the back page are the student’s profile and his specially designed goals and objectives. 

Most departments of education and most school districts get pretty nit-picky about goal-writing.  Each goal needs to identify several components:  (1) who (2) will do what (3) to what degree (4) under what conditions (5) for how long?  And (6) how will you know? To confound goal-writing even more, we have to make sure our goals are SMART; that is, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.  And let’s not forget that the goals have to be tied to the curriculum standards.

If you, your colleagues, or your staff suffers from some level of IEP-Writing Phobia, or you just want to develop more confidence and competence in writing defensible IEPs, PLC Consultants offers a learning module where real practice leads to real results through online support and collaborative learning.  Take a look.