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SMART IEP Goal Writing Workshop

Learn to write meaningful, measurable goals that drive real progress for your student

What Makes a SMART Goal?

S

Specific

Clear and focused on one skill or behavior

Instead of: "improve reading" → Use: "accurately decode multisyllabic words"
M

Measurable

Quantifiable so progress can be tracked

Instead of: "do better in math" → Use: "solve 8 out of 10 addition problems correctly"
A

Achievable

Realistic within the timeframe given

Instead of: "become grade-level proficient" → Use: "increase reading level by 2 grades"
R

Results-Based

Focused on outcomes, not activities or services

Instead of: "receive speech therapy" → Use: "produce /r/ sounds correctly in 90% of opportunities"
T

Time-Bound

Has a specific deadline (usually 1 year for IEP)

Instead of: "eventually improve" → Use: "by June 30, 2026"
Reading Goal Example

The Goal:

By June 30, 2026, Student will read and comprehend grade-level fiction and non-fiction texts, answering 4 out of 5 comprehension questions correctly.

Baseline (Current Performance):

Currently reads and comprehends at 2.0 grade level

How It Will Be Measured:

Running records and comprehension assessments given monthly

✓ Why this works: It's specific about what the student will do, measurable (85%), achievable in one year, results-based (not focused on therapy), and time-bound (by June 30).

Every Good Goal Has These Parts:

1. Timeline (By when?)

"By June 30, 2026..."

2. Who is doing what? (The student, not the teacher)

"Student will read and comprehend..."

3. Specific skill or behavior (What exactly?)

"...grade-level fiction and non-fiction texts..."

4. Measurement (How will we know?)

"...answering 4 out of 5 comprehension questions correctly."

Your Goal Writing Process
  1. 1

    Identify the skill gap

    What can your student do now? What skill are they missing?

  2. 2

    Write the baseline

    Describe current performance with specific numbers or descriptions

  3. 3

    Set realistic targets

    What's achievable in one year with appropriate services?

  4. 4

    Draft the goal using SMART format

    Include: By [date], Student will [skill] [condition] [measurement]

  5. 5

    Plan how progress will be monitored

    Who will collect data? How often? Using what tools?