Goal Writing

Goals always have 4 parts.

Direction - increase/improve or decrease

NOTE: Maintain has limited use. A student with a maintenance goal would be expected to be dismissed from special education within a semester or so.

Skill identified by evaluation report - ______ skill
Current level - "from (PLEP data)"
Attainment level - "to (new data point)"

If you are NOT required* to do objectives, a fifth part is required at the end of the goal "as measured by..." The measurement tool cannot be observation or teacher discretion. The tool must be a tangible record you could produce to show someone if requested to do so, i.e. observation notes, worksheets, point sheets, charts.

*Federal law has repealed objectives; however, individual States may require them.

Goal Template:

Student will __(direction)__ __(evaluated need area)__ skill from __(number from PLEP)__ to __(new number)__.

By putting the word "skill" into your goal, you won't be tempted to write inappropriate goals like:

Marta will complete her homework from never to always.
John will pay attention more often.
Nevin will solve problems with 75% accuracy.

Instead a well-written goal would be:

Marta will improve her organization skills so she completes homework from 0% to 50% as measured by teacher records.Â
John will improve his self-management skills from earning 50% to earning 75% of the possible points on his chart.
Nevin will improve his math calculation skills from 60% to 75% on the skills listed above.

Need more examples of good PLEPs and Goals? Join The Club and have access to over 200 PLEP-goal pages.

Click here to learn about writing better PLEPs.

Click here to see a PLEP template that might be useful.

Click here for a FREE sample PLEP-goal page.