The second step in the instructional process is to develop goals and objectives based on the child's current level of communication. IDEA uses the terms "academic and functional" to describe the kind of goals that need to be written. Writing annual goals flows from the child's present levels of academic and functional performance. The skills targeted should be directly observable and measurable with specific criteria for success.
Academic Goals
Answering the question "what does the child need to learn or do academically?" indicates an academic goal. Examples could include learning to identify a range of sight words or write more proficiently. Other goals may target learning that comes from a special education or individualized curriculum, such as reading Braille. In many situations, goals and objectives must be tied to state standards. At the same time, it is important to develop goals and objectives that have both immediate and future utility.
Functional Goals
Another area for goals includes what the child needs to learn or be able to do functionally. These type of goals don't come under a typical "academic" curriculum. However, if a child has functional needs that impact participation in the educational environment, such as learning to communicate with an augmentative communication device, then goals to meet these needs would be critical to include in the IEP. Examples of functional goals include learning to eat independently, using public transportation, or communicating with an augmentative communication device,
IEP teams should ask:
- What can the student currently do?
- What challenging, yet attainable, goal can we expect the student to achieve in a year?
- How will we know that the student has reached this goal?
Source: (NICHCY, Online)
Goals can include a performance indicator (e.g., "Tom will identify a range of sight words at the first grade level or above.") or indicate a rate (e.g., "Maria will use signs to request desired objects in 3 out of 5 trials with no more than 50% teacher prompts or cues.")
A well written goal should describe a skill that can be seen and measured. It answers:
Who - will achieve?
What - skill or behavior?
How - in what manner or at what level?
Where - in what setting or under what condition?
When - by what time?
