Standards-Based Individualized Education Program (SB IEP) Process Training Course 3: Drafting Measurable Annual Academic and Functional Goals 26-27

This course provides participants with the essential knowledge and skills needed to develop appropriate, ambitious IEPs through the creation of measurable annual goals. Participants will explore the requirements for developing compliant and high-quality academic and functional goals that support a student's access to, participation in, and progress within the enrolled grade-level general education curriculum.

Throughout the course, participants will examine federal and state regulations related to measurable annual goals, learn the four required components of a well-written goal, and practice drafting goals that are both meaningful and measurable. The course also addresses the connection between annual goals and a student's identified needs, including how functional goals support curriculum access. Participants will learn when short-term objectives or benchmarks are required and how to develop them as intermediary steps toward achieving an annual goal. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to write standards-based annual goals and supporting objectives that promote meaningful student progress and guide effective instructional planning.

The intended audience for this course is special education teachers, related service providers, and any other professional staff responsible for drafting a student’s IEP, including the PLAAFP statement and measurable annual goals.

The other courses in this series include:

• SB IEP Process Training Course 1: Foundational Concepts and Student Data
• SB IEP Process Training Course 2: Developing the Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP)
• SB IEP Process Training Course 4: Determining Specially Designed Instruction (SDI)

If this if the first time engaging with the SB IEP process, it is highly recommended that learners complete the individual course series in order as this provides the knowledge needed to understand how the components of the SB IEP process connect.

If the SB IEP Process Training was previously completed and learners want to revisit concepts, reinforce skills, or engage in targeted practice, these courses provide additional clarity or practice and support continued professional growth.