An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legally binding document that details a student's unique learning needs as well as the educational services and accommodations that will be provided to meet those needs. A well-written IEP will provide a solid framework for the student's learning plan and serves as a guiding communication tool among the school, the student, the student's family, and the outside service providers.

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Critical to a well-implemented IEP, are strong, well-written IEP goals which help to create a precise roadmap for a student's education, by helping teachers and parents focus their efforts, and ensure that the student receives the appropriate support and tools necessary to achieve their full potential.

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What are SMART IEP Goals?

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For IEP goals to be effective, they should follow the SMART model. They should be:

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• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Relevant
• Time-bound

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To summarize, IEP goals should explicitly state what the student will achieve, how progress will be measured, and when the goal will be achieved.

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Writing effective SMART IEP goals takes practice and time. To help get you and your IEP/Special Education team started, we've put together an IEP bank, featuring 100 SMART IEP goals for each content area. Feel free to bookmark this tab for future use. As always, make sure to modify the IEP SMART goals to fit the student's and schools specific needs and timelines.

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Early Literacy IEP SMART Goals

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1. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to identify and name all uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet with 90% accuracy.

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2. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to segment and blend CVC words with 80% accuracy.

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3. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to read and comprehend simple sentences with 90% accuracy.

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4. By the end of the trimester, the student will be able to identify and produce rhyming words with 80% accuracy.

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5. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to read and comprehend simple stories with 90% accuracy.

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6. After 12 weeks, the student will be able to identify and produce beginning, middle, and ending sounds in simple words with 80% accuracy.

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7. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to use phonics rules to decode unfamiliar words with 90% accuracy.

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8. By the end of the school year,  the student will be able to recognize and use high-frequency words in context with 80% accuracy.

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9. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to identify and use punctuation marks appropriately in their writing with 90% accuracy.

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10. After 9 weeks, the student will be able to write their name and other simple words with proper letter formation and spacing with 80% accuracy.

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Language Arts SMART IEP Goals

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1. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to read and comprehend grade-level text with 80% accuracy.

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2. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to write a five-paragraph essay with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion, with 80% accuracy.

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3. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to identify and use 50 new vocabulary words in context with 80% accuracy.

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4. After 12 weeks, the student will demonstrate fluency by reading 120 words per minute with 80% accuracy, as measured by teacher-administered fluency assessments.

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5. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to use assistive technology to communicate their thoughts and ideas with their peers and teachers with 80% accuracy.

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6. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to identify and analyze the elements of different types of literature, including plot, character, setting, and theme, with 90% accuracy.
7. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to identify and use literary devices, including metaphor, simile, and symbolism, with 80% accuracy.

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8. After 9 weeks, when given an X-level text, the student will read with 90% accuracy, as measured by teacher observations and running record.

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9. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to identify and use different types of sentence structures, including simple, compound, and complex, with 80% accuracy.

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10. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to apply grammar and punctuation rules appropriately in their writing, with 80% accuracy.

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Early Mathematics SMART IEP Goals

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1. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to count to 20 and recognize numbers up to 10 with 90% accuracy.

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2. After 12 weeks, the student will be able to add and subtract numbers up to 5 with 80% accuracy.

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3. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to identify and sort basic shapes, including circles, squares, and triangles, with 90% accuracy.

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4. By the end of the trimester, the student will be able to identify and compare sizes, including big and small, tall and short, with 80% accuracy.

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5. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to recognize and create patterns with shapes and colors with 90% accuracy.

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6. After 9 weeks, the student will be able to count and group objects up to 10 with 80% accuracy.

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7. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to identify and use coins and bills up to $1 with 90% accuracy.

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8. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to identify and extend simple number patterns with 80% accuracy.

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9. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to tell time to the hour and half-hour with 90% accuracy.

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10. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to use basic measurement tools, including rulers and scales, to compare sizes and weights with 80% accuracy.

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Intermediate Math SMART IEP Goals

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1. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to add and subtract multi-digit numbers with regrouping up to 1000 with 90% accuracy.

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2. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to multiply and divide single-digit numbers with 80% accuracy.

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3. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to identify and use common fractions and decimals up to the hundredths place with 90% accuracy.

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4. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to solve word problems involving multiplication and division with 80% accuracy.

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5. By the end of the trimester, the student will be able to identify and use different types of angles, including acute, obtuse, and right angles, with 90% accuracy.

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6. After 9 weeks, the student will be able to identify and classify different types of polygons, including triangles, quadrilaterals, and pentagons, with 80% accuracy.

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7. By the end of the trimester, the student will be able to use a protractor to measure angles with 90% accuracy.

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8. After 9 weeks, the student will be able to solve problems involving perimeter and area of rectangles and squares with 80% accuracy.

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9. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to identify and use the coordinate plane to locate points with 90% accuracy.

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10. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to solve problems involving elapsed time and time zones with 80% accuracy.

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Science SMART IEP Goals

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1. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to identify and describe the different states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) with 80% accuracy.

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2. After 9 weeks, the student will be able to identify and explain the water cycle and its different stages with 90% accuracy.
3. By the end of the trimester, the student will be able to identify and describe the different types of rocks and how they form with 80% accuracy.

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4. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to identify and explain the basic structures and functions of plants and animals with 90% accuracy.

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5. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to conduct simple experiments and record their observations and data with 80% accuracy.

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6. By the end of the trimester, the student will be able to identify and describe the different types of energy, including potential, kinetic, and thermal energy, with 90% accuracy.

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7. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to identify and describe the different types of forces, including gravity, friction, and magnetism, with 80% accuracy.

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8. By the end of the trimester, the student will be able to identify and explain the basic features of the solar system, including planets, moons, and stars, with 90% accuracy.

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9. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to use scientific tools, including magnifying lenses and microscopes, to observe and record data with 80% accuracy.

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10. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to design and carry out simple investigations, including forming hypotheses and collecting data, with 90% accuracy.

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Social Studies SMART IEP Goals

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1. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to identify and explain the fundamental principles of the US Constitution with 90% accuracy.

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2. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to identify and describe the different levels of government in the US and their respective powers with 80% accuracy.

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3. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to identify and explain the major events and causes of the American Revolution with 90% accuracy.

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4. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to identify and describe the different cultural and religious traditions in the US with 80% accuracy.

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5. By the end of the school year, the student will describe the roles and responsibilities of community helpers such as police officers, firefighters, and nurses, and explain how they contribute to the community's well-being, with 80% accuracy as measured by teacher observations and assessments.

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6. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to identify and explain the significance of discussed, key historical figures, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln, with 80% accuracy.

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7. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to identify and explain the different types of economic systems, including capitalism and socialism, with 90% accuracy.

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8. By the end of the school year, the student will demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of maps and globes, including identifying continents and oceans, reading simple maps, and understanding basic map symbols, with 80% accuracy as measured by teacher observations and assessments.

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9. By the end of the trimester, the student will identify and describe at least three cultural celebrations or traditions in their own community and explain their significance, as measured by teacher observations and class assignments.

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10. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to use primary and secondary sources to conduct research and present findings about a social studies topic of their choice with 80% accuracy.

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Foreign Language SMART IEP Goals

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1. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to recognize and correctly pronounce the sounds of the target language's alphabet with 80% accuracy.

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2. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to hold a basic conversation in the target language, including introducing themselves and asking and answering simple questions, with 90% accuracy.

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3. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to recognize and use basic vocabulary related to daily life, including numbers, colors, and common objects, with 80% accuracy.

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4. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to read and understand simple texts in the target language, including short stories and articles, with 90% accuracy.

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5. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to write simple sentences and paragraphs in the target language, including describing themselves and their surroundings, with 80% accuracy.
6. By the end of the trimester, the student will be able to recognize and use more advanced vocabulary related to specific topics, including travel, food, and hobbies, with 90% accuracy.

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7. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to recognize and use basic grammar structures in the target language, including verb conjugation and sentence structure, with 80% accuracy.

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8. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to listen to and understand longer conversations and presentations in the target language, including news broadcasts and speeches, with 90% accuracy.

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9. By the end of the trimester, the student will be able to understand and follow simple directions in the target language, such as "stand up," "sit down," "open your book," etc., as measured by teacher observations and assessments.

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10. By the end of the school year,  the student will be able to engage in a simple conversation in the target language with the teacher or a peer, using at least 10 common phrases or questions, as measured by teacher observations and assessments.

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Music IEP SMART Goals

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1. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to identify and describe different types of musical instruments and their sounds with 80% accuracy.

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2. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to play basic melodies on a chosen instrument with 90% accuracy.

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3. By the end of the trimester, the student will be able to read and understand basic music notation with 80% accuracy.

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4. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to perform in a group ensemble with their peers with 90% accuracy.

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5. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to recognize and describe different genres of music with 80% accuracy.

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6. By the end of the trimester, the student will be able to recognize and identify at least five basic musical symbols, such as notes, rests, and clefs, as measured by teacher observations and assessments.

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7. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to identify and describe different elements of music, such as rhythm and harmony, with 80% accuracy.

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8. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to sing or play a piece of music in a foreign language with 90% accuracy.

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9. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to sing or play simple songs with correct pitch and rhythm, as measured by teacher observations and assessments.

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10. By the end of the trimester, the student will be able to keep a steady beat using percussion instruments, such as drums and rhythm sticks, in time with recorded or live music, as measured by teacher observations and assessments.

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Fine Arts SMART IEP Goals

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1. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to identify and describe different artistic styles and movements, such as impressionism and surrealism, with 80% accuracy.

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2. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to create original artwork using a variety of techniques, including drawing, painting, and sculpture, with 90% accuracy.

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3. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to identify and describe different elements of art, such as color and form, with 80% accuracy.

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4. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to create a drawing or painting that shows depth, using techniques such as overlapping, shading, or size variation, as measured by teacher observations and assessments.

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5. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to recognize and describe the cultural and historical context of different works of art, with 80% accuracy.

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6. After 9 weeks, the student will be able to identify and describe at least three elements of art, such as line, shape, color, or texture, as measured by teacher observations and assessments.

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7. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to create collaborative art projects with their peers, with 80% accuracy.

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8. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to analyze and interpret different types of art, including music and dance, with 90% accuracy.

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9. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to create digital art using different software and hardware tools, with 80% accuracy.

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10. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to create an original artwork that demonstrates an understanding of a specific art movement or artist, such as Impressionism or Pablo Picasso, as measured by teacher observations and assessments.

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Physical Education SMART IEP Goals

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1. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to demonstrate basic physical fitness, including flexibility, strength, and endurance, as determined by grade level expectations.

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2. Given a two-step visual direction which requires a physical response (ex. clap hands then jump up), STUDENT will look at each picture to complete the response sequence, with 80% accuracy, in 4 out of 5 opportunities, by MONTH, YEAR.

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3. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to demonstrate proper form and technique for a chosen exercise or movement with 80% accuracy.

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4. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to work collaboratively with their peers in group activities with 90% accuracy.

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5. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to identify and describe the benefits of regular physical activity and exercise with 80% accuracy.

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6. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to create and implement a personal fitness plan with measurable goals and objectives with 90% accuracy.

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7. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to recognize and describe different sports and activities, including their rules and strategies, with 80% accuracy.

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8. By the end of the trimester, given picture cards of parts of the body labeled by what each body part is called, the student will ________ (read/repeat/identify/match) each picture card, with 80% accuracy, in 4 out of 5 opportunities.

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9. By the end of the semester, the student will be able to demonstrate proper safety procedures and precautions when engaging in physical activity with 80% accuracy.

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10. By the end of the school year, the student will be able to demonstrate basic gross motor skills, such as running and jumping, with 80% accuracy.

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