Tracking progress to Goal on your child's IEP

[Anonymous]

I am looking at my DS's progress report and his IEP and there are phrases such as " completed goal X on 5 out of 10 opportunities". I've asked them to share the raw data they presumably collect. I was given some sheets of paper with some subjective observations recorded and I am not able to see how they end up with 5 out of 10. I've asked our IEP team that question and waiting for their response.

Now I am wondering whether there is a common standard/process at MCPS to collect data in support of IEP progress to goal and where can I find that information?

Do you have an understanding on how they come up with such numbers on your child's IEP?

[Anonymous]

I honestly think they just make it up.

[Anonymous]

My kid is in MCPS. I never think too much when it mentions 5 out of 10 opportunities on IEP report. I think when it says that it achieve goal = they can handle my child and my child is making progress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in MCPS. I never think too much when it mentions 5 out of 10 opportunities on IEP report. I think when it says that it achieve goal = they can handle my child and my child is making progress.

I pretty much feel the same. The way it was explained to me is that there would be a set time for observation and that’s what the score was based on. Teachers don’t run around with checklists all day documenting every IEP goal for every kid with an IEP. I usually felt they were pretty accurate based on what I saw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly think they just make it up.

and so do I

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am looking at my DS's progress report and his IEP and there are phrases such as " completed goal X on 5 out of 10 opportunities". I've asked them to share the raw data they presumably collect. I was given some sheets of paper with some subjective observations recorded and I am not able to see how they end up with 5 out of 10. I've asked our IEP team that question and waiting for their response.

Now I am wondering whether there is a common standard/process at MCPS to collect data in support of IEP progress to goal and where can I find that information?

Do you have an understanding on how they come up with such numbers on your child's IEP?

If they say your child has demonstrated a goal on 5 out of 10 opportunities then they should have data to back it up - a checklist, observation log, actual work samples, etc. So if the goal is for your child to add single digit numbers with 80% accuracy on 3 out of 4 trials, they should have 4 checklists that recorded him/her practicing flash cards and the percent correct for each trial. That's in an ideal world but it doesn't seem to happen that way. If you have concerns about your child's progress or you disagree with what they are reporting you should ask for more details or data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly think they just make it up.

and so do I

I KNOW some of them do in FCPS. We were at an IEP meeting with the PSL in attendance and reviewing the data because the teacher indicated DS had mastered the goal. I was dumbfounded because I saw absolutely nothing indicating he was even making progress on it. Turns out, the teacher's data didn't support the assertion he had mastered it. The teacher's response was that she thought she was required to indicate students mastered their goals. The PSL about lost her sh!t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking at my DS's progress report and his IEP and there are phrases such as " completed goal X on 5 out of 10 opportunities". I've asked them to share the raw data they presumably collect. I was given some sheets of paper with some subjective observations recorded and I am not able to see how they end up with 5 out of 10. I've asked our IEP team that question and waiting for their response.

Now I am wondering whether there is a common standard/process at MCPS to collect data in support of IEP progress to goal and where can I find that information?

Do you have an understanding on how they come up with such numbers on your child's IEP?

If they say your child has demonstrated a goal on 5 out of 10 opportunities then they should have data to back it up - a checklist, observation log, actual work samples, etc. So if the goal is for your child to add single digit numbers with 80% accuracy on 3 out of 4 trials, they should have 4 checklists that recorded him/her practicing flash cards and the percent correct for each trial. That's in an ideal world but it doesn't seem to happen that way. If you have concerns about your child's progress or you disagree with what they are reporting you should ask for more details or data.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly think they just make it up.

and so do I

I KNOW some of them do in FCPS. We were at an IEP meeting with the PSL in attendance and reviewing the data because the teacher indicated DS had mastered the goal. I was dumbfounded because I saw absolutely nothing indicating he was even making progress on it. Turns out, the teacher's data didn't support the assertion he had mastered it. The teacher's response was that she thought she was required to indicate students mastered their goals. The PSL about lost her sh!t.

Geez, that is terrible. I mean what the teacher said

[Anonymous]

You need to call and IEP meeting. Modify the goals to something more objective and state exactly how the goal will be measured.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly think they just make it up.

and so do I

I KNOW some of them do in FCPS. We were at an IEP meeting with the PSL in attendance and reviewing the data because the teacher indicated DS had mastered the goal. I was dumbfounded because I saw absolutely nothing indicating he was even making progress on it. Turns out, the teacher's data didn't support the assertion he had mastered it. The teacher's response was that she thought she was required to indicate students mastered their goals. The PSL about lost her sh!t.

Wow. I hope you have a recording of that meeting.

[Anonymous]

Is this a speech language goal? SLPs often don't have tangible materials aside from their check marks on a scrap of paper. Data doesn't come from quizzes or a worksheet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a speech language goal? SLPs often don't have tangible materials aside from their check marks on a scrap of paper. Data doesn't come from quizzes or a worksheet.

Those are social/emotional and behavioral goals

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly think they just make it up.

This. Even in the years they give me their data and assignments tracked, the conclusions don't add up. MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly think they just make it up.

This. Even in the years they give me their data and assignments tracked, the conclusions don't add up. MCPS.

+1 Goals should be measurable. MCPS spends more time avoiding teaching students than actually doing what the IEP says to do.