What To Do If Your Student Isn’t Progressing Toward Their IEP Goals

Parents and educators alike put a great deal of effort into creating an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that addresses the unique needs of each student. 

However, despite these best efforts, there may come a time when a student isn’t making the expected progress toward their IEP goals. This can be frustrating, but it also provides an opportunity to reassess the plan to make sure the necessary support is in place. 

Here are several steps you can take if your child isn’t progressing as anticipated.

1. Request  an IEP Meeting

If your child isn’t making progress, you have the right to request an IEP meeting at any time. 

Don’t wait for the annual review if things aren’t going well. Agenda items could include reviewing current goals, assessing the effectiveness of existing supports, and discussing any additional evaluations that might be necessary.

Use this meeting to bring up your concerns, review progress data and teacher reports, and discuss what changes could be made to the current plan.  The IEP team can modify goals, update accommodations, or adjust services to better support your child.

If you and the team feel that there are new factors interfering with your child’s learning or their ability to access their education, the school may decide to do additional testing to identify what is impacting their educational progress. 

2. Review the IEP Goals and Objectives

The first step is to review the IEP goals and objectives to determine whether they are realistic and measurable. 

Sometimes, the goals might be too ambitious for the student's current abilities, or they may not be specific enough to track progress effectively. 

Work with the IEP team to evaluate whether the goals need to be adjusted to better match your child's current level of performance.

3. Analyze the Services and Accommodations

If the goals are appropriate, the next step is to analyze the services and accommodations provided in the IEP. 

Are these supports truly meeting your child’s needs? For example, is the student receiving enough time in speech therapy, occupational therapy, or any other services outlined in the plan? Is the instruction aligned with your student’s area of need?

Make certain that all accommodations, are being implemented consistently across all subjects and settings 

4. Stay Involved and Monitor Progress

Finally, continue to stay actively involved in your child’s education.

Regularly communicate with teachers, therapists, and other team members to monitor progress. Request regular updates on your child’s performance, and don’t hesitate to speak up if you notice areas where they are still struggling.

Taking these steps will help ensure that your child’s IEP continues to meet their evolving needs and supports their ongoing educational success.

About Education Empowerment Partners 

Education Empowerment Partners was founded by Kate Lakowski, a nationally certified school psychologist who is uniquely qualified to help you with your child’s needs. Through a collaborative approach and data-based decision making, Kate will work with your child’s educational team to develop a plan that will help lead to successful outcomes for your child’s educational career and future goals.

For more information, visit educationempowermentpartners.com.