IEP Goals in Delaware: What Parents Need to Know
What makes an IEP goal measurable in Delaware?
Delaware IEP goals must be measurable annual goals. Notably, Delaware requires short-term objectives or benchmarks for ALL students with disabilities, not only those taking alternate assessments — this exceeds the federal baseline of 34 CFR 300.320(a)(2)(ii), which requires benchmarks only for students taking alternate assessments (14 Del. Admin. Code 925 § 9.1(b)). Goals must address the student's disability-related needs and enable progress in the general curriculum. The IEP must describe how progress toward annual goals will be measured and how parents will be regularly informed of that progress (14 Del. Admin. Code 925 § 9.1(b), (h)). Parents must be informed of progress toward goals at least as frequently as report cards are issued to nondisabled students. Goals are reviewed at least annually, and the IEP must be revised when the student is not making expected progress, when new evaluation data warrants a change, or when the parent or teacher requests a revision.
What Delaware Requires
Annual goals must be measurable and address disability-related needs to enable progress in the general curriculum (14 Del. Admin. Code 925 § 9.1(b); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(2)).
Delaware requires short-term objectives or benchmarks for ALL students with disabilities — this exceeds the federal baseline, which requires them only for students taking alternate assessments (14 Del. Admin. Code 925 § 9.1(b)).
The IEP must describe how progress toward each annual goal will be measured and the schedule for providing parents with regular progress reports (14 Del. Admin. Code 925 § 9.1(h)).
Parents must be informed of the student's progress toward annual goals at least as frequently as report cards are issued to nondisabled students (14 Del. Admin. Code 925 § 9.1(h); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)).
Goals must be revised when the student is not making expected progress or when reevaluation or changed circumstances warrant revision (14 Del. Admin. Code 925 § 11.0).
Key Timelines
Annual goals cover a one-year period and are reviewed at least annually at the IEP meeting (14 Del. Admin. Code 925 § 11.0).
Progress reports on goals must be provided at least as frequently as report cards for nondisabled students (14 Del. Admin. Code 925 § 9.1(h)).
Goals must be revised before the annual review if the student is not making expected progress toward meeting them (14 Del. Admin. Code 925 § 11.0).