IEP Goals in Louisiana: What Parents Need to Know
What makes an IEP goal measurable in Louisiana?
Louisiana requires measurable annual goals in every IEP consistent with Bulletin 1706, §320(A)(2). Annual goals must address the student's disability-related needs to enable involvement and progress in the general education curriculum. Louisiana follows the federal standard: short-term objectives or benchmarks are required only for students taking alternate assessments aligned to alternate achievement standards — they are NOT required for all students with exceptionalities. For transition-age students (age 16 and older), the IEP must include measurable postsecondary goals based on age-appropriate transition assessments related to training or education, employment, and, where appropriate, independent living skills (Bulletin 1706, §320(B)). Goals must be written to allow for meaningful progress monitoring and must be reported to parents at least as frequently as nondisabled peers receive report cards. Louisiana uses standardized IEP forms available through the LDOE, and Louisiana Believes provides IEP Training Modules covering data-driven goal writing.
What Louisiana Requires
All IEPs must include measurable annual goals designed to meet disability-related needs and enable progress in the general education curriculum (Bulletin 1706, §320(A)(2)).
Bulletin 1706, §320(A)(2)
Short-term objectives or benchmarks are required ONLY for students taking alternate assessments; they are not required for all students with exceptionalities in Louisiana (Bulletin 1706, §320(A)(2)).
Bulletin 1706, §320(A)(2)
For students age 16 and older, the IEP must include measurable postsecondary goals based on age-appropriate transition assessments addressing training/education, employment, and independent living (Bulletin 1706, §320(B)).
Bulletin 1706, §320(B)
Annual goals must be written so progress can be objectively measured and reported to parents at minimum as frequently as nondisabled peers receive report cards (Bulletin 1706, §320(A)(3)).
Bulletin 1706, §320(A)(3)
Key Timelines
Annual goals must be reviewed and updated at each annual IEP meeting, at minimum annually (Bulletin 1706, §324(B)).
Progress toward annual goals must be reported to parents on the same schedule as report cards are issued to general education students (Bulletin 1706, §320(A)(3)).
Sources
Related IEP Guides
IEP Goals: How to Tell If They're Actually Good (With Examples)
Are your child's IEP goals actually good enough? Real examples of vague vs. strong goals, plus the exact questions to ask at your next meeting.
IEP Goal Progress Monitoring: How to Know If Your Child Is Actually Making Progress
How IEP goal progress is measured, what progress reports should include, what to do when progress stalls, and how to hold schools accountable.
Present Levels (PLAAFP): The IEP Section That Drives Everything Else
The Present Levels section is the foundation of the IEP. Learn what it should include, red flags to watch for, and how to add your voice.