IEP Goals in Missouri: What Parents Need to Know
What makes an IEP goal measurable in Missouri?
Missouri requires measurable annual goals in every IEP consistent with 34 CFR 300.320(a)(2) and the Missouri State Plan Regulation IV. Annual goals must address the child's disability-related needs to enable involvement and progress in the general education curriculum. Missouri follows the federal standard: short-term objectives or benchmarks are required only for students who take alternate assessments aligned to alternate achievement standards — they are NOT required for all students with disabilities. This differs from states like New Jersey and Michigan that require short-term objectives for all classified students. 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. Missouri DESE promotes the use of S.M.A.R.T. goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) and provides IEP goal resources to districts. Goals must be written to allow for meaningful progress monitoring and must be reported to parents on the same schedule as report cards are issued to nondisabled students (34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)).
What Missouri Requires
All IEPs must include measurable annual goals, including academic and functional goals, designed to meet disability-related needs and enable progress in the general education curriculum (Missouri State Plan, Regulation IV; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(2)).
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 disabilities in Missouri (34 CFR 300.320(a)(2)(ii)).
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 (34 CFR 300.320(b)).
Annual goals must be written so that progress can be objectively measured and reported to parents, at a minimum as frequently as nondisabled peers receive report cards (34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)).
Missouri DESE promotes S.M.A.R.T. goal writing (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) through state training and IEP form guidance (Missouri DESE IEP guidance).
Key Timelines
Annual goals must be reviewed and updated at each annual IEP meeting (34 CFR 300.324(b)).
Progress toward annual goals must be reported to parents on the same schedule as report cards are issued to general education students (34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)).