IEP Goals in Rhode Island: What Parents Need to Know
What makes an IEP goal measurable in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island IEP goals must be measurable annual goals designed to enable the student to be involved in and make progress in the general curriculum and to meet other educational needs resulting from the disability. Under 200-RICR-20-10-1.6(A)(2), goals must be measurable and address the student's needs. Consistent with federal law (34 CFR 300.320(a)(2)), benchmarks or short-term objectives are required for students who take alternate assessments aligned to alternate achievement standards, but Rhode Island encourages their use for all students as best practice. The IEP must describe how progress toward annual goals will be measured and how parents will be regularly informed of that progress (200-RICR-20-10-1.6(A)(3)). Goals must be revised when a student is not making expected progress, when reevaluation results indicate changed needs, or upon parent or teacher request.
What Rhode Island Requires
Annual goals must be measurable and address the student's disability-related needs to enable progress in the general curriculum (200-RICR-20-10-1.6(A)(2); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(2)).
Benchmarks or short-term objectives are required for students taking alternate assessments aligned to alternate achievement standards (200-RICR-20-10-1.6(A)(2); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(2)(i)).
The IEP must include a description of how progress toward each annual goal will be measured (200-RICR-20-10-1.6(A)(3); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)).
Parents must be informed of progress toward annual goals at least as frequently as report cards are issued to nondisabled students (200-RICR-20-10-1.6(A)(3); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)(ii)).
Goals must be revised when the student is not making expected progress or when evaluation data indicates a change in need (200-RICR-20-10-1.6(D)).
Key Timelines
Annual goals cover a one-year period and are reviewed at least annually at the IEP meeting (200-RICR-20-10-1.6(D)).
Progress reports must be provided at least as frequently as report cards for nondisabled students (200-RICR-20-10-1.6(A)(3); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)).
When a student is not making expected progress, the IEP team should reconvene before the annual review to revise goals (200-RICR-20-10-1.6(D)).