IEP Goals in Vermont: What Parents Need to Know
What makes an IEP goal measurable in Vermont?
Vermont IEP goals must be measurable annual goals that address the student's disability-related needs and enable progress in the general curriculum, consistent with VT AOE Rule 2360.7.1. For students who take alternate assessments aligned to alternate achievement standards, Vermont requires benchmarks or short-term objectives on the IEP (VT AOE Rule 2360.7.1; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(2)(ii)). The IEP must describe how progress toward annual goals will be measured and how parents will be regularly informed (34 CFR 300.320(a)(3); VT AOE Rule 2360.7.1). The IEP team must consider the student's strengths, parental concerns, recent evaluation results, and academic, developmental, and functional needs when developing goals. Goals are reviewed at least annually, and the IEP must be revised when the student is not making expected progress, when reevaluation results indicate new needs, or when the parent or teacher requests a revision.
What Vermont Requires
Annual goals must be measurable and address disability-related needs to enable progress in the general curriculum (VT AOE Rule 2360.7.1; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(2)).
For students taking alternate assessments aligned to alternate achievement standards, Vermont requires benchmarks or short-term objectives (VT AOE Rule 2360.7.1; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(2)(ii)).
The IEP must describe how progress toward each annual goal will be measured (VT AOE Rule 2360.7.1; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)).
Parents must be informed of progress toward annual goals at least as frequently as progress reports are issued to nondisabled students (VT AOE Rule 2360.7.1; 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 (VT AOE Rule 2360.7.2).
Key Timelines
Annual goals cover a one-year period and are reviewed at least annually at the IEP meeting (VT AOE Rule 2360.7.2).
Progress reports must be provided at least as frequently as progress reports are provided to parents of nondisabled students (VT AOE Rule 2360.7.1; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)).
Goals must be revised when a student is not making expected progress, which may require convening the IEP team before the annual review (VT AOE Rule 2360.7.2).