Accept 'no' from an adult and move on
When to use this goal
For students who repeat the request, negotiate at length, or escalate when an adult says no to something the adult decides (a seat change, a different assignment, extra recess). Base the choice on current responses to no. Tolerating denial of items and breaks is covered in replacement-behavior; this template targets adult decisions.
- Baseline
- Record 5 or more denials: accepted, repeated the request 2 or more times, argued, or escalated. Note what was requested; some requests are fair and the plan should say yes more often. Practice the acceptance phrase when calm first.
- Tips
- Say yes when the request is fair; a goal about accepting no works only when no is used for real reasons. One repeat of the request is allowed by the definition, and asking to talk later counts as acceptance. Keep the adult's reply to one sentence; long explanations invite debate.
- Limits
- Natural denials cluster on bad days; planned practice evens out the data but is lower stakes. A quiet student who stops asking altogether has not necessarily met the goal; the goal is accepting no, not giving up requests.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID bh-dir-011.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, when the student asks for a change (a different seat, partner, task order, or activity) and the adult says no, the student will independently respond with the taught acceptance phrase and return to the activity within 30 seconds without repeating the request more than once in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weekly data summaries, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily during planned and natural denials, summarized weekly.
Baseline: 1 of 5 opportunities.
- Condition
- Observable behavior
- Criterion
- Measurement method
Measurability check11 of 11 met
Met: Observable behavior. Stated as an action.
Met: Condition. Stated.
Met: Unit fits the behavior. Opportunities fits this behavior.
Met: Explicit criterion. Number and unit stated.
Met: Mastery rule and schedule. Both stated.
Met: Method produces the metric. Opportunity (trial) recording gives opportunities data.
Met: Review timeframe. Stated.
Met: Baseline and target compatible. Same unit, change in the right direction.
Met: Aligned with area of need. Still about Following Adult Directions.
Met: Level of support. Defined.
Met: Blanks filled in. Nothing left to fill in.
Checks structure and wording only. Whether the goal fits the student is the team's call.
Short-term objectives (optional)
When are objectives required?Required for students on alternate assessments (34 CFR §300.320(a)(2)(ii)); some states require them for everyone.
Paste into your IEP system
Most district systems have a separate box for each part of a goal. Copy them one at a time, or all at once as labeled text.
- Area of need
- Behavior & Classroom Expectations - Following Adult Directions
- Baseline
- 1 of 5 opportunities.
- Annual goal500 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, when the student asks for a change (a different seat, partner, task order, or activity) and the adult says no, the student will independently respond with the taught acceptance phrase and return to the activity within 30 seconds without repeating the request more than once in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weekly data summaries, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily during planned and natural denials, summarized weekly.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- When the student asks for a change (a different seat, partner, task order, or activity) and the adult says no
- Behavior
- The student will independently respond with the taught acceptance phrase and return to the activity within 30 seconds without repeating the request more than once
- Criteria
- In at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weekly data summaries
- Evaluation method
- Opportunity-by-opportunity data
- Schedule
- Daily during planned and natural denials, summarized weekly
Copied as plain text, with straight quotes and plain dashes.
Matching data sheet
Opportunity tracker. One box per opportunity in each session.
Opportunity tracker
Opportunities- Student label:
- Target:
- in at least 4 of 5 opportunities
- Mastery rule:
- across 3 consecutive weekly data summaries
- Collection schedule:
- daily during planned and natural denials, summarized weekly
- Method:
- Opportunity (trial) recording
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, when the student asks for a change (a different seat, partner, task order, or activity) and the adult says no, the student will independently respond with the taught acceptance phrase and return to the activity within 30 seconds without repeating the request more than once in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weekly data summaries, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily during planned and natural denials, summarized weekly.
Key: + demonstrated independently · P demonstrated with a prompt (note type) · − not demonstrated · NA no opportunity occurred
| Date | Activity / context | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | # + (of 5) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview shows 4 of 12 rows.
- Record up to 5 opportunities per session, matching the goal's denominator.
- Define in advance what counts as an opportunity so every data collector records the same thing.
- Count only + marks toward the criterion unless the goal specifies prompted responses.
The CSV opens in Excel or Google Sheets, with formulas. Sheets print blank; no student data is stored.