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Sort expenses into needs and wants

6-8, 9-12Percent accuracyTemplateReview and individualize before use. How templates are made
When to use this goal

For middle school students starting to manage their own money who spend it all on the first thing they see. A first budgeting skill; present levels in reading or picture use decide fit, not grade.

Baseline
Use 2 sets of cards across 2 sessions. Agree the key with the student for items that can be either (a phone can be a need for safety and work); score those on the reason given.
Tips
Respect that wants matter; budgets that leave no fun money fail. Use expenses from the student's life and family culture.
Limits
Needs and wants depend on the person; the key is a team and family agreement, not a fixed answer.

Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID tn-pf-002.

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Student

How the goal refers to the student

Skill

What the student will do

Something an adult can see, count or time.

Condition

When or under what conditions

Support

Support allowed

Criterion

Percent of attempted items answered correctly.

Sample numbers. Replace them with the student's data.

Criterion wording

Data collection

Scoring completed student work (permanent products) against a defined answer key or checklist.

How often data are collected
Mastery rule

How many measurements must meet the criterion.

Timeframe

Timeframe

Goal

By the annual IEP review date, given 12 to 15 expense cards with prices (rent, groceries, phone bill, concert tickets, new shoes) and a needs and wants sorting mat, the student will sort each expense as a need or a want and give a reason for the hard ones independently with at least 85% accuracy on expenses sorted as needs or wants, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected weekly.

Baseline: 55% accuracy.

  • Condition
  • Observable behavior
  • Criterion
  • Measurement method

ObjectivesCopy by fieldData sheet

Measurability check11 of 11 met
  • Met: Observable behavior. Stated as an action.

  • Met: Condition. Stated.

  • Met: Unit fits the behavior. Percent accuracy fits this behavior.

  • Met: Explicit criterion. Number and unit stated.

  • Met: Mastery rule and schedule. Both stated.

  • Met: Method produces the metric. Work-sample analysis gives percent accuracy 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 Personal Finance & Money Management.

  • 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.

Build objectives by

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
Transition & Postsecondary Skills - Personal Finance & Money Management
Baseline
55% accuracy.
Annual goal425 characters
By the annual IEP review date, given 12 to 15 expense cards with prices (rent, groceries, phone bill, concert tickets, new shoes) and a needs and wants sorting mat, the student will sort each expense as a need or a want and give a reason for the hard ones independently with at least 85% accuracy on expenses sorted as needs or wants, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected weekly.
Timeframe
By the annual IEP review date
Condition
Given 12 to 15 expense cards with prices (rent, groceries, phone bill, concert tickets, new shoes) and a needs and wants sorting mat
Behavior
The student will sort each expense as a need or a want and give a reason for the hard ones independently
Criteria
With at least 85% accuracy on expenses sorted as needs or wants, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes
Evaluation method
Work-sample analysis
Schedule
Weekly

Copied as plain text, with straight quotes and plain dashes.

Matching data sheet

Accuracy tracker. Records number correct and number attempted.

The CSV opens in Excel or Google Sheets, with formulas. Sheets print blank; no student data is stored.