Short-term objectives and benchmarks

When are they required?

Under the federal IDEA regulations, every IEP must include measurable annual goals (34 CFR §300.320(a)(2)(i)). A description of benchmarks or short-term objectives is required for children with disabilities who take alternate assessments aligned to alternate academic achievement standards (34 CFR §300.320(a)(2)(ii)).

States and districts can require objectives for more students, and some do. Check your state's regulations and your district's procedures. IEP Atlas treats objectives as optional and doesn't decide whether your student needs them.

Separately, every IEP must describe how progress toward annual goals will be measured and when periodic progress reports will be provided (34 CFR §300.320(a)(3)). That applies whether or not objectives are written.

Objectives vs. benchmarks

The terms are often used interchangeably. In common usage, short-term objectives break a skill into component steps, and benchmarks describe the expected level of performance at points during the year. IEP Atlas supports both approaches.

Three ways to write aligned objectives

1. Intermediate criteria

Keep the behavior, condition, and support the same, and step the criterion from the baseline toward the annual target. IEP Atlas spaces the intermediate targets evenly between the baseline and the target, rounds them sensibly for the unit, and never lets an objective go past the annual goal or in the wrong direction.

2. Fading support

Keep the annual criterion and reduce support at each checkpoint, for example from “with a model and two verbal prompts” to “with one verbal prompt” to the goal's level of independence.

3. Skill progression

Use easier versions of the skill that build toward the goal, such as CVC words, then blends, then the annual goal's word types. IEP Atlas offers this when a template defines a real sequence.

Keep them aligned

• Objectives should measure the same thing, in the same unit, with a compatible method as the annual goal.
• Each objective should be a meaningful step, not just a smaller percentage.
• If you change the annual goal, update the objectives. IEP Atlas warns you when they were generated from an older version.

Open the builder to generate objectives for any goal.

Sources

• 34 CFR §300.320 — Definition of individualized education program — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
• 34 CFR §300.160 — Participation in assessments — Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School

This page summarizes federal regulations for general information. It isn't legal advice.