Transition & Postsecondary Skills IEP goals for Developmental Delay
8 transition & postsecondary skills templates across 3 skills: community access & travel, independent living, self-determination. Each opens in the builder with a matching data sheet.
8 templates · 3 skills · 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 · How we write and review goals
Goals by skill
Numbers are illustrative; set targets from the student's own baseline.
Community Access & Travel Transition & Postsecondary Skills
Check out books at the public library
Public library
By the annual IEP review date, during a class or family visit to the public library, with the student's library card and 1 to 3 chosen items, the student will check out the chosen items and put the receipt with them, performing at least 5 of 6 steps independently, on 3 consecutive library visits, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected at each library visit.
Board a city bus and find a seat
Riding a bus route with a travel plan
By the annual IEP review date, when the bus arrives at the stop on a class trip or family ride, with an adult beside the student holding the fare, the student will board the bus, pay or show the fare, and sit or hold a pole before it moves, performing at least 4 of 5 steps independently, on 3 consecutive bus rides, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected at each bus ride.
Independent Living Transition & Postsecondary Skills
Make a no-cook meal from a written recipe
Cooking from a recipe
By the annual IEP review date, given a written recipe with photos for a cold meal (such as a turkey wrap or a pasta salad) in the school kitchen, the student will prepare the cold meal and plate it, performing at least 8 of 9 steps independently, on 3 consecutive cooking sessions, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected weekly during cooking class.
Choose meals that include each food group
Meal planning
By the annual IEP review date, given photo cards of foods and a plate model showing food groups, the student will build a meal that includes a food from each group on the plate model independently with at least 85% accuracy on meals that include each food group, in 3 of 4 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected weekly.
Self-Determination Transition & Postsecondary Skills
Solve classroom problems with a picture card
Problem solving with a step framework
By the annual IEP review date, when a classroom problem comes up, such as a missing material, a dull pencil or a computer login that fails, the student will follow the problem-solving card to fix the problem or choose a second fix, performing at least 5 of 6 steps independently, on 3 consecutive observed problems, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected at each problem that comes up, summarized weekly.
Choose the order of work session tasks
Making choices across the day
By the annual IEP review date, at the start of an independent work session with three assigned tasks shown on a task board, the student will choose the order of the tasks, place them on the board and start the first task chosen independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, for 3 consecutive weeks, as measured by direct observation collected daily during the work session, summarized weekly.
Self-determination, career exploration, employment, postsecondary education, independent living, and community access for students 14 to 21. Developmental Delay is a category states may use for young children, generally ages 3 through 9, when a delay in one or more areas calls for special education. The goals below are preschool and early elementary goals across communication, motor, social, adaptive, and readiness skills.
Matching data sheets
Each goal above links to the blank sheet built for its measure. These are the sheets this set of goals uses:
- Task-analysis checklistMarks each step of a routine as independent, with support, or not completed across sessions.Used by 4 goals here
- Opportunity trackerRecords each opportunity as independent, prompted, or not demonstrated.Used by 2 goals here
- Accuracy trackerNumber correct out of number attempted, with percent accuracy and support level.Used by 2 goals here
Frequently asked questions
Until what age can a child be eligible under Developmental Delay?
IDEA lets states use the category for children ages 3 through 9, and each state sets its own age range within that. After the state's cutoff the child is reevaluated under another category.
What do preschool IEP goals look like?
They name a skill in a classroom routine, such as following a two-step direction during cleanup or requesting a turn during play, and measure it with opportunities or task-analysis steps. Numbers are small and sessions are short.
What transition goals fit students with developmental delay?
Career exploration, job seeking, postsecondary education, independent living, personal finance, community access, and self-determination goals, chosen from age-appropriate transition assessments and the student's own goals. Each annual goal should build toward a measurable postsecondary goal.
How are transition goals measured?
With task-analysis steps for routines like applications and bus routes, rubrics for products like resumes and career profiles, and opportunities for skills practiced in the community. The disability informs supports, not the measure.
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