Speech & Language IEP goals for Emotional or Behavioral Disability
23 speech & language templates across 4 skills: pragmatic language, speech fluency (stuttering), AAC & augmentative communication, expressive language. Each opens in the builder with a matching data sheet.
23 templates · 4 skills · Pre-K, K–2, 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.
Pragmatic Language Speech & Language
Start a conversation with a peer about a shared interest
Starting a conversation
By the annual IEP review date, during a 15-minute lunch, free time, or club period with peers who share an interest, the student will start a conversation with a peer by making a comment or asking a question about something the peer is doing, holding, or known to like independently at least 2 times per 15-minute social period, across 3 consecutive weekly observations, as measured by frequency recording collected weekly.
Tell what another person knows or feels in a situation
Perspective taking
By the annual IEP review date, given 10 short scenarios (spoken, written, or video) in which a character knows less than the student or feels differently, the student will state what the other person knows or does not know, or name the emotion they are likely having, and name the clue that shows it independently with at least 80% accuracy on perspective scenarios, across 3 consecutive therapy sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected during each therapy session.
Speech Fluency (Stuttering) Speech & Language
Replace an unhelpful thought before speaking
Helpful thoughts about speaking
By the annual IEP review date, before a planned speaking situation the student chose for the week, the student will name the unhelpful thought and say or write a helpful thought they chose (such as "Stuttering is okay. What I say matters.") before speaking independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 2 consecutive months, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected weekly.
AAC & Augmentative Communication Speech & Language
Use a symbol to say no, stop, or break instead of a challenging behavior
Refusing and requesting a break
By the annual IEP review date, when presented with a non-preferred task or item during a structured session with the no/stop/break symbols available, the student will select "no", "stop", or "break" on their system before engaging in the challenging behavior independently in at least 8 of 10 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection days, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily.
Tell how they are doing with emotion words
Emotion words on the device
By the annual IEP review date, during a daily check-in at arrival or after lunch with an adult who asks "How are you doing?", the student will select an emotion or body-state word on the device to tell how they are doing independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, on 4 of 5 observed days, as measured by direct observation collected daily at check-in, with a weekly summary.
Expressive Language Speech & Language
Respond to an opposing view with a reason
Responding to another point of view
By the annual IEP review date, during a structured debate or seminar in class when a peer gives a view that differs from the student's, the student will restate the other person's view in a few words and respond with a reason or piece of evidence for their own view independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive biweekly probes, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected every two weeks.
Articulation, phonology, expressive and receptive language, pragmatics, fluency, and voice. Goals under Emotional Disturbance (called Emotional or Behavioral Disability in many states) describe what the student will do instead of the behavior of concern, and they are measured with frequency, duration, or opportunity data that a behavior plan can share. A replacement behavior goal is only as good as the definition of the behavior being counted.
Matching data sheets
Each goal above links to the blank sheet built for its measure. These are the sheets this set of goals uses:
- Opportunity trackerRecords each opportunity as independent, prompted, or not demonstrated.Used by 12 goals here
- Frequency & rate trackerCounts a defined behavior during a fixed observation period. Calculates rate when time is recorded.Used by 4 goals here
- Accuracy trackerNumber correct out of number attempted, with percent accuracy and support level.Used by 1 goal here
- Rubric trackerScores each rubric criterion and totals the score for each sample.Used by 5 goals here
- Task-analysis checklistMarks each step of a routine as independent, with support, or not completed across sessions.Used by 1 goal here
Frequently asked questions
What is a replacement behavior goal?
A goal that teaches a specific, acceptable behavior that serves the same function as the behavior of concern, such as requesting a break instead of leaving the room. The goal measures the replacement behavior increasing, and a separate measure can track the original behavior decreasing.
Should the IEP goal match the behavior intervention plan?
They should use the same behavior definitions and the same data. The BIP describes the supports and responses; the IEP goal states the measurable outcome. If they drift apart, the data stops being useful for either.
What speech and language goals are common for students with emotional or behavioral disability?
Expressive and receptive language, pragmatics, articulation or intelligibility, and AAC, depending on the evaluation. Goals are measured trial by trial or by percent accuracy in a session, with a generalization step when needed.
Who writes the goal?
The speech-language pathologist drafts it from the evaluation and the IEP team adopts it. Teachers and families contribute information about communication outside therapy.
IEP Atlas Pro
Turn these goals into progress reports
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Count trials, prompts, and minutes live in the session; the graph and trend line draw themselves; progress reports are drafted from your data.