Special Education Teacher IEP goal bank
3,573 templates across 93 skills in 12 areas, led by executive function, functional & independence skills, and math. Every goal opens in the builder, where ten checks keep it measurable, and links to the data sheet that matches its measure.
3,573 templates · 93 skills · Pre-K, K–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12 · How we write and review goals
Top skills
The 8 most relevant skills, with sample goals. Numbers are illustrative; set targets from the student's own baseline.
Time Management Executive Function
Estimate how long a task will take and compare with actual time
Estimating task time
By the annual IEP review date, before beginning an independent assignment expected to take 10 to 30 minutes, the student will write a time estimate for the task that falls within 5 minutes of the actual completion time using a time estimation log in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weekly logs, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected weekly.
Record assignments and due dates in a planner
Recording assignments in a planner
By the annual IEP review date, when assignments are posted at the end of each class, the student will record assignments in a planner or digital calendar using the class assignment board as a model, performing at least 6 of 7 steps independently, on 4 of 5 consecutive school days, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected daily and summarized weekly.
Personal Finance & Money Management Transition & Postsecondary Skills
Build a monthly budget from take-home pay
Budgeting from income
By the annual IEP review date, given a monthly take-home pay amount, a list of fixed and flexible expenses, a budget template, and a phone calculator, the student will fill in the budget so planned spending and saving equal the take-home pay independently with at least 90% accuracy on budget lines and totals, in 3 of 4 consecutive biweekly probes, as measured by work-sample analysis collected every two weeks.
Sort expenses into needs and wants
Budgeting from income
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.
Copy and extend a two-part repeating pattern
Copying and extending AB patterns
By the annual IEP review date, given a model of an AB pattern made with 6 to 8 colored cubes or shapes and a supply of matching pieces, the student will build a copy of the pattern piece by piece directly under the model independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected twice weekly.
Extend and create ABB, AAB and ABC patterns
Extending and creating complex repeating patterns
By the annual IEP review date, given a repeating pattern with an ABB, AAB or ABC unit shown twice and space to continue it, the student will independently add the next 6 pieces so the pattern continues without a break and state the unit that repeats in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected twice weekly.
Match identical shapes
Matching shapes
By the annual IEP review date, given a shape card and a choice of 3 shape cards, one of which is identical, the student will place the shape card on the identical shape independently in at least 8 of 10 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected twice weekly.
Point to and name basic two-dimensional shapes
Identifying basic 2D shapes
By the annual IEP review date, given a field of 4 shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle) and the name of one shape, the student will point to the named shape independently with at least 90% accuracy on shape identifications, across 3 consecutive data collection sessions, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected twice weekly.
Functional Academics Functional & Independence Skills
Read safety signs and state what each means
Safety and survival signs
By the annual IEP review date, given a set of 20 printed safety and information signs (stop, exit, danger, restroom, poison, no entry) shown one at a time, the student will read each sign aloud and state what to do when it is seen independently with at least 90% accuracy on signs, on 3 consecutive weekly probes, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected weekly.
Follow the direction given by a sign in the building or community
Following signs in the environment
By the annual IEP review date, during a walk through the school building past planned signs (exit, push, pull, restroom, keep out, office), the student will follow the direction given by each sign encountered independently in at least 5 of 6 opportunities, across 3 consecutive observed walks, as measured by direct observation collected weekly during a planned walk or community trip.
Replacement Behaviors Behavior & Classroom Expectations
Ask for a break instead of leaving the task
Requesting a break
By the annual IEP review date, during a non-preferred academic task when the student shows a defined precursor (pushing materials away, putting the head down, or saying the work is too hard), the student will request a break using the taught form (spoken "break please," signed BREAK, or a break card handed to the adult) before leaving the seat or stopping work independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weekly data summaries, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily during the target work period, summarized weekly.
Use a break symbol on a communication device or board
Requesting a break
By the annual IEP review date, during a table-top task with the student's communication device or core board within reach, the student will touch or hand over the BREAK symbol to request a break before engaging in the defined problem behavior independently in at least 4 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive data collection days, as measured by opportunity-by-opportunity data collected daily during two planned routines.
Safety Behaviors Behavior & Classroom Expectations
Stay with the group during walks inside the building
Staying with the group
By the annual IEP review date, during a class walk between rooms with an adult at the front and back of the line, the student will stay within 2 arm's lengths of the group for the whole walk independently in 5 of 5 opportunities, across 3 consecutive weekly data summaries, as measured by direct observation collected daily, each walk, summarized weekly.
Stay with the group on outdoor and community outings
Staying with the group
By the annual IEP review date, during a community outing with an assigned adult and a group of up to 6 students, the student will stay within sight and within 10 feet of the assigned adult for the whole outing independently in 5 of 5 opportunities, across 5 consecutive outings, as measured by direct observation collected each outing, at least twice monthly.
Functional Routines Functional & Independence Skills
Complete the morning arrival routine
Morning arrival routine
By the annual IEP review date, upon entering the classroom at the start of the school day, the student will complete the morning arrival routine without a visual task list, performing at least 7 of 8 steps independently, on 4 of 5 consecutive school days, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected daily during the arrival routine.
Pack up and get ready for dismissal
End-of-day dismissal routine
By the annual IEP review date, when the end-of-day pack-up signal is given, the student will complete the end-of-day pack-up routine using a written pack-up checklist, performing at least 8 of 9 steps independently, on 4 of 5 consecutive school days, as measured by a task-analysis checklist collected daily at dismissal.
All 93 skills
Every skill with goals for this group, by area. The number is how many of its goals are tagged here.
Executive Function
Functional & Independence Skills
Math
Reading
Behavior & Classroom Expectations
Transition & Postsecondary Skills
Social-Emotional & Communication
Writing
Science, Social Studies & Digital Literacy
Speech & Language
- Early Communication26
- AAC & Augmentative Communication42
- Listening Comprehension & Auditory Processing20
- Vocabulary & Semantics17
- Expressive Language19
- Narrative Language & Retelling10
- Pragmatic Language11
- Receptive Language9
- Motor Speech (Apraxia & Dysarthria)4
- Grammar, Syntax & Morphology4
- Articulation5
- Phonological Processes2
Motor & Sensory Skills (OT, PT & Adapted PE)
Vision, Hearing & Assistive Technology
The case manager writes most of the goals in an IEP and keeps the data for all of them. The goals below span academics, executive function, behavior, and functional skills, each tied to a data sheet that fits a teaching schedule.
Matching data sheets
Each goal above links to the blank sheet built for its measure. These are the sheets this set of goals uses:
- Frequency & rate trackerCounts a defined behavior during a fixed observation period. Calculates rate when time is recorded.Used by 188 goals here
- Accuracy trackerNumber correct out of number attempted, with percent accuracy and support level.Used by 1091 goals here
- Opportunity trackerRecords each opportunity as independent, prompted, or not demonstrated.Used by 1207 goals here
- Latency trackerTimes the gap between a cue and the start of the response.Used by 92 goals here
- Reading fluency trackerWords attempted, errors, words correct per minute, and accuracy for each probe.Used by 12 goals here
- Rubric trackerScores each rubric criterion and totals the score for each sample.Used by 324 goals here
- Task-analysis checklistMarks each step of a routine as independent, with support, or not completed across sessions.Used by 520 goals here
- Duration trackerTimes how long a behavior lasts and compares it with the target duration.Used by 139 goals here
Frequently asked questions
How many goals should a special education teacher write per student?
IDEA does not set a number. Each area of need identified in the present levels gets a goal; most IEPs have between two and six. More goals mean more data to collect and report, so quality matters more than count.
How do I keep progress monitoring realistic across a caseload?
Choose one measure per goal, keep sheets where instruction happens, and set a schedule in the mastery rule (weekly, biweekly). IEP Atlas Pro tracks sessions and plots each goal against its target.
Can I reuse a goal template for several students?
A template is a starting point. Each student's goal needs its own baseline, criterion, and supports from that student's present levels. The wording can be similar; the numbers and conditions should not be copied.
IEP Atlas Pro
Turn these goals into progress reports
Pro tracks every goal on your caseload and drafts the report for you. Free for 14 days.
Count trials, prompts, and minutes live in the session; the graph and trend line draw themselves; progress reports are drafted from your data.