Can and should parents propose, write, or rewrite IEP goals?

Dr. Andrew Fedders, PhD, a teaching professor, says, "Overall, we want parents to know about the proposed goals before the IEP meeting and have an opportunity to share goals that they might have for the student that the teacher could incorporate into their next round of annual IEP goals. But the other thing I would say to parents is to remember as part of your procedural safeguards that the IEP goals can’t be predetermined. In the old days we were supposed to write on the goal sheets in the meeting. As part of their procedural safeguards, and due-process and all these things, parents need to remember that these IEP goals shouldn't be predetermined. So if you didn't have an opportunity to meet with your teacher, then you still have those rights in the meeting. Of course, there's a power dynamic and all these things built into the IEP meeting and the IEP in general that can be a challenge for lots of different families, but know your rights and hold on to that right around predetermination and know that in the meeting, it is okay to change the goals and it shouldn't be any other way."

For more about IEP goals, see our article 10 Questions to Ask About IEP Goals with Dr. Natalie Holdren and Dr. Andrew Fedders.