What are some example IEP goals to help with eloping?

When it comes to writing IEP goals around elopement, it’s really about digging into the why. Education advocate Dr. Sarah Pelangka explains that goals should be based on the function of the behavior: what the student is trying to communicate or avoid when they elope. Once that’s clearer, teams can build goals that support both skill-building and safety.

Here are a few examples:

• If a child runs off because a task feels too hard, a goal might focus on using a phrase such as “I need help,” requesting assistive technology, or practicing how to request additional accommodations.
• If a student elopes during noisy events such as assemblies, the goal might be around learning to use a break card or gesture when they feel overwhelmed.
• If a child runs because another peer is being aggressive or too loud, a goal might help them express feelings safely, maybe by saying, “I’m scared” or “That’s too loud.”
• If a child elopes due to a trauma response, the goal can include can finding a "safe person" for the student to go to when needed, being aware of triggers, and learning coping skills in counseling.
• If a student has a history of running across all settings, goals might focus on things such as sustaining attention, increasing participation in preferred activities, improving communication overall, or teaching the students to respond to safety cues like "stop" and "wait."

In all of these examples, Dr. Pelangka emphasizes that goals aren’t just about fixing the student’s behavior; they’re also about shifting the environment and supports so the student doesn’t need to elope in the first place.

For more information, see our full article Elopement in School.