Writing measurable OT IEP goals is an essential part of our role as school-based occupational therapists. Learn how you can use the SMART template to easily write measurable goals.

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    Writing measurable Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals is an
    essential part of our role as school-based occupational therapists. The
    goals we include in our students&rsquo; IEPs will guide their OT services
    for the IEP year. Taking time to ensure that each OT IEP goal meets the
    needs of the student is vital for success in occupational therapy.
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  <h2>SMART IEP Goals</h2>

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    At Cross Country Education, our OT team uses two tools to help ensure the OT
    IEP goals we write are effective. First, we write SMART goals. SMART stands
    for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-limited. Here are
    some questions to ask when evaluating whether your goal is SMART:
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    <strong>Specific</strong> &ndash; Does the IEP goal list precisely what you
    want the student to accomplish? Does this goal relate to a specific need
    identified in the student&rsquo;s present level of performance?
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    <strong>Measurable</strong> &ndash; How will you know when the student has
    met the goal? Is the goal stated in a way that allows for objective data to
    be recorded and measured?
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    <strong>Attainable</strong> &ndash; Is it possible for the student to meet
    this goal within the IEP year? Is this a realistic and attainable goal in
    reference to the student&rsquo;s baseline?
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    <strong>Relevant</strong> &ndash; Does this goal relate to the goals of the
    IEP team and the student? Will achieving this goal help the student access
    their curriculum?
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    <strong>Time-limited</strong> &ndash; Is the timeline for meeting this goal
    stated?
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  <h2>
    <br />
    The SMART IEP Goal Template
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    The second tool the Cross Country Education OT team uses is a template to
    work from to ensure we are writing SMART IEP goals. Here is the goal
    template with each SMART component bolded:
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    By <strong>[date]</strong> in order to<strong>
      [educational/PLP need]</strong
    >, student will <strong>[functional skill]</strong> with
    <strong>[measurement] </strong>with <strong>[level of assistance]</strong>,
    as measured by <strong>[person]</strong>.
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    And here is an example of a SMART IEP goal written using the template:
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    By <strong>September 2021</strong>, in order to
    <strong>legibly complete classroom writing tasks</strong>, student will
    <strong>self-generate two sentences</strong> with
    <strong>75% legibility</strong> with
    <strong>adapted tools as needed</strong> for
    <strong>3 out of 5 opportunities </strong>as measured by
    <strong>teacher and OT</strong>.
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  <h2>Setting Our School OTs Up for Success</h2>

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    Our team of educational professionals and talent specialists appreciates and
    supports our school-based OTs! View our
    <a
      href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blog?displayPage=2&amp;site=cce"
      >resources for educational professionals</a
    >
    on
    <a href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/virtual-ot"
      >successful virtual occupational therapy sessions</a
    >,
    <a
      href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/ot-assessment-tools-for-face-to-face-and-virtual-ot"
      >occupational therapy assessment tools</a
    >,
    <a
      href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/8-skills-you-will-need-to-be-a-ot"
      >essential skills for school OTs</a
    >, and more.
  </div>

  <div>
    Find your ideal
    <a
      href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/job-search-results?what=occupational+therapist&amp;where="
      >occupational therapy job</a
    >
    with Cross Country Education now.
  </div>
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OT IEP Goals – How School OTs Can Write SMART Goals