Vermont Parent Information Center - Helping Children with Special Needs and their Families in Vermont

Vermont Special Education Regulations Survey Results

Comments made by Parents to a Survey Regarding the Proposed Special Education Regulations,
Submitted April 4, 2006

SECTION 3: INDIVIDUAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS (IEP)

→ Content Of The IEP

Under the prior law and regulations short-term objectives or benchmarks were required elements of a child’s IEP. They were intended to provide parents with a way to measure and monitor their child’s progress toward meeting the annual goals for the child.

Under the new IDEA, short term objectives or benchmarks are only required for those children with the most severe disabilities. For all of the other children, the new law the IEP must contain “a description of how the child’s progress toward meeting the annual goals... will be measured and when periodic reports on the progress the child is making toward meeting the annual goals... will be provided.”

The new IDEA suggests that quarterly or other periodic reports issued at the same time that report cards are issued as an example that meets the progress reporting requirements.

Would it be acceptable to you as a parent to not have short-term objectives in the IEP if an alternate means of measuring your child’s progress was established?

Yes:

No:

Don't Know:

Comments:

It would depend on the alternate means. Changes are being made too often and when the Special Educators get use to one way, the state changes it. This indirectly affects the kids and the amount of time the teachers can spend with the kids.

This is very concerning to me. They language should state these things

It would depend a great deal on the alternative.

The key is to have knowledge about progress, whichever way it can be measured and reported to the parent

It depends on what that means was, and whether it was adequate. But I think not.

It would depend on what the "alternate means of measurement" was.

Short term objectives keep us all accountable.

The alternate means would need to be very specific and at this point, I can't see improving on what is currently in place.

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