What factors can influence the development of a student's IEP goals?

The development of a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals is primarily driven by the student's performance level and specific areas of need. This means that when creating an IEP, educators and specialists assess the student’s current skills, challenges, and any learning disabilities or developmental delays they may have. Through this assessment, the team can establish tailored goals that are both ambitious and attainable, directly addressing the unique educational requirements of the student.

This approach ensures that the IEP is individualized and focused, so it can effectively support the student in making progress in their academic, social, and functional skills. Setting goals based on the student's actual performance level takes into account how they are functioning in the classroom and what skills they need to develop further, which is fundamental to the IEP process.

Factors such as parental requests, trivia contests, or general school-wide improvements do not specifically inform the individual educational needs and benchmarks necessary for the student’s growth concerning their IEP goals. Instead, they may augment or help frame the broader context of educational strategies but do not have the same direct relevance as assessing the student’s performance and needs.