How Do I Know if My Child is Making Progress?

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with information during an ARD meeting?  Have you ever felt like the school staff and professionals expect you to understand their vernacular?  It  can all be overwhelming at times but the easiest way is to ask questions and ask for clarification.  But what kind of questions should you ask?  There are several key factors that can have a positive impact on determining whether or not a child makes progress, MEASURABLE progress. These include a comprehensive evaluation that identifies a child’s strengths and weaknesses and appropriately identifies a child’s educational needs.  Another critical factor is a discussion of the present levels of academic achievement and functional performance for the child at that snapshot of time.  The “PLAAFP’s” provide a standard or baseline for your child, let you know what your child can and cannot do in a particular area, and provide the basis for appropriate goals and objectives.  How do you know if the goals are measurable?  Well, here are a few questions you can ask to find out.

 

 •How will progress toward these goals be measured?

•How will you monitor my child’s progress?

•How will you document my child’s progress?

•How will you communicate with me regarding my child’s progress?

Many times, schools will link a child’s goals and objectives on an IEP based on grade level curriculum.  That is not helpful to you, the parent, as you would not have any idea what the grade level standards are supposed to be.  Ask questions and have the school spell out in specific terms what the goals are for your child so you can be an active part of evaluating your child’s progress.  School districts do not generally specify in the IEP what instructional method(s) will be used to teach your child and help him/her achieve his/her learning goals.  It is appropriate to ask the school personnel to describe specific, scientifically proven instructional components when a child’s educational needs are being discussed.  Ask about  the methodology that will be used to help your child make progress in his or her particular areas of need.   Always make sure the methodology is research based.  Unfortunately, many schools do not tailor the services to meet the needs of the individual child but, rather, provide a blanket approach with whatever the district has available.

If you have done your due diligence and you do not agree with the school or you feel your child is not making progress toward his IEP goals, your first step is to ask what methods special education personnel are using to routinely monitor and evaluate your child’s progress on IEP goals.  Most goal sheets in a child’s IEP document have columns to identify these progress monitoring methods and specific dates when progress will be reviewed.  If the only progress monitoring procedure is “teacher observations,” “teacher made ___,”  “review of work,” these are not sufficient to determine adequate progress toward goals.  These are subjective and not centered on scientifically based practice.  Progress monitoring should objective and based on identifiable data that is used both to assess a child’s academic performance, and to evaluate the effectiveness of instruction.  Academic performance should be measured according to a set schedule, such as weekly or monthly.  Progress toward meeting the child’s goals is measured by comparing expected rates to actual rates of learning.  So if you do not agree with the school, begin the process by asking questions.  Ask your child’s special education teacher or any other school professional to show you the data documenting your child’s progress.  As a parent of a child receiving special education services, you are entitled to data based information that clearly demonstrates what progress, if any, your child is making.  Without data, it is just someone’s opinion!

The better you understand your child’s learning differences, the better advocate you will be.  It’s all about the data!  Make sure you have what you need to be an informed member of the ARD Committee.  The Ramage Law Group has authoritative solutions for special needs children!

 

You are your child’s voice and best teacher!