IEP reading goals
Reading accuracy IEP goals
6 example goals for reading accuracy, each with a condition, behavior, criterion, measure and time frame.
Short answer
A reading accuracy goal states the passage level, the percent of words read correctly (often 95% or more), and how it is scored. Example: given an unpracticed grade 2 passage, the student will read with at least 95% accuracy on 3 of 4 weekly probes.
These are example goals for discussion. Each student's goals are written by the IEP team from that student's own assessment data. This page is not legal advice.
When does a reading accuracy goal make sense?
Accuracy is the share of words read correctly. It matters more than speed for students who guess, skip small words or swap words that look alike. A student at 88% accuracy is missing about one word in eight, which is enough to lose the meaning of most paragraphs.
Write an accuracy goal when rate is close to typical but errors are high, or when a student is fast and careless. For students who are slow and accurate, a rate goal fits better.
Look at the errors before writing the goal. If most errors are on one pattern, such as vowel teams, a phonics goal will do more than an accuracy goal.
Example reading accuracy goals
By the annual review, given an unpracticed decodable passage with taught patterns, the student will read the passage aloud with at least 95% of words correct on 3 of 4 weekly probes, measured by a passage-reading probe.
- Condition
- Given an unpracticed decodable passage with taught patterns
- Behavior
- Read the passage aloud
- Criterion
- With at least 95% of words correct on 3 of 4 weekly probes
- Measure
- A passage-reading probe
- Time frame
- By the annual review
By the annual review, given an unpracticed grade-level passage, the student will read the passage aloud with at least 95% of words correct on 3 of 4 weekly probes, measured by a one-minute reading scored for accuracy.
- Condition
- Given an unpracticed grade-level passage
- Behavior
- Read the passage aloud
- Criterion
- With at least 95% of words correct on 3 of 4 weekly probes
- Measure
- A one-minute reading scored for accuracy
- Time frame
- By the annual review
By the annual review, given an unpracticed grade-level passage, the student will correct their own errors that change the meaning for at least 70% of such errors on 3 consecutive probes, measured by a running record of errors and self-corrections.
- Condition
- Given an unpracticed grade-level passage
- Behavior
- Correct their own errors that change the meaning
- Criterion
- For at least 70% of such errors on 3 consecutive probes
- Measure
- A running record of errors and self-corrections
- Time frame
- By the annual review
By the annual review, given an unpracticed grade-level passage, the student will read every word without skipping words or lines with no more than 1 skipped word per 100 on 3 consecutive probes, measured by a passage reading scored for omissions.
- Condition
- Given an unpracticed grade-level passage
- Behavior
- Read every word without skipping words or lines
- Criterion
- With no more than 1 skipped word per 100 on 3 consecutive probes
- Measure
- A passage reading scored for omissions
- Time frame
- By the annual review
By the annual review, given an unpracticed grade-level passage, the student will read the passage aloud with no more than 2 errors that change the meaning per 100 words on 3 consecutive probes, measured by an error analysis of a two-minute reading.
- Condition
- Given an unpracticed grade-level passage
- Behavior
- Read the passage aloud
- Criterion
- With no more than 2 errors that change the meaning per 100 words on 3 consecutive probes
- Measure
- An error analysis of a two-minute reading
- Time frame
- By the annual review
By the annual review, given an unpracticed grade-level content-area passage, the student will read the passage aloud with at least 96% accuracy on 3 of 4 monthly probes, measured by a passage reading scored for accuracy.
- Condition
- Given an unpracticed grade-level content-area passage
- Behavior
- Read the passage aloud
- Criterion
- With at least 96% accuracy on 3 of 4 monthly probes
- Measure
- A passage reading scored for accuracy
- Time frame
- By the annual review
From baseline to target: a worked example
A second grader reads 82 WCPM in winter, just under the grade 2 winter median of 84, but at 89% accuracy. Most errors are small words (a, the, of) skipped or changed, and endings dropped ("jump" for jumped).
The team writes an accuracy goal of 95% on grade 2 passages and a smaller objective on word endings. The teacher has the student point under each word during practice and reread any sentence that doesn't make sense. After eight weeks accuracy is 93% and the rate has stayed about the same, which is what you want: careful reading first.
Short-term objectives
- By the end of the first grading period, the student will read unpracticed grade 2 passages with at least 91% accuracy.
- By the end of the second grading period, the student will read the -s, -ed and -ing endings correctly in 9 of 10 words in a passage.
- By the end of the third grading period, the student will read unpracticed grade 2 passages with at least 94% accuracy.
How do you measure progress?
- Use unpracticed passages at the same level each time. Two minutes gives a more stable accuracy figure than one for students who make few errors.
- Count skipped words, misread words, and words supplied after about three seconds as errors. Self-corrections are not errors.
- Record the error itself. A list of 20 errors over a month shows the pattern faster than any score.
Common mistakes
- Writing accuracy goals on passages too hard to reach 95%, then wondering why the goal is never met.
- Counting self-corrections as errors, which punishes the habit you want.
- Ignoring what the errors are. Accuracy is a symptom; the errors show the cause.