Adaptive skills IEP goals when your child has dyslexia
Dyslexia can turn a daily task like reading a recipe or a schedule into a reading test, hiding a child’s real independence. The goal should name the task, the print format the child uses, and how the team counts a completed step. Open your child’s IEP to the goal page and read one goal for three things: the baseline it starts from, the behavior someone could count, and the date it gets reported.
By The Advocate Ally, checked against the rules it cites. Sources checked September 15, 2026.
Is this your goal?
“By June, the student will show growth in self-help skills.”
The line skips the task, the reading format, and any way to count success.
What the rule says
“A statement of measurable annual goals … [and] [a] description of … [h]ow the child’s progress toward meeting the annual goals will be measured, and when periodic reports … will be provided.”
34 CFR 300.320(a)(2)(i) and (a)(3)
The rule’s own example of a periodic report is quarterly, issued with report cards: four updates a year.
The three tests
Every strong goal below passes all three.
BaselineWhere your child is today, as a number with its date, in present levels.
CountableA behavior two adults would tally the same way. Read the goal: what would you count?
ReportedHow often the number comes home. Check the progress-reporting box, then the last report sent.
Weak“Given a picture-and-word morning routine card read aloud once, Leo will follow the routine, on 4 of 5 mornings, checked weekly.”
Strong“Given a picture-and-word morning routine card read aloud once, Leo will complete each of the three steps in the listed order, on 4 of 5 mornings, checked weekly.”
Baseline
Today Leo completes the first step alone.
Countable
Three steps, done in order: one mark.
Reported
Weekly checks: four ratings each month.
Two adults marking “follow the routine” will disagree, so nobody can tell whether Leo works independently or is guided the whole time.
IDEA requires goals to be measurable: 34 CFR 300.320(a)(2).
“What would you and I each count as one completed step?”
Turn to present levels and look for picture support named for daily routines.
3rd through 5th grade
Weak“Using a recipe card, Leo will assemble a three-step snack in the listed order, on 3 of 4 tries, scored monthly.”
Strong“Using a recipe card with icons and words read aloud on request, Leo will assemble a three-step snack in the listed order, on 3 of 4 tries, scored monthly.”
Baseline
Without audio or icons, Leo misses one step.
Countable
Snack assembled in order: three checkmarks.
Reported
Monthly tries: twelve dated snack checks yearly.
Leave the read-aloud support out and it can disappear, so a snack goal turns into a decoding test Leo cannot pass alone.
IDEA requires goals to be measurable: 34 CFR 300.320(a)(2).
“Does Leo read this recipe himself, or does he hear it first?”
On the services page, count any read-aloud minutes given outside reading class.
6th through 8th grade
Weak“Using a text-to-speech app to read a four-step chore checklist, Leo will complete the steps in order, reported monthly.”
Strong“Using a text-to-speech app to read a four-step chore checklist, Leo will complete the steps in order, on 3 of 4 checklists a month, reported monthly.”
Baseline
Leo finishes 2 of 4 checklists most months.
Countable
Four steps, checked off in order: four marks.
Reported
Chores checked off, sent home monthly.
With no count written in, one good week can stand for the month while Leo still finishes chores out of order.
IDEA requires goals to be measurable: 34 CFR 300.320(a)(2).
“Is there a number here, or does a good week do the counting?”
Look on the accommodations page for text-to-speech listed for chores, not just homework.
9th through 12th grade
Weak“Given a job application with headings read aloud on request, Leo will complete every required field correctly, on 4 of 5 applications.”
Strong“Given a job application with headings read aloud on request, Leo will complete every required field correctly, on 4 of 5 applications, reported each semester.”
Baseline
Leo left two required fields blank last time.
Countable
Every field filled or left blank: two marks.
Reported
Each semester, one dated form comes home.
Without a date for scoring, a form Leo filled out years ago can still count as this year’s newest proof.
IDEA requires the IEP to say how progress is measured and reported: 34 CFR 300.320(a)(3).
“When during the year is this form scored and sent home?”
Ask to see last quarter’s progress report before the next meeting.
What to ask the team
Does this goal name the task itself, or just “daily living skills” in general?
Is my child reading this independently, or hearing it read aloud first?
Will his steps be counted outside the classroom, or only inside it?
An example is not your child’s goal: it does not replace the data the team starts from, or advice from someone qualified in your state.
Have every goal in your IEP checked against these three tests, free.
The review reads every page you upload, flags each goal missing a baseline, measurable criteria, a target or a timeline, and quotes the wording with its page.
