Some school districts do not spend the money and effort necessary to write IEP's with measurable baseline data. As a result, I often see IEPs with boilerplate annual goals and “baselines to be determined” later. This shortcut enables districts to write lots of IEPs in short order. However, it violates the student’s rights under the IDEA.

In a recent Federal court case, a school district gave parents an IEP without any data showing where the student was performing at that time. The court struck down the IEP and awarded the parents tuition reimbursement. It emphasized that the district’s omission of measurable baseline data “goes to the heart of the IEP.” Without a starting point, “the IEP cannot set measurable goals, evaluate the child's progress, and determine which educational and related services are needed.”

When you read your special needs child’s IEP, do you have no idea at what level your son or daughter is functioning? Are you frustrated by the IEP’s vagueness and “education-speak?” If so, please contact me to discuss your case in greater detail.