Parents are told their child is “making progress.”
You might see a chart, a percentage, or a brief note in an IEP update. On paper, everything may look fine. At home, it may feel very different.
This discrepancy often comes down to how progress monitoring data is collected, reported and explained, and if progress monitoring is truly being done with “fidelity”.
What Progress Monitoring Is Supposed to Do
Progress monitoring is designed to provide periodic updates on how a student is progressing in each of their IEP goals.
If done correctly, it should provide explicit qualitative and quantitative data tied directly to the components of the IEP Goal, to detail whether a student is making sufficient progress, such that it is anticipated the student will achieve the IEP Goal by Annual Review. If a student is not making sufficient progress, this is a “red flag,” signaling that changes to educational programming may be needed to meet a student’s individualized educational needs.
The Problem With “Looks Good” Data
Many progress reports rely on general summaries that may sound reassuring, but lack qualitative and quantitative data, or aren’t tied directly to the explicit components of an IEP Goal. You might see phrases like:
- “Making adequate progress”
- “Improving toward goal”
- “80% accuracy”
These statements raise more questions than they answer.
Eighty percent of what? Under what conditions? With how much support? Measured how often?
Without such context, progress reports are often not helpful and do not accurately reflect a student’s true level of performance.
Not All Data Is Created Equal
There’s a difference between meaningful data and convenient data.
Meaningful data is collected consistently, based on clearly defined parameters, measured the same way each time, and tied directly to the IEP goal.
Convenient data may be based on teacher observation, informal checklists, or infrequent sampling, which may not provide a reliable picture of student growth.
When Progress Doesn’t Match What You’re Seeing
It’s not unusual for parents to hear that their child is progressing, while still struggling with the same skills at home. If this happens, it’s worth taking a closer look at how progress is being monitored and if it is being done with fidelity.
Clarifying Questions
You don’t need to be a data expert to ask thoughtful questions. A few targeted follow-ups can make a big difference:
- How exactly is this skill being measured?
- How often is data collected?
- Is the data taken with prompts or independently?
- What did the baseline look like when the goal started?
- Can you share raw data or examples of the work?
Where Support Can Make a Difference
If progress reports feel confusing, inconsistent, or disconnected from what you’re seeing, it may help to have another set of eyes on the data. An experienced attorney can review how goals are written and measured, identify gaps in data collection or reporting, and support next steps if progress is not where it should be.
Progress monitoring should provide insight, not uncertainty. When the data is meaningful and well-explained, it becomes a powerful tool for helping your child move forward.
About Ancel Reiter LLC
Whether through Special Education Legal Representation or Child & Family Advocacy Services, our central goal is to empower parents and their children with the knowledge to find success at school, at home, and in the community. Our legal practice focusescha on special education law and related issues in the greater Chicago area: Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County and throughout Illinois.
For more information, contact us today.