Understanding IEP Data
First: What “IEP data” really is (in plain English)
- Where your child started
- What support they’re getting
- Whether those supports are actually working
If there’s no data, the IEP is just words.
The 5 types of IEP data you’ll see (and how to read each)
1️⃣ Baseline Data (Starting Point)
This answers: “Where is my child right now?”
What it looks like:
- “Currently reads 25 words per minute with 60% accuracy”
- “Completes 2 out of 5 steps independently”
🚩 Red flag:
- Baseline is vague: “Struggles with reading”
- No numbers, no percentages, no frequency
👉 If there’s no clear baseline, progress cannot be measured.
2️⃣ Progress Monitoring Data (The Receipts)
This shows if your child is improving over time.
What it looks like:
- Weekly or biweekly data points
- Charts, graphs, percentages, tallies
Example:
- September: 40% accuracy
- October: 45%
- November: 42%
🚩 Red flag:
- Flat or declining data with no change in services
- “Progress discussed verbally” (that’s not data)
👉 Flat data = the IEP is not working.
3️⃣ Goal Data (Is the goal measurable?)
Every goal must answer:
- How often?
- How well?
- Under what conditions?
- How progress is measured?
Strong goal example:
“By June 2025, given a grade-level passage, the student will answer inferential questions with 80% accuracy across 3 consecutive data points.”
Weak goal example:
“Student will improve reading comprehension.”
🚩 Red flag:
- No percentages
- No method of measurement
- No timeline
👉 If you can’t measure it, they can’t be held accountable.
4️⃣ Service Data (Minutes vs. Impact)
This shows what support your child is actually receiving.
Look for:
- Minutes per week
- Group size
- Location (general ed, pull-out, push-in)
Example:
- Speech: 30 minutes/week, group of 3
🚩 Red flag:
- Services listed but no data tied to progress
- “Consult only” with no documentation
👉 Services must connect directly to the data and goals.
5️⃣ Behavior & Related Service Data
For behavior, OT, speech, counseling, etc.
Behavior data may include:
- Frequency (how often)
- Duration (how long)
- Intensity
Example:
- “Outbursts reduced from 6 per day to 2 per day over 6 weeks”
🚩 Red flag:
- Behavior described emotionally instead of numerically
- No Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) when behavior is significant
👉 Behavior without data = punishment, not support.
How YOU evaluate IEP data (use this checklist)
Ask yourself:
- Can I see numbers?
- Is there a starting point?
- Is progress happening over time?
- If progress is slow, did they change anything?
If the answer is “no” to any of these → the IEP needs revision.
What schools often don’t tell parents
- “Some progress” is not a legal standard
- Data must be shared, not summarized
- Lack of progress = team must adjust the IEP
- You can request raw data, not just reports
What to say in the meeting (copy + paste)
“Can you show me the data that supports this progress statement?”“What does the trend line show over time?”“If the data is flat, what instructional changes were made?”“How often is this data collected, and by whom?”
Bottom line (blunt but true)
If the data:
- Isn’t clear
- Isn’t measurable
- Isn’t improving
Then the IEP is not appropriate, and you have the right to demand changes.
If you want, I can:
- Review your child’s actual IEP data
- Translate charts and reports line by line
- Help you rewrite goals using the data
And yes—this is exactly what I teach parents inside my Skool community, because no parent should be guessing when their child’s education is on the line.
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Understanding IEP Data
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