8 IEP Goals for Planning Skills

Posted In Goals On March 24, 2025

Helping students develop strong planning skills is essential for improving academic performance and fostering independence. Teaching executive function skills through well-structured IEP goals for planning can empower students to take ownership of their learning, enhance their self-awareness, and build confidence in managing their workload effectively. This blog post includes eight helpful IEP goals for planning that educators can implement to track student progress and adjust their instruction accordingly.

Why Focus on IEP Goals for Planning?

Planning is a key executive function skill that directly impacts a student’s ability to complete assignments, manage time effectively, and set achievable goals. Many students struggle with planning due to deficits in executive function, which can lead to missed deadlines, incomplete work, and frustration. Implementing executive function interventions and strategies can support students in developing structured habits that improve their academic performance.

IEP Goals for Planning

Setting Planning Goals & Monitoring Progress

Using planning tools and/or strategies, (student) will write a planning goal and monitor progress weekly, completing (%) of assignments for (consecutive weeks).

• This goal encourages student engagement strategies and self-reflection, ensuring that students recognize their own progress.

Tracking Assignments & Deadlines

Using planner strategies, (student) will track assignments, homework, and test dates, completing (%) of given tasks on time.

• This goal helps students develop an executive function system that fosters responsibility and organization.

Prioritizing Assignments for Time Management

Using planning strategies, (student) will create a prioritized list of weekly assignments, consider due dates for time management, and complete (%) of assignments on time.

•  This executive function learning strategy helps students break tasks into manageable steps.

Creating a Plan for Short-Term Tasks

Given a short-term task (or goal), (student) will create a plan to achieve the task on time (%) of the time.

• By incorporating executive functioning tools, students learn how to approach their workload systematically.

Identifying & Overcoming Barriers

Using self-reflection tools, (student) will identify barriers preventing them from finishing work on time, then create a plan to overcome these barriers in order to complete assignments (%) of the time.

• This goal strengthens students’ planning, self-monitoring, and problem-solving skills.

Setting SMART Goals & Creating Steps

Given a model, (student) will write a SMART goal, then break the goal into manageable steps, completing it successfully (%) of the time.

• This goal allows students to break down larger goals into smaller, more manageable pieces and then create a plan for completion.

Estimating & Tracking Task Completion Time

Given a task, (student) will estimate the time needed to complete it, create a plan, and track actual completion time using planning tools and strategies. The student will revise the plan as needed to complete the task on time (%) of the time.

• This executive function goal promotes the development of planning skills through time management and task completion.

Scheduling Adequate Time for Work Completion

Using a planner, (student) will schedule an adequate amount of time for work completion (%) of the time over (consecutive weeks).

• This goal builds time awareness and structured planning habits for student achievement.

How Planning Benefits Students

Implementing these IEP goals for planning can lead to improvements in students’ academic performance. These executive function IEP goals provide structure and consistency, helping students develop the habits necessary for long-term success.

Additional Resources

Want to learn more about how planning impacts executive function learning? Check out our blog post: What is Planning?

Take the Next Step

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By incorporating structured executive function lessons and strategies, educators can effectively support students in achieving their IEP goals for planning. With the right tools and guidance, students can develop essential planning skills that enhance their academic success and overall confidence.