Goalbook Impact Survey Provides Evidence of Transforming Special Education Practice

Part I: Transforming Present Levels Practice

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” ~ Chinese proverb

Taking the first step towards a destination sets the course toward success. If an IEP is the roadmap leading to equitable access and student success, then the foundational first step begins with present levels statements. Student success begins with, and is built upon, the cornerstone of present levels.

Goalbook continually seeks evidence of how and in what ways Goalbook Toolkit resources empower and support educators in weaving “the Golden Thread” — identifying present levels, developing IEP goals, and implementing IEPs with specially designed instruction — the fundamental best practices of the special education craft.

This 3-part series focuses on the perceptions shared by participating educators on the Toolkit User Survey in the 2020–21 academic year. Part 1 of this survey-series explores how Toolkit users perceive the development of their practice in crafting high-quality present levels. Part two (Developing IEP Goals) and part three (Designing Instruction) continue to explore the through-line with developing IEP goals and designing instruction.

Goalbook Toolkit Impact Survey

One method of understanding and measuring how and in what ways Goalbook Toolkit empowers educators to transform practice is to ask Toolkit users. Approximately 1,700 Toolkit users participated in a Goalbook survey study from December 2020-January 2021. The sample represented a cross-section of Goalbook school and district partners of varied demographics, number of Toolkit users, and implementation goals. The sample included participants representing a broad swath of user experience from “new to Goalbook” to “5+ years” using Toolkit.

Goalbook developed a Toolkit User survey to explore how and in what ways special education teachers and service providers perceive Toolkit usage has impacted daily practice, increasing effectiveness and efficiencies within the scope of their practice aligned to desired implementation outcomes.

The survey was based on the most common goals that our partner schools and districts have when they are implementing Goalbook into their classrooms:

• Crafting meaningful and data-driven present levels
• Developing measurable, standards-aligned IEP goals
• Implementing IEPs with specially designed instruction

Increasing Quality of Present Levels Statements

An IEP is the roadmap designed to lead to student academic and social success. Special education teachers and service providers rely on objective data to draft meaningful present levels statements, incorporating student strengths and areas of need. Present levels statements represent the first and most critical step in mapping out the journey to success for students.

Based on the survey responses, the majority of Toolkit users affirmed Goalbook Toolkit resources support them in crafting meaningful, data-driven present levels statements effectively and efficiently.

As Toolkit users refine their practice year over year using Toolkit resources, they perceive greater impact of Toolkit resources related to crafting present levels, as noted by the higher percentage of “strongly agree” responses as the length of time using Toolkit increases.

Survey data, based on the following questions related to present levels, indicated users perceived their usage of Toolkit year over year increasingly supporting and impacting their practice, reaffirming transformation of practice occurs over time, not overnight.

I have used it [Goalbook Toolkit] for assessments to help me gather data on students as I needed to determine strengths and weaknesses and present level of functioning.

Great assessments that help pinpoint needs and strengths.

Goalbook [Toolkit] has helped me to develop data-driven PLAAFPS that identify how the disability affects their progress. I have been able to develop better goals that target skills at my student’s level.

I use the Present Levels Wizard to determine the exact level my students are in each area (reading comprehension, number sense, math reasoning, etc.). I use the CBAs to determine the instructional level for each of my students to better target my instruction for them.

Goalbook [Toolkit] has helped me with assessments to help gauge and place grade level.

Much easier to determine to the level of performance of student need.

I am able to spend more time with my students and less time writing IEPs.

Measuring Toolkit Efficacy

The Toolkit User Survey data affirm that Goalbook Toolkit supports educator practice in developing quality present levels. A recent first-of-its-kind research study on present levels found the quality of present levels associated with increased student outcomes. Such evidence points to the importance of present levels as the foundational first step within the IEP roadmap, setting a course toward equitable access and student success.

Continuing the Journey

Part two of this series takes a closer look at the Toolkit User Survey data related to the perceptions of Goalbook Toolkit users addressing how and in what ways Goalbook Toolkit impacts the transformation of practice in developing IEP goals. Part three explores the ways in which Goalbook Toolkit supports educator in planning instruction.

Join us in this three-part series exploring how Goalbook Toolkit is empowering educators to transform practice in weaving the Golden Thread of alignment from present levels to IEP goals through instructional planning. Such a change effort takes commitment, time, and ongoing support year over year within a Goalbook Toolkit implementation, but as we continue to seek evidence of impact, we see promising data of a transformation of practice in progress, which gives us hope and promise for a desired future where ALL students succeed!

To read recent research findings on present levels quality related to student achievement click HERE.

Click HERE to learn more about Goalbook efficacy.

Goalbook is committed to supporting ongoing research and evaluation to deepen our collective understanding of how to improve instructional outcomes and promote continuous improvement.

Goalbook Toolkit & Pathways meet the standards of research and evidence aligned to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (2015).