What aspect of IEPs was deleted by the Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) of 2004 made significant changes to Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), particularly concerning the requirement for benchmarks and short-term objectives. In previous iterations of the IDEA, measurable goals within an IEP needed to include both annual goals and the short-term objectives or benchmarks that would be used to gauge progress. However, the 2004 amendments eliminated the explicit need for short-term objectives and benchmarks for all students with disabilities. This change reflected a shift toward a more streamlined approach to IEPs, allowing for greater flexibility and a focus on meeting annual goals without the necessity of breaking them down into smaller, incremental steps for every subject area.

By removing this requirement, the law aimed to alleviate some of the administrative burden on educators and allow IEPs to emphasize broader outcomes and individual needs rather than detailed milestones. It's important for educators and administrators to understand this change as it influences how goals are designed and communicated within the IEP process.