What a tracking template is for
A goal tracking template is the sheet (paper or digital) you fill in each time you take data. A good one makes it fast to record a session and easy to see progress later.
Fields to include
- Student name and IEP dates.
- The goal wording, criterion, and criteria period.
- Data method and collection schedule.
- Staff responsible.
- Date of each session.
- Trials or opportunities, and correct responses (or count / duration).
- Prompt level used.
- Short notes on setting or anything unusual.
- A running percentage or a small chart.
A simple layout you can copy
Put the goal details at the top. Below, use one row per session with columns for date, trials, correct, percent, prompt level, and initials. Leave the last rows for a summary line before each reporting period.
Keep it consistent across a caseload
Use the same columns for every student so co-teachers and paraprofessionals can fill in any sheet without instructions. Store goal wording once and copy it to the sheet rather than retyping it — retyping is where criterion details get lost.
When paper stops working
Paper sheets work for a handful of goals. Once you're calculating percentages for a full caseload by hand, a digital tracker saves time: percentages and trend lines update as you log, and progress reports pull from the same data.