The Illusion of Progress: How to Spot False IEP Growth and Get the Truth About Your Child’s Learning

Parents of children with disabilities know this moment well.

You open an IEP progress report hoping to understand how your child is really doing. You read the same line you’ve seen for years: “making adequate progress toward goals.”

But at home, reading is still a struggle. Writing still takes forever. Tasks that should be getting easier still feel impossible.

That mismatch is not in your head. And it has a name: false IEP growth.

A new 10-year report from Be A Learning Hero shows a nationwide problem. Families are often told their children are on track, even when data suggests otherwise. In general education, this creates confusion. In special education, it creates a serious barrier to getting the right support at the right time.

This blog breaks down what false IEP growth is, how it happens, and how families can identify it long before it derails a child’s learning.

What is false IEP growth?

False IEP growth happens when progress reports, goals, and school communication suggest a child is improving, but the actual skills haven’t meaningfully changed. It’s one of the most common hidden issues in special education.

The national data reinforces this pattern. Families across the country receive reassuring messages, even in situations where students are far behind grade level. When this same communication style appears in special education, it creates the perfect conditions for false growth to flourish.

Why false IEP growth happens

False IEP growth is usually not intentional. It happens because the special education system is overloaded and built around compliance, not clarity. Here are the most common causes:

1. Vague or unmeasurable IEP goals

When goals lack clear skill targets or numerical measures, almost anything can be labeled “progress.”

2. Copy-and-paste progress reports

If the comments look identical quarter after quarter, the school may not be collecting real data.

3. Pressure to document success

Educators are overworked and face pressure to show improvement, even when skill growth is minimal.

4. Missing or inconsistent service minutes

A child cannot meet goals if the service minutes meant to support that growth aren’t delivered consistently.

5. Goal changes that hide stagnation

Sometimes goals are rewritten at a lower level. It looks like the child is meeting expectations, but the expectation itself has been lowered.

All of these contribute to the illusion of progress, making it hard for families to see what’s real.

Signs your child’s IEP growth may not be real

Search engines favor lists, and parents need crystal-clear signals. These are the most reliable signs of false IEP progress:

1. Baselines barely change from year to year

If baseline data stays flat but the school reports progress, that’s a red flag.

2. Vague phrases in progress reports

Phrases like “continues to work on,” “improving,” or “making adequate progress” often mean the school has not collected specific data.

3. No clear measurement method

If you ask, “How exactly was this measured?” and the answer is unclear, the progress is likely not based on skill growth.

4. Inconsistent or missing service logs

If services aren’t delivered regularly, goals cannot be met.

5. Goals rewritten at a lower level

This makes it appear the child is progressing when they’re just sliding into a new baseline.

6. Home experience doesn’t match school reports

Parents often see the most accurate picture. When the school says “growth” but your child is still struggling with the same tasks, that’s important data.

These signs help families identify false growth early and advocate for accurate information.

Why false IEP growth matters

False growth isn’t just misleading. It delays interventions, slows learning, and prevents children from getting the services they actually need. It also breaks trust between families and schools, leaving parents feeling confused and powerless.

With millions of students receiving special education services, the problem of inaccurate IEP progress reporting affects families everywhere.

The national report confirms what many caregivers already know: real progress is often harder to see in the paperwork than in the child.

The bottom line

False IEP growth is one of the most common, least-discussed problems in special education. The new 10-year national research report shows that parents across the country are not getting clear information about their child’s progress — and this same communication pattern often appears in IEPs.

Families deserve more than reassuring language. They deserve clear data, honest communication, and a true picture of their child’s learning.

Your child deserves real progress, not the illusion of it.