How to Read Your ABA Progress Report (Goals, Data, and What It All Means)
If you’ve ever stared at an ABA progress report wondering what phrases like “prompt level,” “maintenance,” or “target mastery” really mean—you’re in the right place.
At Bright Beginnings ABA, we believe parents should feel empowered, not overwhelmed, when reviewing their child’s therapy data. Here's a simple breakdown of what you’ll see in your child’s report—and how to use that information to stay involved and informed throughout treatment.
What Are “Targets”?
Think of targets as small, specific goals your child is working on.
Instead of just having a goal stating “will wash hands,” we break it down:
Turn on water
Get soap
Scrub hands
Rinse hands
Turn off water
Dry hands
Each of those steps can be a target—measured, practiced, and celebrated.
What Does “Mastery” Mean?
When a child consistently demonstrates a skill independently (usually across several sessions and therapists), we say the target is mastered.
In our clinic, that means:
80%+ correct performance
Across 3-5 days
With no more than minimal prompts
Once mastered, that skill moves into maintenance—which means we keep it as a part of their daily or weekly routine to make sure it sticks.
What Do the Graphs Show?
Most reports include line graphs that show your child’s progress over time.
The Y-axis = how well they did (percent correct, total number of times, etc.)
The X-axis = date of therapy sessions
Upward trends = progress!
Dips = normal (especially during illness, transitions, or growth periods)
Remember, progress is NOT linear. And, we use data to adjust our strategies—not to label or judge a child. If a child isn’t making progress on a goal, we’re going to use that information to shape our style of teaching in a way that they will have a better opportunity to get it right!
What Is “Prompting”?
Prompting is how we help a child complete a task while they’re learning:
Full prompt = hand-over-hand assistance
Partial prompt = slight guidance or gestural cues
Independent = no help needed!
As prompting fades, independence grows. Your child’s report will note how much support they needed and how that’s changing over time.
How Can I Stay Involved?
We love when caregivers ask questions or suggest new goals. You can:
Request a review of any unclear graph or data point
Suggest real-life goals (like buttoning jackets or tolerating haircuts)
Celebrate a skill you’ve noticed at home—we may not see it yet!
Parent input keeps therapy meaningful to your family’s life.
Need Help Understanding Your Child’s Report?
If anything in your child’s report doesn’t make sense, we’re here to help.
Request a parent training meeting with your child’s BCBA to:
Clarify your child’s current progress
Discuss future goals
See how to support generalization at home
Begin intervention on behaviors specific to the home or other natural environment
This meeting could happen in your home, at the clinic, or in another location that would be most helpful to understand specific behaviors you’d like to discuss.
Progress Is More Than a Graph
Data helps guide therapy—but your insight, your stories, and your child’s joy matter just as much. Together, we track not just skills, but confidence, connection, and growth.
Let’s keep moving forward—one target at a time.
