Student Outcomes of School-Based Physical Therapy as Measured by Goal Attainment Scaling

Purpose: The main purposes were to describe individualized outcomes of students receiving school-based physical therapy and determine if goal attainment differed by gross motor ability and age. Methods: One hundred nine physical therapists and 296 students participated. At the beginning of the school year, therapists translated students' Individualized Education Program goals into subgoals using Goal Attainment Scaling and determined students' Gross Motor Functional Classification System level. Researchers categorized goals (posture/mobility, recreation/fitness, self-care, or academics), and therapists identified students' primary goal. At the end of the school year, therapists scored the goals. Descriptive statistics and 2-way analyses of variance were conducted. Results: Students exceeded their expected goal level for primary goals and goals categorized as posture/mobility, recreation/fitness, and self-care and made progress on academic goals. No differences were found by gross motor ability. Younger students had higher goal attainment for primary and recreation goals. Conclusion: Students achieve individualized outcomes addressed by school-based physical therapy.