Event
The Blume Method Theory in Practice
A full-day in-person workshop covering IEP writing theory and practice using the Blume Method, hosted at Fitchburg State University.
Attend a full day workshop of the Blume Method in collaboration with Fitchburg State University. Learn about Allan Blume's method for IEP writing, and try the Blume Method app as a tool to assist you and your district.
6 PDP hours available.
Registration
- Non-Blume Partners, $350 per person
- Blume Partners, $150 per person
Agenda
- 8:00 – 8:30 AM, Check-In & Coffee
- 8:30 – 9:00 AM, Welcome & Setting the Agenda (Allan Blume)
- 9:00 – 10:00 AM, Session 1: Present Levels & Disability Statement (Ashley Fogarty, M.Ed.)
- 10:00 – 10:30 AM, Practice & Assessment
- 10:30 – 10:45 AM, Break
- 10:45 – 11:45 AM, Session 2: Data Collection & Baseline Development (Rebecca Cann)
- 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM, Practice & Assessment
- 12:15 – 1:15 PM, Lunch Break
- 1:15 – 2:15 PM, Session 3: Goals & Objectives (Allan S. Blume)
- 2:15 – 2:45 PM, Practice & Assessment
- 2:45 – 3:30 PM, Session 4: Blume Academy Workshop Session (Rebecca Cann)
- 3:30 PM, Closing & Wrap-Up
Session 1: Present Levels & Disability Statement
Meaningful IEPs begin with a deep understanding of a student's present levels of performance. When educators have clear baseline data, they can accurately describe the impact of a student's disability, monitor progress over time, and write goals that are both measurable and achievable. The Blume Method offers educators a practical framework for gathering this information, documenting it clearly in the IEP, and using it to guide instruction and decision-making in everyday practice.
Session 2: Data Collection & Baseline Development
This session focuses on collecting meaningful data to establish a student's baseline performance. Participants will learn how to measure key indicators such as prompts, accuracy, frequency, duration, and latency, and how these data points create the foundation for measurable goals and effective progress monitoring.
Session 3: Goals & Objectives
This presentation introduces the Blume Method's approach to writing measurable IEP goals, objectives, and benchmarks. Participants will learn how to use baseline data, clearly defined criteria, and consistent progress monitoring to develop goals that are observable, measurable, and aligned with students' disability-related needs. The session will highlight the seven-part Blume Method framework and explain the relationship among annual goals, objectives, and benchmarks as part of a clear pathway through the IEP year; from a student's baseline (starting point), through the objectives that mark steps along the way, to the annual goal that represents the expected endpoint at the end of the IEP period.
Presented by
With over 45 years of experience in special education, Allan Blume has established himself as a thought leader in the field, specializing in guiding educators and parents through the transition to the new IEP format. Recognizing that while those who write IEPs are deeply committed to doing what is best for their students, they often find the process daunting, Allan developed the Blume Method to simplify and enhance IEP writing. This method provides practical tools, including formulas and sentence starters, to make the process more manageable, consistent across levels and buildings, and efficient, while preserving the critical principle of individualization at the heart of every IEP.
Director of Partner Success
Ashley Fogarty is an experienced special educator and administrator based in Saratoga Springs, New York, where she lives with her husband and their daughter.
Since beginning her career in 2005, most of Ashley’s career has been based in Massachusetts, with a short hiatus to New York City. Ashley has taught and led in diverse educational settings across New York and Massachusetts, including Framingham Public Schools, Uncommon Schools in New York City, and UP Education Network, a small network of Horace Mann charter schools in Boston and Lawrence, where she served as Director of Student Services. Her roles have spanned from middle and high school special education teacher to team chair at multiple grade levels, including early education and pre-K.
In addition to her work with The Blume Method, Ashley proudly serves on the Saratoga Springs City School District Board of Education. After years of implementing and admiring Allan Blume’s data-driven practices from afar, Ashley finally had the opportunity to collaborate with him while working in Plymouth. This experience sparked the idea for the Blume Method App in 2023 when she half-jokingly suggested he “clone himself.”
Rebecca Cann, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a seasoned Speech-Language Pathologist and special education consultant specializing in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), and inclusive education for PreK–22 public schools. As the founder of Inclusive Educational Consulting, PLLC, she partners with districts to improve communication access, instructional practices, and support for students with complex needs. Rebecca provides AAC assessments, professional development, coaching, and collaborative problem-solving, working closely with educators and administrators to implement evidence-based strategies. She is a TouchChat Certified Trainer, holds a special education administrator license, and is trained in oromyofunctional therapy and the sensory oral sequential approach to feeding.
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