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Understanding Programs

Organize related targets, add phases when you need them, and understand where objectives fit.

2 min Updated September 24, 2026

A program groups related skills or behaviors so you can set them up, collect data and review progress together. Add phases when those targets belong in stages. Keep a target standalone when it does not need a program.

With phases

  • ProgramRelated targets
    • Phase optionalA group within the program
      • TargetWhat you measure
        • Objectives optionalOrdered steps within this target

Without phases

  • Program
    • TargetOptional objectives inside

Standalone

  • Skill or behavior targetOptional objectives inside
A target can stand alone or belong to a program. Objectives belong to the target.

An objective is a step within one target, such as at least three requests on each of three consecutive evaluated days. You collect observations for the target; a phase groups several targets.

Program showing phases and their related targets

Choose only the structure you need

Use a program when several targets share a purpose. Add phases when you want to decide which group to work on now and which comes next. The program’s default recording method helps with setup; individual targets can use a different method.

Use objectives when one target needs measurable intermediate steps. For a target that only needs a final mastery decision, written target criteria may be enough.

Baseline and Intervention describe a target’s recording mode. They are separate from the optional phases you name inside a program. See changing recording mode.

Follow progress at the right level

TallyFlex shows progress against objective criteria for your review. Recorded target mastery then contributes to the phase’s completion rule. A phase can require all targets or a chosen number of targets, so a completed program can still contain some unmastered targets.

See Auto-Progression and Mastery for completion rules and Programs in Sessions for choosing active or follow-up work.

Next → Creating a Program