What's a PLAAFP (and why is it important)?

If you are a parent whose child has an IEP, you have probably heard the term “Present Levels” bandied about at meetings.  Sometimes, when school folks get into true ED speak, they will also use the acronym PLAAPF, which stands for “Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance.”  So, what goes into this statement or statements and why is it important to understand?

A PLAAFP statement is required by the IDEA statute at 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(1)(A)(i)(I) should include how the child’s disability is affecting their ability to access and benefit from the general education curriculum.  If your child is in pre-school, then the PLAAFP should also include information about how the disability affects participation in appropriate activities.  If your child takes alternate assessments, you’ll want to make sure there is also a description of bench-marks and short-term achievement objectives included in the PLAAPF.

The key to any PLAAFP is that it captures a snapshot of the student accurately at the point at which the IEP team is meeting.  Many Districts will do several mini-PLAAPF statements by subject area—e.g. ELA, Math, Reading. This is a fine approach as long as each piece contains updated information. A well-written PLAAPF also usually will include strengths as well as weaknesses, as well as updated testing data.

Logically, the PLAAPF should change significantly year over year and even get updates when there are interim meetings. However, in my practice, I have seen IEPs where the PLAAPF has stayed significantly similar over the course of years!  This is arguably an admission by the District that they are not providing a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to the child that allows them to make progress, especially if it is true that the child is not progressing and can be a red flag that something is not right.

Remember that as the parent, you are an equal member of your child’s IEP team and if you have something to add to the PLAAPF, or there is something in there that you disagree with, you can ask to have the PLAAPF changed to better reflect your child’s situation.  For example, if the school is stating that your child can read age-appropriate texts, without further specifying, and you know from your time reading at home that your child still struggles with words they should know at their age, make sure this data is also reflected in the PLAAPF.  If the District fails to include your input, then you also have the right to send a written letter with your comments and objections to the IEP as written and ask that your letter be placed with the IEP in your student’s educational file.

As you are advocating for your child, keep in mind that if it is not in writing, it did not happen! Sometimes the most important thing you can do as your child’s advocate, is to make sure that the record reflects what actually happened at the meeting.

If you are facing an IEP meeting soon and want guidance or representation, please do not hesitate to call! Painter Legal offers affordable parent coaching sessions as well as full representation through the IEP and 504 process and we would be honored to help your family through your child’s educational journey.