If you're new to the IEP world, the acronyms can feel overwhelming. But there's one you absolutely need to understand: PLAAFP. It stands for Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance, and it's arguably the most important section of your child's entire IEP.
Think of PLAAFP as a detailed snapshot of exactly where your child is right now: their strengths, challenges, and everything in between. It's not about where they were last year or where you hope they'll be next year. It's about today, this moment, and what your child can and cannot do.
Why PLAAFP Is the Foundation of Everything
Here's something that might surprise you: every single goal in your child's IEP should stem directly from their PLAAFP. If the PLAAFP says your child struggles with reading comprehension, there should be a goal addressing that. If it mentions difficulty with social interactions, that needs a goal too.
The PLAAFP serves several critical purposes:
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Without a solid, accurate PLAAFP, your child's entire IEP becomes shaky ground. It's like trying to build a house without a proper foundation: everything else depends on getting this part right.

A comprehensive PLAAFP isn't just about academics, though that's certainly part of it. It should paint a complete picture of your child across multiple areas:

This covers the traditional school subjects: reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. But it goes deeper than just grade levels. A good PLAAFP will explain not just that your child reads at a second-grade level, but how they read. Do they struggle with decoding? Comprehension? Fluency?

These are the practical life skills that help your child function independently. Depending on your child's age and needs, this might include dressing, eating, personal hygiene, or managing money.

How does your child interact with peers and adults? Can they regulate their emotions? Do they understand social cues? These skills are crucial for success both in school and in life.

This isn't just about whether your child can speak. It includes receptive language (understanding what others say), expressive language (communicating their thoughts), and pragmatic language (using language appropriately in social situations).

Does your child have difficulty sitting still? Following directions? Managing transitions? These behavioral aspects significantly impact learning and should be thoroughly documented.

Any physical limitations, sensory processing issues, or motor skill challenges should be clearly described and measured.

When you review your child's PLAAFP, you're looking for specific, measurable statements backed by data. Vague descriptions like "Johnny struggles with reading" aren't helpful. Instead, you want to see something like: "Based on recent assessments, Johnny reads 45 words per minute with 85% accuracy at the second-grade level, compared to the typical third-grade rate of 70-80 words per minute with 95% accuracy."

Objective Data: Good PLAAFPs include specific numbers, percentages, and concrete examples. This might come from standardized tests, classroom assessments, or behavioral data collection.

Current Performance: Everything should reflect how your child is performing now, not six months ago. If the IEP meeting is in October, the data should be recent, not from the previous spring.

Strengths and Needs: A balanced PLAAFP highlights what your child does well alongside areas of concern. This isn't about being positive for the sake of it: strengths can be built upon to address challenges.

​Functional Impact: The PLAAFP should clearly explain how your child's disability affects their ability to learn and participate in school activities.

Not all PLAAFPs are created equal. Here are some warning signs that your child's PLAAFP might need improvement:

If you notice these issues, don't hesitate to ask questions or request updates. You know your child better than anyone, and your input is valuable.

You're not just a passive recipient of information: you're an essential part of the team that creates your child's PLAAFP. Here's how you can contribute:

You see your child in different settings and situations than school staff do. Your insights about how your child functions at home, in the community, or during unstructured time are incredibly valuable.

If something in the PLAAFP doesn't match your experience with your child, speak up. Ask for clarification or additional assessment if needed.

Help the team understand your child's history, what motivates them, what strategies work at home, and what you've tried that hasn't been successful.

PLAAFPs often include results from various assessments, and the numbers can be confusing. Here's a quick guide to common terms:

Standard Scores: These typically have an average of 100, with most people scoring between 85-115. Scores below 70 often indicate significant challenges in that area.

Percentiles: These show how your child performed compared to other children their age. A 25th percentile score means your child scored better than 25% of same-age peers.

​Grade Equivalents: These can be misleading. A grade equivalent of 2.5 doesn't mean your child should be in second grade: it means they performed similarly to a typical student in the fifth month of second grade on that particular test.

Come prepared to your IEP meetings with specific questions:

Once you have a solid understanding of your child's PLAAFP, you can better advocate for appropriate goals and services. Each area of need identified in the PLAAFP should have corresponding goals that are:

Remember, the PLAAFP isn't set in stone. As your child grows and changes, their PLAAFP should be updated to reflect their current abilities and needs. This typically happens during annual IEP reviews, but you can request updates more frequently if significant changes occur.

Understanding your child's PLAAFP empowers you to be a more effective advocate. When you know exactly where your child is academically and functionally, you can better evaluate whether the proposed goals and services are appropriate.

Don't be afraid to ask for clarification, request additional assessments, or suggest changes if the PLAAFP doesn't accurately reflect your child. This document will guide your child's education for the entire year: it's worth getting it right.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the IEP process or need support understanding your child's PLAAFP, remember that you don't have to navigate this alone. Professional advocates can help you understand the complexities and ensure your child receives the support they deserve.

​The most important thing to remember is that the PLAAFP is a tool to help your child succeed. When it's thorough, accurate, and well-written, it becomes the roadmap that guides everyone working with your child toward the same destination: helping them reach their full potential.

Want to dig deeper, or need a little backup? Start here.

OSPI Procedural Safeguards (Parent Rights under IDEA) — A clear overview of parent rights, consent, evaluations, and dispute options. While Washington-specific, it’s a practical guide to what safeguards look like in many states.

Wrightslaw: PLAAFP and IEPs — Plain-language explanations and examples of strong Present Levels, plus how they connect to measurable goals and services.

Understood.org: The IEP Team — Who's on it? — Meet the typical IEP team members and learn what each person does, with tips for how parents can participate confidently.

​Advocating 4 Fair Education IEP Parent Workbook — A step-by-step workbook with prompts, checklists, and templates to help you prepare your child’s Present Levels and advocate with clarity.