IEP Present Levels (PLAAFP) in Kentucky
What should present levels include in a Kentucky IEP?
Kentucky requires that each IEP include a statement of the student's present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP), consistent with 707 KAR 1:320, Section 5(7) and federal law. The PLAAFP must describe how the disability affects the child's involvement and progress in the general curriculum — or for preschool children, how the disability affects participation in appropriate activities. Present levels must be grounded in the full and individual evaluation required by 707 KAR 1:300, Section 4, which mandates a variety of assessment tools and strategies, prohibition on reliance on any single procedure, and assessment of all areas related to the suspected disability including health, vision, hearing, social-emotional status, intelligence, academic performance, communication, and motor abilities. The ARC (Admissions and Release Committee) is responsible for using evaluation results when developing the IEP under 707 KAR 1:320. Parent input and concerns must be considered, and parents may provide information for the evaluation and IEP development process (707 KAR 1:340, Section 6). For SLD eligibility, observational data documenting academic performance and behavioral difficulties must be included (707 KAR 1:310, Section 2(5)). Annual goals must flow directly from the documented present levels.
What Kentucky Requires
Present levels must describe how the disability affects involvement and progress in the general curriculum (707 KAR 1:320, Section 5(7); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(1)).
Present levels must be based on evaluation data gathered through a variety of assessment tools and strategies; no single procedure may be the sole criterion (707 KAR 1:300, Section 4(9)).
Evaluation must be comprehensive, covering all areas related to the suspected disability including health, vision, hearing, social-emotional, intelligence, academics, communication, and motor abilities (707 KAR 1:300, Section 4(10)).
For SLD evaluations, at least one non-classroom team member must observe the student in learning environments and document academic performance and behavioral difficulties (707 KAR 1:310, Section 2(5)).
Parent-provided information must be included in the evaluation data used to establish present levels (707 KAR 1:300, Section 4).
The ARC must consider child strengths and parent concerns when developing present levels and annual goals (707 KAR 1:320, Section 5(1)-(2)).
Key Timelines
Present levels must be updated at each annual IEP review (707 KAR 1:320; 34 CFR 300.324(b)).
Reevaluation that refreshes the data underlying present levels must occur at least every three years (707 KAR 1:300, Section 4(18)).
Reevaluation cannot occur more than once per year unless the parent and LEA agree otherwise (707 KAR 1:300, Section 4(19)).