IEP Present Levels (PLAAFP) in Nebraska
What should present levels include in a Nebraska IEP?
Nebraska requires that each IEP include a statement of the student's present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP), consistent with 92 NAC 51-007.06A and federal law (34 CFR 300.320(a)(1)). The PLAAFP must describe how the disability affects the student'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 evaluation data gathered through a variety of tools and strategies as required by 92 NAC 51-007.01 through 51-007.03, which prohibit reliance on any single assessment. For students with specific learning disabilities, classroom observations and data from the problem-solving model or standard protocol intervention are required components of the evaluation under 92 NAC 51-007.03B. Annual goals must flow directly from the documented present levels. Parent input and concerns are explicitly required as part of IEP development under Nebraska Rule 51 and federal law (34 CFR 300.324(a)(1)(ii)).
What Nebraska Requires
Present levels must describe how the disability affects involvement and progress in the general curriculum, or in appropriate activities for preschool students (92 NAC 51-007.06A; 34 CFR 300.320(a)(1)).
Present levels must be based on evaluation data gathered through a variety of tools and strategies; no single measure may be used as the sole criterion (92 NAC 51-007.02; 34 CFR 300.304(b)).
For students with specific learning disabilities, data from the problem-solving model or standard protocol intervention must be included in the evaluation data supporting present levels (92 NAC 51-007.03B).
The evaluation report must document present performance levels and educational needs, forming the foundation for present levels in the IEP (92 NAC 51-007.04).
Parent input and concerns regarding their child's education must be considered and documented during IEP development (34 CFR 300.324(a)(1)(ii); 92 NAC 51-007.06).
Key Timelines
Present levels must be updated at each annual IEP review (92 NAC 51-007.09; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-1129).
Reevaluation data refreshing present levels must occur at least every three years (92 NAC 51-007.01B; 34 CFR 300.303).
Evaluation reports providing the basis for present levels must be completed within the 60-calendar-day evaluation timeline from parental consent (92 NAC 51-007.01A; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-1135).