IEP Present Levels (PLAAFP) in North Dakota
What should present levels include in a North Dakota IEP?
North Dakota requires that each IEP include a statement of present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP) consistent with federal law and NDAC 67-23-01-02. The PLAAFP must describe how the disability affects the student's involvement and progress in the general curriculum, or for preschool-age students, how the disability affects participation in appropriate activities. Present levels must be based on current evaluation data gathered through a variety of tools and strategies; no single assessment may serve as the sole criterion for present levels documentation. The NDDPI emphasizes that present levels must be objective, measurable, and directly linked to the annual goals. Parent input and the student's strengths must be incorporated when developing the PLAAFP. For students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who are assessed using alternate achievement standards, the PLAAFP must reflect performance relative to those alternate standards. North Dakota requires that evaluation data and IEP development be conducted in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.
What North Dakota Requires
Present levels must describe how the disability affects involvement and progress in the general curriculum, or in appropriate activities for preschool students (34 CFR 300.320(a)(1); NDAC 67-23-01-02).
Present levels must be based on current, objective evaluation data gathered through a variety of tools and strategies; no single measure may serve as the sole criterion (34 CFR 300.304(b); NDAC 67-23-01-02).
Parent input and student strengths must be considered during IEP development and reflected in the PLAAFP (34 CFR 300.324(a)(1)).
Present levels must directly inform and link to the annual goals written in the IEP (NDAC 67-23-01-02).
Evaluation and IEP documentation must be conducted in the student's native language where practicable (34 CFR 300.304(c)(1)(ii); NDAC 67-23-01-02).
Key Timelines
Present levels must be updated at each annual IEP review (NDAC 67-23-01-05).
Reevaluation data refreshing present levels must occur at least every three years (34 CFR 300.303; NDAC 67-23-04-01).
Evaluation reports providing the basis for present levels must be completed within the 60-calendar-day evaluation timeline from parental consent (NDAC 67-23-04-01).