IEP Present Levels (PLAAFP) in Pennsylvania
What should present levels include in a Pennsylvania IEP?
Pennsylvania requires that every IEP contain a statement of the child's present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP), consistent with 34 CFR §300.320(a)(1) and incorporated into state practice through 22 Pa. Code §14.131. The PLAAFP must describe how the child's disability affects involvement and progress in the general education curriculum (or for preschool children, participation in appropriate activities). Pennsylvania's annotated IEP form, developed by PaTTAN and the Bureau of Special Education, requires the present levels section to include current academic achievement data, functional performance information, and a clear description of how the disability impacts the student in the educational setting. The PLAAFP must incorporate objective, measurable baseline data drawn from multiple sources including the most recent Evaluation Report (ER) or Reevaluation Report (RR), curriculum-based assessments, formative assessments, standardized test results, teacher observations, and parent input (22 Pa. Code §14.131; 34 CFR §300.320(a)(1)). Pennsylvania's IEP form specifically requires consideration of special factors: whether the student's behavior impedes learning (triggering positive behavior support planning under 22 Pa. Code §14.133), whether the student has limited English proficiency, whether the student is blind or visually impaired (requiring Braille consideration), whether the student has communication needs, and whether the student needs assistive technology (34 CFR §300.324(a)(2)). For students who are deaf or hard of hearing, the IEP must include a communication plan addressing language and communication needs, opportunities for direct communication with peers and professionals, academic level, and the full range of needs (34 CFR §300.324(a)(2)(iv)). The present levels must address all areas of suspected disability including, as appropriate, health, vision, hearing, social-emotional status, general intelligence, academic performance, communicative status, and motor abilities. The statement must be written as a narrative that is understandable to all IEP team members including parents, providing an objective synthesis of all relevant information about the child's development and educational performance. The PLAAFP serves as the cornerstone of the IEP, providing the baseline from which measurable annual goals are derived.
What Pennsylvania Requires
PLAAFP must describe how the disability affects involvement and progress in the general education curriculum (34 CFR §300.320(a)(1); 22 Pa. Code §14.131)
Must include objective, measurable baseline data from the Evaluation Report (ER) or Reevaluation Report (RR), curriculum-based assessments, and other relevant sources (22 Pa. Code §14.131)
Must address all areas of suspected disability including health, vision, hearing, social-emotional status, academic performance, communicative status, and motor abilities
Special factors must be considered: behavior impeding learning, limited English proficiency, blindness/visual impairment, communication needs, and assistive technology needs (34 CFR §300.324(a)(2))
Communication plan required for students who are deaf or hard of hearing addressing language, communication mode, and peer interaction (34 CFR §300.324(a)(2)(iv))
Braille instruction must be considered for students who are blind or visually impaired unless the IEP team determines it is not appropriate (34 CFR §300.324(a)(2)(iii))
Parent input must be included in the present levels statement (34 CFR §300.322)
Present levels must provide the baseline data from which annual goals are developed and progress is measured (34 CFR §300.320(a)(2))
Key Timelines
Present levels must be updated at each annual IEP review (34 CFR §300.324(b))
Evaluation data informing present levels must come from the current ER/RR, which may be no more than 3 years old per reevaluation requirements (34 CFR §300.303)
Initial ER must be completed within 60 calendar days of written parental consent (summer excluded), establishing the first PLAAFP baseline (22 Pa. Code §14.123(b))