IEP Present Levels (PLAAFP) in Rhode Island
What should present levels include in a Rhode Island IEP?
Rhode Island requires that each IEP include a statement of the student's present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP), implementing 34 CFR 300.320(a)(1) through 200-RICR-20-10-1.6(A)(1). The PLAAFP must describe how the disability affects the student's involvement and progress in the general curriculum, or for preschool students, how it affects participation in appropriate activities. Present levels must be grounded in comprehensive evaluation data gathered by a multidisciplinary team (200-RICR-20-10-1.4), using a variety of assessment tools and strategies. Rhode Island prohibits reliance on any single assessment as the sole criterion for eligibility or present levels. For students being evaluated for specific learning disabilities, written documentation of classroom observations must be included (200-RICR-20-10-1.4(D)). Parent input and concerns are explicitly required to be considered during IEP team deliberations (200-RICR-20-10-1.6(A)(1)).
What Rhode Island Requires
Present levels must describe how the disability affects involvement and progress in the general curriculum (for school-age students), or participation in appropriate activities (for preschool students) (200-RICR-20-10-1.6(A)(1); 34 CFR 300.320(a)(1)).
Present levels must be based on a variety of assessment tools and strategies; no single measure may be used as the sole criterion (200-RICR-20-10-1.4(B); 34 CFR 300.304(b)).
For SLD evaluations, classroom observation data documenting the student's performance and behavior in the area of difficulty must be included (200-RICR-20-10-1.4(D); 34 CFR 300.310).
Parent input and concerns regarding the child's education must be considered and documented in the IEP (200-RICR-20-10-1.6(A)(1); 34 CFR 300.324(a)(1)).
Present levels must be updated at each annual IEP review and whenever reevaluation data is incorporated (200-RICR-20-10-1.6(D)).
Key Timelines
Present levels must be updated at each annual IEP review (200-RICR-20-10-1.6(D)).
Reevaluation providing updated present level data must occur at least every three years unless the parent and district agree it is unnecessary (200-RICR-20-10-1.4(E); 34 CFR 300.303(b)).
Initial evaluation must be completed within 60 calendar days of receiving parental consent for evaluation (200-RICR-20-10-1.4(A); R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-24-4).