By October, most of us as special educators have found our rhythm. The beginning-of-the-year chaos has calmed (at least a little!), routines are in place, and that’s when IEP season really starts to pick up.

This month on Special Education for Beginners, we’re digging into how to make sure your IEPs are more than just compliant documents. They should be clear, meaningful, and connected — with every part of the plan tracing back to the Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP).

In today’s episode, I’m sharing why the Present Levels are the blueprint of the IEP, what four essential components must be included, and how to use them to guide your goals, services, and supports.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why the PLAAFP is the foundation for the rest of the IEP
• The four must-have components: strengths, needs, current performance, and impact
• Practical tips for writing strong Present Levels (nothing blank, no “no concerns,” everything dated, strengths woven throughout)
• Where to gather your data: observations, parent input, teacher input, student voice, informal and formal testing, and district assessments
• How collaboration makes the PLAAFP stronger and more accurate

Resource Mentioned in This Episode:

If you struggle to write the strengths and needs sections of your IEPs, I have a solution!

 I’ve created a resource that gives you example strength and need statements for every area of the PLAAFP. This tool will help you craft precise, parent-friendly Present Levels that guide the rest of your IEP.

👉 Writing IEPs in Special Education: Example Strength and Need Statements (PLAAFPs)

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