Understanding the PLAAFP: The Heartbeat of Your Child’s IEP

Staci Benoit-Grice
Oct 1
2 min read

If you’ve ever opened your child’s IEP and felt overwhelmed by acronyms, you’re not alone. But one section deserves your special attention: the PLAAFP. It’s more than just a technical requirement; it’s the story of your child’s strengths, challenges, and needs. When written well, it becomes the foundation for everything that follows.

What Is the PLAAFP?

PLAAFP stands for Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance. It’s the starting point of the IEP.

This section should answer:

What can your child do right now?
Where are they struggling?
How does their disability impact their learning and daily functioning?

Think of it as a snapshot of your child’s current abilities, both academically and functionally. It’s not just about test scores; it’s about how your child engages with the world.

Why It Matters

The PLAAFP drives the rest of the IEP. Goals, services, and accommodations all stem from this section. If the PLAAFP is vague or incomplete, the rest of the plan may miss the mark.

A strong PLAAFP should:

Be specific and data-driven (not just “Johnny struggles with reading” but “Johnny reads at a 2nd grade level and struggles with decoding multisyllabic words”).
Include both strengths and needs.
Reflect input from teachers, specialists, and parents.

Parent Tip: Your Voice Belongs Here

You know your child best. If the PLAAFP doesn’t reflect their lived experience, speak up. Share insights about how your child functions at home, in the community, or during transitions. Your observations can help the team paint a fuller picture.

Here are some questions to ask during the IEP meeting:

“Can you walk me through how this data was collected?”
“Does this reflect how my child performs across settings?”
“Can we include information about their sensory needs/social skills/home routines?”

What a Strong PLAAFP Looks Like

Here’s a simplified example:

“Ava is a 4th grade student who enjoys science and art. She reads fluently at a 3rd grade level but struggles with comprehension, especially when texts are abstract or figurative. In math, she performs at grade level with visual supports. Ava has ADHD, which impacts her ability to sustain attention during independent tasks. She benefits from movement breaks and visual schedules.”

Notice how it’s specific, strengths-based, and clearly connects disability impact to learning.

Final Thoughts

The PLAAFP isn’t just paperwork; it’s a powerful advocacy tool. When it’s written with care, it ensures your child’s IEP is truly individualized. Review the PLAAFP with care and intention. It’s the foundation of your child’s support plan, and it should reflect who they are as a student.

If you need help understanding the PLAAFP, sign up for our Virtual Fall Parent Information Session.

If you're a parent navigating IEPs, this session will help you: