Definition: Present Level of Performance (PLP) is the portion of your child's IEP that details how he or she is doing now. An accurate and complete PLP is essential for determining appropriate goals -- if you can't agree on where a child is starting from, how can you determine where he should go? Teachers, therapists and parents should contribute their observations on the student's performance level in academic and non-academic areas, and test scores should be included as appropriate to further document the student's current ability. There should be some discussion of your child's PLP at the IEP meeting, and if you disagree with what the professionals are saying -- whether they're undervaluing your child's abilities or over-estimating them -- make sure that your point of view is included in the IEP as well, and raise objections to goals that do not take the PLP into account.
Also Known As: Present Levels of Academic and Functional Performance
