When parents receive their child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or participate in an Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) meeting in Texas, the Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) section often gets overlooked. Many parents skim past this part, eager to see the goals or services promised. Yet, the Present Levels section is the foundation of the entire IEP. It drives every goal, accommodation, and service your child receives.

If your child is struggling at school and someone has mentioned an IEP or a 504 plan, the first question is usually the same. Which one does my child actually need? Here's the plain answer. An IEP (Individualized Education Program) is for students who need specialized instruction. The way they're being taught has to change, not just the conditions around them. A 504 plan is for students who can succeed in regular instruction with accommodations like extra time, preferential s