Guide to Writing a Compliant Present Level of Performance

by Mary Jean Balda

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What to include in an Outstanding (and Compliant)

Present Level of Performance for High School and Junior High Students:

What is the student’s identified disability and when was that determined? (date of most recent ETR)

Tell me how this student’s skills compare to a typical student. (For example, “When given a 115 word passage at the 5^th grade level in April 2008, TJ read 29 words per minute while his peers read 120 words per minute.”)

Give me as much measurable data as you have. It will help set baselines. For example “In a 9 week grading period (Jan-March 2008) John turned in 5/25 homework assignments on time.” Or “During a 90 minute block, Bill remains on task for 15 minutes before needing a 2 minute break.”

What are the student’s specific areas of need? (You are really answering the question, “What is preventing this student from being successful in the general ed curriculum?” And “Why does he need an IEP?”

Tell me how many days of school the student missed?

Tell me how many office referrals, if any, the student has had this year. For what?
Tell me about any social/emotional/behavioral issues—positives and negatives
Tell me about accommodations and/or modifications he is receiving and justification for them.

Tell me if he has a job. Where? For how long? Doing what?

Tell me how he did on the OGT or OAT. Actual scores received? What is passing score?

Tell me if he has taken the PLAN test or the ACT test—how did he do?

Tell me if he has completed a Career Assessment. If so, what were the results?(one or two sentences)

Tell me if he is interested in the EHOVE Career Center? Which program?

Tell me if he has any health problems that impact his day at school?

Tell me about the Age Appropriate Transition Assessments you used. What did these assessments tell you about his future plans, his interests, his career aptitudes?.

Do not forget to tell me what other related services he is receiving. Speech? OT? PT? Personal Aide? Work Study and Transition Services.

Near the end of the narrative write a statement that explains why his disability prevents him from making progress in the general ed curriculum.

Finally, tell me his 2-3 biggest needs from which you will develop goals. Remember the needs are in response to the dilemma: “If only John could do this (fill in the blank) he would not need an IEP and would do just fine in school.”

Put some “white space” between your answers to these questions. Make the PLOP easy on the eyes. One long paragraph is difficult to follow. If you always write your PLOPs using this same order, it will be easier for your fellow teachers to find important information quickly.