How to Read Your Child's IEP Draft
IEP drafts are full of jargon. Here's how to read one like an advocate — and spot the sections that matter most.
Most parents receive an IEP draft a few days before the meeting and feel instantly lost. The pages are long, the language is formal, and it's hard to know what actually matters. Here's a simple way to work through it.
Start with the present levels
The Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance — often called PLOP or PLAAFP — is the foundation of the entire IEP. If this section is vague, outdated, or missing your child's strengths, every goal that follows will be weaker.
Check the goals next
Goals should be specific, measurable, and tied to what your child actually needs. Watch out for goals that are too broad ('Johnny will improve reading') or that measure adult effort instead of student progress ('Johnny will be provided with...').
- Is the goal measurable? Can you picture what success looks like?
- Does it match a need listed in the present levels?
- Is there a clear timeline and way to track progress?
- Will the skill actually matter for your child?
Look at services and minutes
Make sure the services, minutes, and settings line up with the goals. If your child has a reading goal but no direct reading service, that's a red flag. If all services are 'consultation' when your child needs direct instruction, ask why.
Need help?
If reading the draft feels stressful, book a free discovery call and we'll walk through it together.