The Importance of an Effective IEP Audit

Why an IEP audit should look beyond whether boxes are checked

An IEP audit should answer two questions at the same time.

First, does the IEP include the required components under IDEA?

Second, does the plan make sense for the individual student?

A compliant IEP can still be weak if it reads like a template. A useful IEP connects the student’s present levels, needs, goals, services, accommodations, progress monitoring, and placement into one clear plan.

During an audit, SPED teams should look for alignment. Each section should support the next.

For example:

• The evaluation data identifies reading fluency as an area of need.

• The PLAAFP explains how reading fluency affects access to grade-level work.

• The annual goal targets measurable reading fluency growth.

• Services are designed to support that goal.

• Progress monitoring explains how the team will track the student’s response.

• Accommodations support access while instruction addresses the skill deficit.

  
  

When that chain breaks, the IEP becomes harder to implement and harder to defend.

Start with the PLAAFP because it drives the whole IEP

The Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance section, often called the PLAAFP, is the anchor of the IEP. If the PLAAFP is vague, the rest of the plan usually becomes vague too.

A strong PLAAFP should include a clear picture of the student right now. That means it should not rely only on broad statements such as “the student struggles in math” or “the student has difficulty paying attention.”

It should describe the student’s strengths, needs, current performance, and how the disability affects involvement and progress in the general education curriculum.

One cool trick that comes in handy: on the side bar of the IEP document, there is a list. Meeting, Enrollment, Dates, Safeguards, Present Levels, Special Factors, Goals, Accommodations / Modifications, ESY, Assessments, Services, LRE, PWN...A good rule of thumb for a Present Levels section? Start at Meeting (why are we here) and move through each and every section to provide an update. What is the enrollment history? What are the previous and future dates and maybe a review of the last eval? What special factors are there and also provide an update on each one? Update on goals and progress...and what are the next steps? What do accommodations look like for the student and how are they used in the general education setting? Did the student attend ESY? How did that go? Update the assessments the student has had over the last year (DIBELS, iReady, state testing, etc)...just go down the sidebar and provide feedback and updates for each section.

A PLAAFP audit should check for these items: