What is the Present Levels of Academic and Functional Performance (PLOP) section?

• A. A data-driven description of the student’s current strengths, needs, and how they affect participation and progress.
• B. A summary of disciplinary incidents.
• C. A monthly budget for the school.
• D. A description of cafeteria menu choices.

Answer: (B)

Present Levels of Academic and Functional Performance describes where the student stands right now in both academics and everyday skills. This section is built from current, multiple sources of data—work samples, assessments, observations, and input from teachers and specialists—and it highlights the student’s strengths and needs. Importantly, it explains how those strengths and needs affect the student’s participation in school activities and progress toward annual goals. This baseline data then guides the development of appropriate goals, supports, accommodations, and services, and it helps monitor progress over time. Other statements about disciplinary incidents, school budgeting, or cafeteria menu choices don’t capture the student’s actual performance in academic and functional areas, so they don’t serve the same purpose in the IEP.