How to Write IEP Present Levels: Writing Meaningful, Legally Compliant IEPs

⏱️ Estimated Time & CECs

This course qualifies for 5 total Professional Development or CEC hours (Continuing Education Credits). It includes 9 instructional modules plus 2 bonus modules, with each lesson designed to take approximately 30 minutes. Bonus materials—like templates, copy/paste examples, and a progress monitoring checklist—are designed to deepen your understanding and help you apply what you’ve learned right away.

✍️ Course Objective

By the end of this course, you’ll know how to write Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) that are legally sound, data-driven, and student-centered. You’ll learn how to craft statements that tell each student’s unique story—clearly and measurably—so that IEP teams can build stronger, more effective IEPs from the start. Whether you're new to IEP writing or looking to refine your skills, this course provides the clarity, tools, and examples you need to write Present Levels with confidence.

Most IEPs fall apart at the Present Levels. Why? Because that section sets the tone and direction for the entire IEP—and yet, it’s often rushed, vague, or copy-pasted. In this course, we’ll build on your data collection skills to craft Present Levels statements that are specific, measurable, and truly reflective of the student.

You’ll walk away with:

• A step-by-step process for writing Present Levels

• Real-life examples (good, bad, and improved)

• Templates and checklists you can use right away

• Confidence in your compliance—and your compassion

Whether you're brand new to IEPs or just tired of feeling like you’re “guessing,” this course will help you write Present Levels that are clear, individualized, and actually useful.

✅ Professional Development: About PD Hours & CECs from Don’t IEP Alone

At Don’t IEP Alone, we know how important meaningful, relevant professional development is for busy teachers—and how hard it can be to find high-quality training that actually helps in the classroom.

While we are not currently an accredited CEU provider through a specific state or national organization, many school districts accept certificates of completion from self-paced training programs like ours, especially when the course content is clearly educational, time-stamped, and well-documented.

📄 What You’ll Receive Upon Completion

Each course or bundle from Don’t IEP Alone includes:

• A certificate of completion with:

  • Learner’s name

  • Course title and description

  • Total instructional hours

  • Completion date

  • Learning objectives

  • Instructor name

• Optional reflection forms or quizzes to support internal documentation

• Clear outlines of content covered to share with your administrator if needed

Note: Acceptance of PD hours or CECs is always subject to your local district’s policies, Act 48 and approval. We recommend checking with your administrator or PD coordinator before submission.

How to Use This for Professional Development Credit

Most U.S. school districts allow teachers to submit outside PD hours for credit, provided that:

• The content aligns with your role or instructional responsibilities

• The course provides clear evidence of instructional time

• A certificate and documentation are included

We are happy to provide a “Professional Development Approval Request” one-pager for you to submit to your district, along with course documentation.

👩‍🏫 About the Team Behind the Training

Our courses and materials are developed by Lisa Lightner, a nationally recognized special education advocate, former teacher, parent, and author of Your IEP Playbook: A Parent’s Guide to Confident Advocacy. Lisa has supported thousands of families, teachers, and IEP teams since 2010 and brings over a decade of frontline advocacy experience to everything she creates.

Lisa works in collaboration with a certified teacher who holds a master’s degree in special education, ensuring that all course content is grounded in both real-world advocacy and classroom expertise. Together, we design practical, actionable training that helps teachers feel more confident, competent, and supported in their IEP work.