Behind The IEP Table

06/19/2025

🎧 NEW EPISODE is Live!
PLAAFPs Explained: Why Present Levels of Performance Are the Foundation of Every IEP

If the IEP is a roadmap, the PLAAFP is the “you are here” marker.
Without a clear starting point, the rest of the plan falls apart.

🧠 In this episode of Behind the IEP Table, we break down:
✔️ What a PLAAFP actually is
✔️ How to spot a weak one (and why “Marcus struggles with reading” doesn’t cut it)
✔️ What should be included—strengths, needs, and function
✔️ What to ask if the PLAAFP doesn’t sound like your child

This is one of the most misunderstood parts of the IEP—and one of the most powerful tools in the hands of a well-informed parent.

🎙 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts
📌 Save this for your next meeting
📢 Tag a parent who needs this breakdown!

06/13/2025

🧠 What’s a PLAAFP—and why does it matter so much?

The Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) section of your child’s IEP is the foundation everything else is built on.

It’s more than a list of struggles. It should tell the story of where your child is right now—what they can do, where they need support, and how they function across settings.

🚩 Red flag? If the PLAAFP only focuses on what your child can’t do—or worse, it’s just copy-pasted from last year.

💬 In next week’s episode, we break it all down:
✔️ What makes a strong PLAAFP
✔️ What questions you can ask if it doesn’t sound like your child
✔️ A real story of how one detailed PLAAFP changed everything

📌 Save this post for your next IEP meeting.
🧡 You deserve a seat at the table and the clarity to speak up at it.

🎙 New episode drops Wednesday on Behind the IEP Table.

06/11/2025

🎧 NEW EPISODE is Live!
Areas of Eligibility: How Does a Child Qualify?

💡 In this episode of Behind the IEP Table, we break it down:
✔️ The 2-part test for eligibility under IDEA
✔️ The 13 disability categories that schools use
✔️ What exclusionary factors can’t be used to deny services
✔️ What to ask if the school says “your child doesn’t qualify”

🗣 Spoiler: A diagnosis isn’t enough. Your child’s educational needs matter just as much.

🎙 Tune in now and grab our free eligibility checklist in the show notes.

📌 Save this post for your next IEP meeting—and tag a parent who needs this episode.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

06/09/2025

👋 Meet the Hosts of Behind the IEP Table

We’re Paige and Allie—educators and IEP allies, and the voices behind the mic each week.

After years of sitting on the school side of the table, we created this podcast to support the parent side—because we know just how overwhelming this process can feel.

🎙 Paige is a veteran special education teacher and behavior specialist who’s helped hundreds of families navigate the IEP process with clarity and confidence.

🎙 Allie is a 504/IEP program leader and instructional coach who’s passionate about demystifying special ed and building strong parent-school partnerships.

This space is for you. The parent who’s asking questions, showing up, and advocating fiercely for your child.

💬 Comment below—how long have you been at the IEP table?�
🧡 New episode drops Wednesday!

06/06/2025

💡 Not all IEPs are built the same.
There are 13 ways a child can qualify for special education services under IDEA—and knowing how they work can help you ask better questions at your next meeting.

🎯 In this week’s Mini IEP Lesson, we break down:

What each category actually means
Why diagnosis ≠ automatic eligibility
Questions to ask your IEP team
What to do if you don’t agree

📌 Save this post. It’s one of our most-requested resources—and every parent should have it.

🎙 Episode drops next Wednesday: “Areas of Eligibility: How Does a Child Qualify?”

💬 Comment below: What surprised you most about these categories?

06/03/2025