Present levels of performance are one of the most important parts of an IEP, yet they are often vague, outdated, or disconnected from real data. When present levels are weak, goals stop being individualized and progress becomes performative instead of meaningful.

In Episode 23, I explain what present levels actually are, why they matter, and how they serve as the foundation for every IEP goal. This episode is not about blaming schools or creating conflict. It is about clarity, alignment, and making sure goals reflect where your child truly is.

This conversation is for parents who read present levels that feel generic or overly positive, notice goals that repeat year after year, or sense that services are being justified without a clear explanation of need. I break down how weak present levels undermine the IEP, why legally sound goals depend on them, and how poor present levels lead to stalled progress and missed opportunities.

Drawing on professional experience and real-world examples, this episode explains present levels in plain language, shows how they should reflect both strengths and needs, and offers practical ways parents can ask better questions without being labeled difficult. Understanding present levels does not just improve paperwork. It restores logic, accountability, and purpose to the entire IEP.

🌱 In this episode, I cover:

✨ What present levels actually are and what they are not

✨ Why present levels are the foundation of every IEP goal

✨ How weak present levels lead to misaligned or recycled goals

✨ The difference between descriptive language and functional data

✨ Common red flags in poorly written present levels

✨ Why goals must be traceable back to present levels

✨ The legal role of present levels under IDEA

✨ How strong present levels protect against stalled progress

✨ Practical, parent-friendly ways to review and question present levels

✨ How understanding present levels supports confident advocacy

If you are early in the IEP process and feeling overwhelmed by documents that do not seem to add up, this episode is meant to ground you. When present levels are clear and data-informed, the entire IEP becomes a tool for forward movement rather than repetition.

🎧 Press play when you’re ready. Let’s learn this together.

Episode 23 is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FlorDeAmelia

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TC4pMJxQrwcyStNfnc9Rd?si=b77353d4aea34a3d

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/starting-with-iep/id1828187191

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3a1b111a-750f-4c5e-a3c5-38c55ee4e2d4/starting-with-iep

📲 Let’s Connect!

Turn IEP stress into confidence. I share useful resources every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday across all my social platforms.

Podcast Website: http://www.startingwithiep.com/

Website: https://www.flordeamelia.com

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Baseline data is one of the most important parts of an IEP, yet it’s often rushed, vague, or poorly explained. Without it, progress becomes subjective, goals can be recycled, and parents lose real leverage in advocating for their child.

In Episode 22, I unpack what baseline data really is, why it matters, and how understanding it changes the way parents approach IEP meetings. This episode is not about catching schools doing something wrong or creating conflict, it’s about clarity, accountability, and making informed decisions that ensure your child truly moves forward.

This conversation is for parents who have seen progress reports that “feel” positive but don’t match what they observe at home, who hear phrases like “we feel progress is happening” without concrete evidence, or who realize goals were written without a clear starting point. I explain how strong baseline data turns opinions into facts, why legally measurable goals require it, and how missing or poorly collected baselines can lead to artificial progress, stalled goals, and lost years.

Drawing on professional expertise and real-life examples, this episode breaks down baseline data in plain language, shows how it should be written, and provides practical steps parents can take - without being labeled difficult. Understanding baseline data doesn’t just change paperwork; it changes conversations, power dynamics, and outcomes.

🌱 In this episode, I cover:

✨ What baseline data actually is, and what it is not

✨ Why baseline data is the foundation of every IEP goal and service

✨ Common examples of weak vs. strong baseline statements

✨ How missing or low baselines create artificial progress

✨ Why subjective progress is dangerous for students

✨ How baseline data protects against wasted years and recycled goals

✨ The legal importance of baseline data under IDEA

✨ Practical, parent-friendly steps to request and review baseline data

✨ How baseline data helps parents advocate with confidence, not conflict

If you are in the early months of intervention and questioning whether you are doing enough, this episode is meant to ground you. You are not falling behind. You are building a foundation. Early intervention works best when it is intentional, paced, and rooted in understanding rather than fear.

🎧 Press play when you’re ready. Let’s learn this together.

Episode 22 is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FlorDeAmelia

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TC4pMJxQrwcyStNfnc9Rd?si=b77353d4aea34a3d

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/starting-with-iep/id1828187191

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3a1b111a-750f-4c5e-a3c5-38c55ee4e2d4/starting-with-iep

📲 Let’s Connect!

Turn IEP stress into confidence. I share useful resources every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday across all my social platforms.

Podcast Website: http://www.startingwithiep.com/

Website:

Early intervention does not feel loud or urgent in the beginning. It often feels quiet, slow, and filled with doubt. Families start to wonder whether anything is actually happening, whether progress should look different, or whether they should be pushing harder for more services. Those questions are rarely answered clearly, and that uncertainty can be just as heavy as the diagnosis itself.

In Episode 21, I walk parents through what the first six months of early intervention are truly designed to do and why this phase often feels invisible. This episode is not about adding more therapy, rushing milestones, or jumping ahead to school-based services. It is about understanding the foundational work that determines whether early intervention will actually support long-term progress or simply become another source of stress.

This conversation is for parents who are already receiving early intervention but feel unsettled by the pace, the lack of visible skill gains, or the pressure to do more. I explain what professionals are observing during the early months, why baseline data matters more than most families realize, and how early regulation and engagement set the stage for later learning and IEP success.

Drawing from professional expertise and lived experience, this episode reframes progress, normalizes regression, and clarifies why quality and consistency matter far more than volume. It also shows families how the data they are gathering now quietly prepares them to become stronger advocates when school-based services begin.

🌱 In this episode, I cover:

✨ What is actually happening during the first 30 days of early intervention

✨ Why observation and baseline data are critical and often misunderstood

✨ What real progress looks like in the first 90 days

✨ Why regulation and engagement come before skill acquisition

✨ The most common early intervention mistakes in the first six months

✨ Why more services do not always lead to better outcomes

✨ How early intervention quietly prepares families for future IEP meetings

✨ Why regression does not mean failure and comparison undermines clarity

If you are in the early months of intervention and questioning whether you are doing enough, this episode is meant to ground you. You are not falling behind. You are building a foundation. Early intervention works best when it is intentional, paced, and rooted in understanding rather than fear.

🎧 Press play when you’re ready. Let’s learn this together.

Episode 21 is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FlorDeAmelia

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TC4pMJxQrwcyStNfnc9Rd?si=b77353d4aea34a3d

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/starting-with-iep/id1828187191

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3a1b111a-750f-4c5e-a3c5-38c55ee4e2d4/starting-with-iep

📲 Let’s Connect!

Turn IEP stress into confidence. I share useful resources every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday across all my social platforms.

Podcast Website: