If your child has a 504 plan…

[Anonymous]

Can you tell me who initiated it?

For example, if your child receives extra time or other accommodations, I’m wondering who requested the evaluation and accommodations.

[Anonymous]

Can you define a 504 plan?

[Anonymous]

DC1 had an IEP given to him in K by his MCPS school, because of significant and obvious delays. I did not initiate. He transitioned naturally to a 504 in 12th grade, as a transition to college. Along the way, we had him evaluated privately in order to bolster our case for modifications to his plans.

DC2 was diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disease that occasionally impacts her schooling, and with the knowledge I had from DC1's accommodations in IEPs and 504s, I asked for the accommodations she needed in a medicalized 504 plan.

[Anonymous]

What is your child's disability or the parent's cancer? Ours is anxiety and mild dyslexia, and we (the parents) are the ones who received an external diagnosis and pushed for the 504. The school doesn't want to do any testing. We are giving it a year to see if there is any improvement with the 504, if not, we'll push for the testing and the IEP.

[Anonymous]

After multiple teachers broke laws and told us to have our middle schooler evaluated for ADHD, we did. When the results did indeed show ADHD everyone was happy to start the ball rolling. They started with an IEP meeting, which was a waste of everyone's time, because they said he was on grade level and an IEP was not necessary and we'd move to a 504 meeting (the next month). At that meeting, recommendations were made - chucking large assignments, sitting up front by teacher, allowed to move around when needed, extra time and more

[Anonymous]

My 12yo is in private but the school brought concerns to our attention and mcps did the testing. Mcps said she’s eligible for 504 due to adhd.
Our school calls it accommodation plan. When we go to public for hs though she’ll have the 504.
They suggest ideas but you can too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After multiple teachers broke laws and told us to have our middle schooler evaluated for ADHD, we did. When the results did indeed show ADHD everyone was happy to start the ball rolling. They started with an IEP meeting, which was a waste of everyone's time, because they said he was on grade level and an IEP was not necessary and we'd move to a 504 meeting (the next month). At that meeting, recommendations were made - chucking large assignments, sitting up front by teacher, allowed to move around when needed, extra time and more
How did multiple teachers break the law?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After multiple teachers broke laws and told us to have our middle schooler evaluated for ADHD, we did. When the results did indeed show ADHD everyone was happy to start the ball rolling. They started with an IEP meeting, which was a waste of everyone's time, because they said he was on grade level and an IEP was not necessary and we'd move to a 504 meeting (the next month). At that meeting, recommendations were made - chucking large assignments, sitting up front by teacher, allowed to move around when needed, extra time and more
How did multiple teachers break the law?

How did multiple teachers break the law?

[Anonymous]

Thanks. So it’s a mix of school-initiated and parent-initiated. I’m the OP and the school initiated our DD’s 504 plan. I wasn’t sure if that was typical. Sounds like it is. I’m glad our teachers are looking out for our kids. Her accommodations have helped her a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After multiple teachers broke laws and told us to have our middle schooler evaluated for ADHD, we did. When the results did indeed show ADHD everyone was happy to start the ball rolling. They started with an IEP meeting, which was a waste of everyone's time, because they said he was on grade level and an IEP was not necessary and we'd move to a 504 meeting (the next month). At that meeting, recommendations were made - chucking large assignments, sitting up front by teacher, allowed to move around when needed, extra time and more
How did multiple teachers break the law?

NP. Teachers are not allowed to tell parents to get their child evaluated for ADHD. We can say things like, "Larlo frequently displays off-task behavior such as yelling or rolling on the floor during instructional time and is easily distracted by peers or himself. He needs frequent redirecting to keep his hands to himself" but we can't ask if the parents have considered an evaluation for ADHD or anything else.

If multiple teachers are making statements like the above, they're telling you something without saying it outright.

[Anonymous]

I did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you define a 504 plan?

School provided accommodations for students with disabilities who don't require specialized instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After multiple teachers broke laws and told us to have our middle schooler evaluated for ADHD, we did. When the results did indeed show ADHD everyone was happy to start the ball rolling. They started with an IEP meeting, which was a waste of everyone's time, because they said he was on grade level and an IEP was not necessary and we'd move to a 504 meeting (the next month). At that meeting, recommendations were made - chucking large assignments, sitting up front by teacher, allowed to move around when needed, extra time and more
How did multiple teachers break the law?

NP. Teachers are not allowed to tell parents to get their child evaluated for ADHD. We can say things like, "Larlo frequently displays off-task behavior such as yelling or rolling on the floor during instructional time and is easily distracted by peers or himself. He needs frequent redirecting to keep his hands to himself" but we can't ask if the parents have considered an evaluation for ADHD or anything else.

If multiple teachers are making statements like the above, they're telling you something without saying it outright.

Public schools are in fact required to suggest evaluations if they think a student has a disability. Teachers can't guess at what that disability is or tell them to get an outside evaluation, but they absolutely can tell parents that a school provided evaluation is recommended.

[Anonymous]

Teachers can’t guess at a diagnosis or disability, that’s true, but they can absolutely observe that a child has trouble staying focused and is impulsive. They can ask parents if they see similar behaviors at home. They can ask parents if they share the concern about the child’s ability to learn because of the impulsiveness. And they can ask if they have shared these concerns with the child’s doctor. None of that is inappropriate or overstepping.

[Anonymous]

You can request an eval OP, do so in writing. Check wrightslaw for help.