FCPS (Fairfax) 504 meeting - parent rights

[Anonymous]

What are parents’ rights during a review of a 504 meeting? Is school allowed to be openly disrespectful and ignore comments from parents? In our case it appears to be a spite over a very simple accommodation that is coming from one of the higher ranking administrators.

We could hire a lawyer, but we are also confused how blatantly open they are about not being interested in our opinion. Are they legally allowed to openly act in a disrespectful way?

[Anonymous]

No, of course not. You need to escalate this to the region superintendent.

[Anonymous]

Ignoring is t ok but they don’t have to agree with you. Your team seems very dysfunctional. I hope you can get back on track with them. You might have to escalate but that’s not going to help with the bad working relationships. I might talk with the counselor first. These are your child’s day to day people and having their support is important.

[Anonymous]

FCPS is terrible to parents. No amount of being nice will help you- escalate, ask for the meeting to be recorded, put things in writing, etc...

[Anonymous]

FCPS teacher here - absolutely escalate. Don’t worry about the school’s reaction. Staff change and often the people above are waiting for reports of this kind of thing to get the poor staff out. Just be calm and professional and record every meeting. Your kid needs you to stick up for them.

[Anonymous]

What accommodation were you trying to add?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What accommodation were you trying to add?

Cannot give specifics due to a very specific nature of the illness, but would not require much of teachers’ time.

It is not even about whether the request will be approved. It is understandable that schools may not always agree or be in a position to provide the necessary accommodation. It is dismissive and disrespectful attitude during 504 meetings and even bad attitude when it comes to implementation of the existing 504 plan that I find surprising.

Most likely we will escalate to the principal first.

[Anonymous]

Are they actually being disrespectful or do they do not agree with you that this accommodation is appropriate and you are taking that as disrespect? It’s hard for us to give you advice without the details.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are they actually being disrespectful or do they do not agree with you that this accommodation is appropriate and you are taking that as disrespect? It’s hard for us to give you advice without the details.

They do disagree with us, which, on its own, is understandable to be a possible outcome of any 504 meeting.

However, the new update is small compared to the rest of the 504 plan that has been approved by a different 504 team. It doesn’t affect school much, so it would be nice to have an explanation other than “no”.

In the most recent meeting, the tone was very rude and dismissive: talking with each other about us (parents) in a negative tone and as if we are not present.

I don’t know how to describe it, but we were treated as spectators of their own discussion including open smirking and almost as if they were trying to say that we don’t belong in that meeting. They have been also having not so subtle discussions about DC’s disabilities in front of the DC in general school setting and with other stuff who was not part of the meeting (and within an earshot of other students).

[Anonymous]

Are both parents signing in by zoom? Did you let them know you are recording the meeting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are both parents signing in by zoom? Did you let them know you are recording the meeting?

Last meeting was over the Zoom. Sometimes we meet in person. We never asked to record Zoom meetings. Isn’t that something that other parents do and schools agree to?

[Anonymous]

I meant “is that” something that other parents do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are they actually being disrespectful or do they do not agree with you that this accommodation is appropriate and you are taking that as disrespect? It’s hard for us to give you advice without the details.

They do disagree with us, which, on its own, is understandable to be a possible outcome of any 504 meeting.

However, the new update is small compared to the rest of the 504 plan that has been approved by a different 504 team. It doesn’t affect school much, so it would be nice to have an explanation other than “no”.

In the most recent meeting, the tone was very rude and dismissive: talking with each other about us (parents) in a negative tone and as if we are not present.

I don’t know how to describe it, but we were treated as spectators of their own discussion including open smirking and almost as if they were trying to say that we don’t belong in that meeting. They have been also having not so subtle discussions about DC’s disabilities in front of the DC in general school setting and with other stuff who was not part of the meeting (and within an earshot of other students).

Thank you for clarifying. My suggestion would be to attend all meetings in person, if possible.

How do you know they talk about DC’s disability in front of other students? Do you have proof of this? Is it saying that your kid gets extended time or some accommodation or is it details about the disability? The class will know about extended time when your kid is still taking the test.

Honestly, you sound upset but this doesn’t sound reportable. You can’t report them for smirking and it sounds like they were having a discussion and you were in the meeting.

I understand being upset. We had horrible meetings with FCPS. We even pulled for private school. Sometimes the battle isn’t worth it.

I’m just saying to focus on helping your kid rather than focusing on the unimportant stuff and am trying to figure out if they are actually out of compliance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are they actually being disrespectful or do they do not agree with you that this accommodation is appropriate and you are taking that as disrespect? It’s hard for us to give you advice without the details.

They do disagree with us, which, on its own, is understandable to be a possible outcome of any 504 meeting.

However, the new update is small compared to the rest of the 504 plan that has been approved by a different 504 team. It doesn’t affect school much, so it would be nice to have an explanation other than “no”.

In the most recent meeting, the tone was very rude and dismissive: talking with each other about us (parents) in a negative tone and as if we are not present.

I don’t know how to describe it, but we were treated as spectators of their own discussion including open smirking and almost as if they were trying to say that we don’t belong in that meeting. They have been also having not so subtle discussions about DC’s disabilities in front of the DC in general school setting and with other stuff who was not part of the meeting (and within an earshot of other students).

You said it "doesn't affect school much." Suspect that's the crux of it. You don't get an accommodation just because you want it, you get it if there is a need for it in order for your child to access their child environment. If something doesn't affect school much in your own admission then it wouldn't meet this standard.

It's unfortunate the school treated you rudely but there is no law against that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are parents’ rights during a review of a 504 meeting? Is school allowed to be openly disrespectful and ignore comments from parents? In our case it appears to be a spite over a very simple accommodation that is coming from one of the higher ranking administrators.

We could hire a lawyer, but we are also confused how blatantly open they are about not being interested in our opinion. Are they legally allowed to openly act in a disrespectful way?

All you need to do is google this. It's all there.