How to negotiate a 504 Plan?
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Anonymous
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Newbie here. We just received our neuropsych report, and we need to ask for a 504 Plan. DD has ADHD Combined Presentation, and weaknesses with executive functioning and social-emotional functioning.
My child is really struggling, and I want to be the best advocate I can. I have some questions on the process: 1. I need to send the report to the school. Do I send any kind of specific message with it, or do I just say I'm requesting a 504 Plan? 2. I understand there will be a meeting between me and the school. What should I expect? Any tips for negotiating? 3. How do I monitor the accommodations process to ensure it's working? This is a public elementary school, in case that matters. Thanks in advance for your help. This is all very new to me, and I'm so excited to finally be at the point to get DC some help and don't want to botch it. |
Anonymous
| This was us last year. Do a lot of online research about what accommodations might work for your kid. Have a reason why in your personal notes. Hand out a typed copy to each member of the 504 team. Ask them what else they think might help in her case. We were over prepared for our meeting for DCPS elementary and it was a great meeting. We got all we asked for and they added two. Lots of websites out there to give you ideas. Good luck! |
Anonymous
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You say your child is really struggling. First, determine why your child is struggling and make sure that accommodations are enough for your DD to be successful. Are you sure she does not need specialized instruction?
My DD has ADHD combined and anxiety. Based on the advice of this board, we asked for an IEP screening meeting. To be honest, we thought that she would only qualify for a 504, but to our surprise they approved her for an IEP because they did not feel that the accommodations would be enough to help her. My advice- look at all of her work coming home and make sure that simple accommodations will be enough for her. If you are even slightly unsure, ask for a Screening meeting and go that route. Even if they say that she does not qualify for a IEP you can still get a 504 and you will have a lot more info on her learning style, strengths, and weaknesses. As for what to do- send an email to the principal letting him/her know that you are requesting a screening meeting (or 504 determination meeting if you are going only that way). You can let them know that she had recent testing and a diagnosis. They will follow-up with you. If you are in Maryland and ask for the screening meeting, I believe they have 30 days to schedule. With a 504 meeting, there are no time restraints. For now, save all work that comes home. Look for areas where her disability clearly impacted her work. Highlight it! Note on homework when she is not able to complete it due to not hearing/understanding oral directions. Basically, be a sleuth and be ready to prove why you think her disability is impacting her learning. If you can, get her teacher on your side. Good luck! |
Anonymous
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1. I need to send the report to the school. Do I send any kind of specific message with it, or do I just say I'm requesting a 504 Plan?
There are form letters online that you can use. Is there any reason to think you need an IEP? Schools tend to take those meetings more seriously. Can you combine an IEP and 504 meeting? 2. I understand there will be a meeting between me and the school. What should I expect? Any tips for negotiating? They may have tons of people from their side so you should bring someone with you even if it's a friend if your DH can't make it. Do not go in alone. They may argue your child is "on grade level" if he or she is on grade level and say that there is no impact as a result. Do not back down if this happens. Bring test scores, work samples. This happened to us our first meeting and we left with nothing because I was so shocked. The teacher had brought up the issues and we had a neuropsych eval with very clear diagnoses that pointed to learning issues but the principal and SN coordinator did not think anything was necessary. 3. How do I monitor the accommodations process to ensure it's working? I would pay someone, maybe whoever did your neuropsych, to do an observation. In our case, the school really did very little in the 504 plan. |
Anonymous
| Psych report suggested a lot of accommodations and some were really a bit too much, so we just pushed for the ones that we thought would be most beneficial. School did not want to give extra time, had to argue that case and it was pretty too hard. Just had a few samples with us of were it was needed. |
Anonymous
Thing about 504 plans is that you get accommodations when they are needed - like for testing or extra time for homework/assignments. So, you could send someone to observe, but if it's a day where no accommodations would be needed, then you aren't going to see anything. Also, if the accommodation is extra time, often it is given on a later day after the assignment/test is reviewed to see if extra time is needed. I monitor through talking with my son, reviewing Edline and, when I have questions, talking with the special education team and teachers. I look at outcomes - if my son got the grade I expect based on his abilities. I haven't had a negative experience with special ed in MCPS, so I don't come to this process with a mistrustful attitude. What I find is that everyone is invested in my son's success and they really to work hard for him. |
Anonymous
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PP, what school?
It's nice to hear of a good experience. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks for all the help. The doctor specifically suggested accommodations under section 504 in the report. Does this rule out asking for a join IEP/504 meeting? |
Anonymous
Request an evaluation in writing with the teacher and I think you should cc the principal. Check the Wright's Law website on procedures. An IEP is more enforceable than a 504, so I'm not sure why your private evaluator recommended one over the other. You can submit your own report with your request as well. http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/test.force.school.htm http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.index.htm |
Anonymous
| You absolutely can ask for an IEP even without it written on your report! If she is truly struggling I would definitely go this route since there are a lot more regulations that the school has to follow as soon as you ask for your child to be evaluated for an IEP. |
Anonymous
| Can your evaluator rewrite your report to recommend an IEP or 504? |
Anonymous
We came in as you did very trusting of the system and learned the hard way that there are bad administrators and bad teachers everywhere in MCPS. There are also good administrators and good teachers but we had to hire an attorney to find them. |
Anonymous
PP here. White Oak Middle School and Blake High School. |
Anonymous
| An IEP is for students who need direct instruction provided by a special educator at your school. In these cases the disability is often affecting areas such as reading, writing, math, oral language, significant organizational issues, etc. A 504 provides accommodations (extra time, preferential seating, checking for understanding, copies of teacher notes, etc.) that can be implemented by a general educator in the classroom. If your child's executive functioning is significantly affecting their classroom performance you may be better off with an IEP. |
Anonymous
No, that's not what a 504 is. A 504 is supposed to prevent discrimination. It actually doesn't assure any accomodations. An IEP can be administered by a general educator: http://www.wrightslaw.com/howey/504.idea.htm |