Checklist for Making Sure Schools Follow Your IEP or 504 Plan
Securing the IEP or 504 plan is only the first step. Here’s a checklist for ensuring schools follow through with your accommodations, including sending thank yous, checking in with you child, and taking a deep breath.
- Make sure you get a copy of the IEP or 504 Plan to take home. Read it carefully, noting the supports, services, and goals it contains.
- Send thank-you notes to everyone on the IEP and 504 teams.
- If you find any errors or things that are missing (or included) in the document that you did not expect, promptly contact the head of the IEP or 504 team to discuss your concerns.
- Give a copy of the IEP or 504 Plan to your child’s teachers, or at least confirm that they have already received it. They are supposed to get it from the school, but some schools resist passing it along because of privacy concerns.
- Make sure your child knows the terminology for his areas of difficulty and is able to explain them. Make sure he is also aware of his strengths.
- Discuss the IEP or 504 Plan with your child if she is in middle or high school so that she knows what services she is getting – and why.
- Ask your student to tell you if she is not receiving the accommodations listed in the IEP or 504 Plan.
- Think about what you can do to support your student. Does the IEP/504 Plan provide for communication between home and school? If it does not, speak with the teacher about setting up regular contact.
- When everything is in place, take a deep breath and congratulate yourself on a job well done.
