For parents of kids with an IEP or 504 plan, heading back to school is quite a bit more involved than digging out the backpack and buying school supplies.
Here are some tips for making the transition go more smoothly:
- Review your child’s IEP, 504 plan and/or Individualized Health Plan to refresh your memory on the contents. Does anything need to be updated?
- If your child takes medication at school, contact the school health clinic and fill out the necessary forms.
- Contact your child’s school administrator about any critical items that must be in place before school starts, such as staff training on your child’s medical or behavioral needs.
- If needed, request a meeting with your child’s teacher(s) as well to ensure everyone has the information they need to support your child from day one.
- If your child is starting at a new school or needs any additional support to transition back to school for any reason, discuss this with the school ahead of time.
- Consider sending an email to each of your child’s teachers to introduce your child, describe their strengths and challenges, and to share strategies that work – or don’t work – for teaching them.
- Shortly after the school year starts, you may want to touch base with related services providers about scheduling of services, to ensure that your child will not be pulled out of class during core instruction.
- Monitor the implementation of your child’s plan closely as the school year starts with new teachers and providers.