Stinky got one for her son before he started K.

Children with special needs often go through the Child Find process in preschool and receive services then.

My assumption is that you can do this now, but you may want to be aware if testing in the spring if standardized testing is big in your state. It occupies a lot of time and energy in some areas, and teachers and administrators can really want to focus on that without distraction. If that's the case with your school, schedule well in advance of that intense prep time.

How early can you start the 504 process? My daughter starts Kindergarten next year and I am tempted to call now and ask about it...

I had a similar situation to Johanna in an adjacent state to yours after having a 504 in NJ and moving. They wanted just an IHP. We have the 504, but were the first ones here who had one for MFA's.

Fast forward five years- there are a bunch of 504's in the lower grades for FA's and that's just how things are done here now.  I just happened to be the first. Now they use them as a CYA.

An excellent time to write up a thank you in the format of a letter of understanding to assistant superintendent?

Oh I'm glad you do have the support if the assistant super.



I know all of this isn't easy. Figuring out what to do at times like this can be so hard sometimes.

Truth. I appreciate everyone's feedback. Assistant super is in full support of us and expressed disgust for the way in which principal acted. I will check out those threads :-) thanks again

At our old school, we had a similar experience.  They were quick to offer accommodations without a 504.  I just kept steering it back to eligibility.  Since he meets the criteria, he's eligible.  Full stop.  He was the first kiddo to get a 504 for food allergies in the district- and it was only three years ago. 

Then, after that, they kept trying to say "oh, we don't need to put that in the 504- it's just our regular policy."  The response to that is, "Great, then since it's policy, it won't be a problem to add it to the 504." 

Given the principal's wishy washy-ness, I'd be extra sure to get the 504.  He qualifies.  There's no down side to having one for you or him.  The only down side for the school (since they're offering you all of the accommodations anyway) is the accountability... which is a huge thing for you guys to have in place.

Good luck!

NJ, would it be fair to say the net result in negotiations with your school admin is an effort to discourage you from following the 504 process? No matter how politely or civilly it may presented.

Also--

this thread is one that I seldom link to anymore... but it changed my life.  Seriously.  I've been almost a decade paying it forward at this point. 

Why not obtaining a 504 is a disservice to your child...

Please note that it isn't just about your CHILD here.  It's also doing a lot of favors to the SCHOOL, too.

Once you ASK for an evaluation under 504, they HAVE to hold an eligibility meeting.  Under the law.

I dont know how they're making these accommodations for us without a 504 in place a


Um-- by not following the Federal law on the subject?



Seriously-- they aren't SUPPOSED to grant accommodations WITHOUT a finding of eligibility under 504.

How would it be if some students-- but not others-- were to get "extra" help with reading?  Extra time on exams that determine future placement?

Just because, I mean.

Because that is essentially what they are "offering" you.  I wouldn't do it.  Because you'll be right back where you started if an administrative change occurs. 

It isn't about NEED.

It's about the fact that he is qualified.  Which-- to be clear-- they've already de facto determined anyway since they admit that accommodations ARE NEEDED...  ergo, he IS a student with a suspected disability or they wouldn't be "offering" you anything at all except maybe a walk to the front doors and a handshake.  And really, as an aside, trust me on this one-- if they WOULD offer any parent more than that just for the asking, ohhhhhhhh BOY do you need the protections of a 504 plan.  With teeth.  You'll see.  I'm concerned at just how "worried" your principal seems to be about "parents" and what they think and how happy they are.  That may be baaaad, baaaaad news down the road. 

So your answer really needs to be --

This all looks GREAT.  That's going to make writing a 504 plan very straightforward.  Now about that eligibility...

If they balk, hand them your documentation (from up-thread) and act puzzled if they get unhappy.... WOW, why wouldn't everyone want a document that offers them a basis upon which to accommodate your child.  This gives the SCHOOL a way to shrug and say "Well, look-- federal law... compliance... blah-blah-blah..." if/when other parents complain.

Also-- read Stinky's thread.  Her school tried some of this, too.  The "you don't NEED a 504 because we're going to do all of this and call it a healthcare plan."

I mean-- look at VA Beach and Gloucester again.  Truly-- you're helping them.  Helping them to be in compliance with the law.   

Point taken. Thank you.
Allergist said first see, and he would help. Assistant super said see and then go from there... So I feel like we saw but now a 504 would be appropriate...

Btw it's rare that an allergist is well versed in disability law. I don't know that the allergist's advice to wait is what you want to be paying attention to. If the vice superintendent advised that, too, yikes. I would suspect that she or he is trying to get out of the responsibilities of the 504.

I had a six page document listing everything we could dream if in the way of procedures that I used when DS was in K in Dallas and in 1-3 in Houston and in 4th in Virginia. Every year folks signed off on it. Literally. It was signed by the principal.

In 3rd grade DS was sent out into the hallway because a mom brought cupcakes to celebrate the teacher's birthday. This happened more than once. And wow, she was such a sweet teacher, too. Really. And she lived DS. But she sent him into the hall while the other kids ate cupcakes. My document had covered this. It shouldn't have happened. But it did.

In 4th the Junior League came to help make bird feeders. They didn't use peanut butter for DD's class but they did for other classes and they used the same sunflower seeds. DS sat out. He didn't know if the seeds had been made on shared lines with peanuts. My document had covered a situation like this in great detail.
But those procedures weren't followed.

Later that year the class went on an overnight trip to DC. DH was not allowed to ride on the bus. I tried to get info about the trip, who would be in the room with DS's group, etc., from his teacher. But at 5:00 the day before the trip (the left at 6:00 am) I still hasn't heard from him.


The procedures that the schools had agreed to were not enforceable. There was nothing binding the school to hold to them.

With a 504, there have been missteps, but with it there have been opportunities to say that the 504 plan says X and Y happened. With the 504, my email pointing this out means something to the school.  If there were egregious violations, I would have recourse.

Your child is only 6. Really, you have no idea what the future will be like at school and what situations will arise--and what kind of changes in accommodations he will need. I don't know why you wouldn't grab the chance to get the designation--that can follow him to college. Really (and I'm not being mean) you have no idea what he will need in four years. Why not cover your bases now?  Administration can change. Nurses can change. You could move. We did--out of state--and we never dreamed we would. Really. But DS started high school with a 504--was the first one to do so--because we brought it with us.

There are plenty of people here who don't have 504s. Some have an amazing school and haven't felt the need. Some have tried and have given up.

Your child might be fine without one. But it seems to me it's like insurance--better to have theborotection coverage offers if you can get it.

They would be in the wrong to deny eligibility and accommodations. I'm not saying that to either be nice or mean, I mean legally. It's part of the foundation of what must be done to provide FAPE.

Take a short break. Watch a movie w/the family, exercise, garden. Then come back to it.