1. Decide what you want to accomplish in the meeting.

2. Thank staff for meeting with you.

3. Preface the meeting with the following: I am here because I am concerned about my child academically and socially. I am seeking to create a partnership with teachers and administrators to meet the needs of my child.

4. Have staff review with you last year’s 504 and assess what was accomplished and what areas of the plan fell short.

5. Remember a 504 plan can be modified at anytime, you do not have to wait a year.

6. You can ask for the following: weekly grade reports sent home, have teachers help with organization, have teachers check homework assignment notebook, and extra time to complete assignments

7. Request that teachers call you when their grades fall below a C average.

8. Remember the school staff is paid to work with you.

9. When you see unpleasant looks just say “I am trying to be an advocate for my child”.

Please be reasonable and specific in your requests. For instance, many parents request that the child sit on the front row of the classroom. If there are more requests than front row seats, the teacher will have difficulty complying.

Identify exactly what was terrible about last year. Was it that teachers wouldn’t follow the 504 plan? or that they couldn’t because the request was beyond their ability to help or that your child expected the teachers to do all of the work.?

Talk to your child about what he/she thinks is needed for success. Two books–one for home & one for school? paper and pencil in each room? More time to take tests? the opportunity to stand quietly at the back of the room when sitting gets too hard? a plan for the teacher to allow your child to “run an errand” to the principal’s office if it’s getting difficult to sit quietly? a gentle signal from the teacher to interrupt daydreaming? Brainstorm a huge list then select just a few that may help the most. Teachers are more likely to help when just a few very practical helps are requested.

Make a contract with your child about the behaviors that have been shown in the past and what is now expected. Create a tracking sheet, or use one that the school has, for your child to self-monitor and for the teacher to sign and make comments. The two of you will need to commit time and effort toward school success just as much as the teachers need to commit to accommodations.

Communicate often with the teachers by email. If they have assignments posted online, keep close track of them. Help your child stay on top of assignments rather than get behind.

Remind your child that politeness and thankfulness go a long way toward encouraging helpful behavior from others, including teachers.

Be careful about asking for less work. You do not need to set up your child to fall behind the others in the class. If you and a teacher can compromise in a way that ensures that your child will be able to demonstrate skill in the course work, only then should the “amount” of work be lessened.

Help your child set up some kind of organization system for keeping track of assignments. Some students like to have pocket folders for each class – with one pocket an “in box” and the other, the “out box,” kept inside one large binder. Others prefer a packet with dividers/ pockets.

As I said in the beginning, a 504 says what the teachers will do, but if they know that the student is working hard to be successful, they will probably be more dedicated to helping your child.

Best wishes for the school year!

Good luck. It’s not much, but it’s all I can offer.