Re-evaluation

[Chico01]

Can a child who was placed on a 504plan in elementary school be re-evaluated for a possible IEP or revised 504 plan?

[BTV65]

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: In my state we are able to request 504 meetings to discuss changes at any point in the school year. If something isn't working, you need to meet with the school and express your concerns and give them a chance to suggest alternatives to what is being done now and get the 504 updated with the changes.

IEP is more complicated. A 504 is a relatively simple response to a doctor's diagnoses. The testing the school does is just focused on that area and the goal is just to figure out what accommodations would work best. IEP testing is a comprehensive battery of tests/evaluations often done over weeks. It's time/resource intensive and in my state they will only do that once every three years. So if they did one last year, they won't do one again for another two years. If they haven't done that testing at all (only 504 testing), then I believe you can request the IEP evaluation at any point and they have 6 weeks? to respond with how it will be handled.

I'm really only knowledgeable in my area and I'm not clear how it may vary from state to state (district to district).

[Chico01 in reply to BTV65]

Thank you. I believe he was evaluated 4 or 5 years ago. It was in elementary and he is now in middle school. I will see about requesting a re-evaluation for him and go from there. On his current 504 plan they only do a meeting once a year either at the very end of the year or before school starts. I have reached out to the counselor a few times about possibly getting him a tutor or a study buddy and she just said that if he is having problems in a certain class to have him ask that teacher for help. She said they are short staffed to have a tutor study hall...

[BTV65 in reply to Chico01]

To clarify, a once/year 504 meeting is normal. However, it was always made clear to me that if we had any concerns during the school year to reach out and they could schedule another one at any point if something wasn't working. We had to be proactive about it though.

I agree that a tutor or study buddy is probably outside the boundaries of a 504 accommodation.

Be warned, I know in my experience the threshold for an IEP is pretty high. I think I was told they need to have fallen behind academically 2 years or more compared to their peers. So "struggling" in the current year is nowhere near close to getting an IEP in my school district. Not sure if others are different or not.

[Momof4hooligans in reply to Chico01]

Have them do an IEP instead, because it offers more resources, like tutors. They get federal funding for your child so they have to provide a tutor. They cannot deny you because of funding issues or short staff. My son's school tried saying they didn't have the funding but then I read the law. I let them know they can't deny him because of money issues. Then they jumped on it, and the next day they had an aide with him. Sometimes schools will try to do the minimum or be unaware of requirements. A day in our shoes talks about the IEP process. It is a very helpful blog. In Utah, you can have them change what is in the IEP at any time.

[Onthemove1971]

Yes. You would write a letter stating you want your child evaluated for an IEP and list the areas you are concerned about. From my experience the 504 plan is much more "casual".. it really depends on who writes and up dates the plan. At my son's high school he counselor does it.

As for an IEP, goals and service providers are all based on assessment. If the assessments show the child needs help goals are written in that area, then a specialist is "assigned" to the goal and how much time is assigned.

These services can start in Kindergarten or preschool if needed. The plan really is the road map for what services the child gets through all of their grades. If you have concerns please address them as soon as possible. I will be honest, as they get older, school gets harder and the need for independence just increases.

Hope this helps. Please ask more questions if you have them, many of us have plans for our kids.

Happy New Year!

[Chico01 in reply to Onthemove1971]

Thank you. I just emailed the school psychologist too and will go from there.

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Chico01]

You are welcome.. sounds like a great start. I hope you get the support you need.

[ADHD_DAD]

Hi. Short answer. You can request a full evaluation an unlimited number of times. Make the request in a letter addressed to the Committee on Special Education (check your school website for address). Request must be written (even if someone tries to tell you otherwise). You can find form letters on line if you are not comfortable writing it. The evaluation must then be competed within 60 days of the written request. This is federal law (IDEA) so it applies in all states. Good luck and be well.

[Chico01 in reply to ADHD_DAD]

Thanks.

[BVBV]

Yes! I met with my son’s teacher and she agreed that we should pursue an IEP vs his current 504. I sent an email to the school social worker, we got an initial IEP meeting setup and they completed all evaluations in 30 days and approved moving forward with an IEP. I was worried with all the evaluations they were doing with him but it uncovered some new learning challenges as well that he will now get help for (dysgraphia).

[anirush]

Definitely, we did that.