Helping Your Child Get the Right School Services

The right support can help your child do well in school. Kids and teens who have trouble learning or who have other special needs because of a disability or chronic (ongoing) illness have a legal right to get an education at public schools.

By knowing what help is available and how to get it, parents can make sure their child has the best chance to succeed.

Students in public and some private schools can get accommodations or support services if they have limits on their abilities to:

• walk, breathe, eat, or sleep

• communicate, see, hear, or speak

• read, concentrate, think, or learn

• stand, bend, lift, or work

Schools can help kids by:

• Making accommodations: These are changes in the environment or the way teaching happens for a student. For example, an accommodation could be letting a child take a test in a separate room or listen to a book instead of read it. 

• Offering support services: This means special help from a trained professional and may include tutoring, speech therapy, physical therapy, or occupational therapy.

An education team including parents, teachers, and specialists (such as physical therapists, speech therapists, and psychologists) will develop a plan to support a student's learning. Students may need an IEP, a 504 plan, or both.

An IEP (individualized education program) is an education plan customized for a student's needs. To get an IEP, kids usually are tested and found to have a medical reason for their learning differences or special learning needs. IEPs list learning goals and any support services needed to reach those goals. Support services may include: 

• special education (teaching in a way that works best for the student)

• speech therapy

• counseling

• nursing care, including special diets or a medicine needed during the school day

A 504 plan lays out the changes or accommodations a school will make to help a student learn the regular curriculum. A 504 plan might include:

• giving extra time for homework and tests

• reducing homework or classwork

• supplying technology aids (such as special computer programs or wireless earphones)

Private schools might not offer accommodations or support services. Or private schools may give support to students in different ways than public schools do. Private schools that get state or federal funds usually offer some accommodations and support services.

• Understand your child's right to an education. Ask your school district for a copy of your parental rights related to IEPs and/or 504 plans.

• If you feel that your child needs an IEP and/or a 504 plan to succeed at school:

  • Set a meeting with the teacher, school counselor, or principal. Ask for an IEP and/or 504 plan.

  • Give the school information about your child's condition and needs. If your child has a chronic condition, share a care plan from your health care provider explaining medicines, special diet, activities that might need to be limited, and symptoms that need a health care professional's attention.

  • Follow any instructions for scheduling testing at the school. For example, the school may want to do testing to see if your child has speech problems or problems with attention. You may need to write a letter or note asking for your child to get testing at the school.

• If the school agrees that your child needs a plan and can offer it:

  • Go to the meetings about your child's IEP and/or 504 plan.

  • Work with the education team to make a plan that meets your child's needs.

  • Before agreeing to the plan, show it to your child's health care provider, who may have suggestions.

  • Review the plan at least yearly with the education team.

  • Keep a notebook or binder with all the papers from the meetings, your child's care plan, and any letters you write or receive.

• If you don't agree with your child's plan or think it needs to be adjusted, you can ask for a meeting with your child's education team. Usually the team can find a solution. If needed, you can ask the school to help you find one of these people who can help:

  • A mediator. A mediator is someone who was not involved in making your child's plan and is not involved with the school. The mediator can help everyone work together to come up with a solution.

  • A hearing officer. A hearing officer is a judge who handles legal agreements. 

  • A special education lawyer