Concerns about your child’s progress in the school setting.
As parents we want the very best for our children. When a child faces developmental delays or disabilities it can be hard to pinpoint what “best” means for that child in the school setting.
Parents may worry that their child is not meeting benchmarks which starts the path of finding out what the need or set of needs are and what can be done about it. There are many resources out there to help you track milestones from early infant stages all the way to high school graduation. So what do you do when your child is old enough to go to school? One way is to refer to your local Child Find office, they will help you to identify one or more possible reasons why this student is not reading on grade level, not able to keep eye contact, refuse to be in loud crowded rooms or struggling to read what is on the board in the classroom. The other option is asking your school admin team to refer you to what is known as the LEA. The LEA is the Local Educational Assessment and it is comprised of a team of people who can come together to decide what tests and evaluations are needed and what those results show us. In Virginia this may lead to a General Education teacher making some changes, a doctor prescribing medication or aides such as glasses and some times the team will decide an IEP or 504 is the appropriate way to address the student’s needs.
Some parents may worry their child is not making sufficient progress despite having an IEP or 504 plan. There are steps a parent can take to monitor progress over every area of need. The IEP or 504 team can then reconvene and discuss how to change, update or modify the IEP or 504 documents to better reflect strengths, needs and how to track the data so we can ensure a much better outcome.
Parents should collaborate with schools to ensure their child’s health needs are met. Many times parents will request communication logs and specify how often those logs should be filled out. For complex medical needs these logs should be completed daily at home and at school so everyone is aware of progress, stagnation or regression in any particular area.
Many times as children get older their needs will evolve and the existing plan may no longer be effective. Parents should ideally keep regular communication with teachers and support staff as this is crucial to address any concerns promptly. When the IEP or 504 meeting is helped parents should actively participate to ensure that adjustments are made as needed. Parents must consider whether their child is ready for more independence while still receiving necessary support especially when transitioning from one school to the next. Elementary to Middle School can be especially hard as the daily schedule changes so drastically.
Navigating the educational landscape with an IEP or 504 can be challenging to say the least but it is essential for a child’s success. Regular communication, flexibility and a commitment to individualized support are so important. Remember that YOU are your child’s best advocate in the school setting and together we can ensure that every child thrives in their educational journey and beyond.
