I’m just curious here. I thought I was done “negotiating” with the school on what time allowances they would allow for my daughter on her 504 plan. They are really getting me angry and I am out of patience with this game! I was supposed to just sign what we discussed and agreed on a few weeks ago on the preliminary 504. Turns out they didn’t do what we discussed as far as time allowances go. Some of it is really stupid and I’ll try not to get into all of it here because the explanation could be pages long. Basically, what they tell me is that they can’t allow more time on ALL work because that would mean if the test comes from a book it would be altering the curriculum. If the teacher makes up a test then it’s okay. This is the thinking of the school. Okay. So, I say in my head, okay. We’ll see how it goes before I fight this one more. But I tell them okay, but this year the biggest problem we have is sometimes getting homework done. Once a week this could be a problem. I’ll try to describe it briefly–-
The SCHOOL highly recommended that my daughter be enrolled in the after school academic program because she needed extra help. I was a little hesitant because it meant she was in school until 5:30. They also do NOT do homework in this program. Rarely, they’ll do one page. She usually has about two, sometimes three pages of homework. Not a whole lot on each page but we do need to work with her, though less now than earlier in the year when we first started this journey. So, on nights she has a doctor’s appointment or when she had vision therapy weekly we would pick her up from school around 5:00 and by the time we got home and had dinner it was close to bed time. On those nights if my husband worked the 3-11 shift he would try to do the homework in the morning. Otherwise, we would write a note to the teacher and tell her we would get it done the next night. She was very understanding and had no problem with it.
So, with that in mind. I played that I understand why the school couldn’t grant more time on ALL work but my biggest concern is homework. Homework is the one area where we really do need time sometimes. I told them there is no way an adhd child whose medication has worn off (or really any child) should be doing homework at their bedtime. Well, the school says no they can’t put that in her 504 because there is a large window of time from the time school lets out at 3:30 and her bedtime. I reminded them that THEY are the ones who said my child needs to be in school until 5:30. I DON’T need child care services as I am home by 3:30 everyday and actually would prefer to have my child home with me! Do you see where I am going with this? Why I am ready to blow up?
I told the school I am not asking for her to be excused from homework. We are not going to take advantage of anybody. All that we are saying is in that section of the 504 where you can put what you want as far as special needs that the teacher take into consideration that on occasion she may need more time for homework. Now, I have 504s in my desk that have things a lot more explicit than that and her school which is in the same district says they can’t do what I’m asking! Yesterday, I told the social worker that I would take the 504, do my homework, come back prepared with whatever it took, and do what I had to for my child. She understands. The resistance is coming from the principal. I really don’t understand because they really have nothing to lose by what we are asking. However, the 504 coordinator for the district can override everything and it has been suggested many times to call her. So, Tuesday I am calling her. The social worker told me yesterday that I could probably reach her then. I told her I will call, trust me. I am just too pi…. off right now to do anything and I really need to calm down. I said a lot actually but controlled myself.
So, now the question if you got through reading all that I said I would keep short! And that is the shortened version! For those of you who have 504 plans what does it allow as far as extra time? If you could, could you give me the wording it uses? I really appreciate it! Oh yeah, these people told me that if my child is so disabled that she needs more time for a test that comes out of a textbook than she needs an iep. So be it if she does. However, these same people tell me if it’s a standardized test or a teacher made test then she can have the extra time. It doesn’t mean that she is too disabled! And then after I brought up that they are the ones who asked that she be in the after school program their answer is they might not get the grant to have that program next year.
Okay. Taking a deep breathe here….
Re: time allowed on 504 plan
Jen,
I don’t have time for a long response and I am not an expert on IEP’s but one thing that really stood out to me is that your daughter is expected to put in more hours of work than a typical adult. If a child can’t be taught in a typical school day or perhaps a slightly longer school day than it seems counterproductive. I would think that most remediation should occur during school hours or something else needs to be done. I’m not sure that what they are doing is even legal.
Terry
Re: time allowed on 504 plan
Terry, actually the program was an optional after school enrichment program. She was picked in the fall based on the difficulties she was having. They gave the kids a little break after school and then they worked in computer labs or did different activities. If they had time they might do a page of homework. Most of the school’s homework requires a parent signature so they never did those. My child started the year reading below level and really struggling which to me was the red flag that started us on this journey—though we were on it for a long time, we just didn’t know it! As a result we ended up in vision therapy, remedial reading help, diagnosing adhd and starting meds, and the after academic program. I am sure that all of these things helped but it’s hard to know which interventions were most helpful. I can say that now she is reading on level and getting top grades in it. It may end up that next year IF they have this program then she can’t be in it. Then again, maybe the supervisor can tell me more definitively if they will. It feels like the school would not admit that they might or will because it would validate what we are asking for. This whole thing really feels like a battle of wills and it shouldn’t. My child is the bottom line. I know I said it before, but they have absolutely nothing to lose in this!
I think this whole thing can be straightened out. I will call the supervisor tomorrow. I think I will add a few more questions, very innocently asked while I’m at it. Such as, am I supposed to have a parent’s rights booklet or something? It says on the signature line that I have received this information and I haven’t. How can I sign that I’ve received it? Also, they wrote that her disabling condition is attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity. I told them it was attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, inattentive. They said they couldn’t change it. Then I said, well can you drop the hyperactivity then because she is inattentive. They said what they write on the 504 has to match the prescription the dr wrote. Well, the doctor wrote adhd inattentive with temporal/sequential difficulties or something close to that and the 504 doesn’t say that! So, in other words it can say what they want it to say, not what I or the dr know it should say! Before I call I am going to get that absolutely huge pile of paperwork that we keep in the school office that has all of the 504 district guidelines. Read it for like the 3rd time and use it as a reference point. Not all parents have that to back them up and I plan on using it to my full advantage!
This is helping to clarify the situation just by writing it out. It really doesn’t make sense. My husband leaves a lot of this up to me since I am an educator but he backs me up. So, it’s hard sometimes to know if I’m thinking straight or not. He kind of just gives me that whatever you think is best support!
Re: time allowed on 504 plan
Good news! We finally got this resolved today! I spoke to the 504 supervisor for the district and explained the problem! She understood totally and is contacting the school to see that some changes are made! I am so relieved! We’ve been working on trying to get this 504 plan for months!
How very awful for you, Jen! I know zip about 504 plans, but I do know what it is like to deal with the school buracracy and all their crap, as you know. I know how frustrating it is, and that “frustrating” is an understatement.
Your post was not too long at all, I did read it all, and I know someone who knows more than I and can give you concrete answers will read it all also. It is perfectly fine to vent here, I have sure done it my share of times.
You are right, NO CHILD should have to be up past their bedtime toiling over homework, and I have to say it happened to my daughter this year more times than I like to remember. I understand how bad it can be. She would even cry all over her homework.
Hang in there, and DON’T let it ruin your long weekend! Take it easy and try to do something fun. Good luck on Tuesday! :)