IEP & 504 Advocate: What Can I Do? The School/Teacher is Not Following My Child’s IEP or 504 Plan

Part 1/Step 1

IEP’s and 504 Accommodation Plans are legal documents! If they are not being followed, as a parent/guardian you have the ability to exercise your child’s Due Process Rights. These are found in the inch of paper that the district sends you each year, and on the District’s website under Procedural Safeguards. There are a number of procedures that may be used in order to remedy the situation.

The first step is to request, in writing, an IEP or 504 meeting to update the document. Most IEP programs have a section to list Parental Concerns. The school/district not following the IEP should be listed as one of your first concerns. If there is no section on the IEP, and for 504 Plans, in the Comments Section, or in the body of the document have your concern written.

Often, a meeting with documentation is all that is needed for the team to be more zealous in following the document. If this does not work, go to Part 2/Step 2.

About Susan Blumenreich

I am a retired Special Education Administrator, former Principal and Special Education Teacher. Now as a special education advocate, I help students and their families collaborate with school districts to get special education services. If you are looking for an IEP advocate or 504 advocate in the New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington DC, or Maryland area, I would love to connect with you.