Before the school year ends

Learn

• Meet before the school year ends

  You may be tired after a long school year. But before the school year ends, meet with the teachers and support staff who know your child best. Ask them to reflect on:

  • What worked well this year

  • What to update for next year

  • Anything they recommend you think about or do over the summer

  • What this year’s teacher will highlight when they send the 504 plan to next year’s teacher

  Updating your child’s 504 at the end of the school year means you can start the next school year with this new plan in place. Then, once school starts, you can check in to make sure the new plan is being followed.

• Meet in advance with summer programs

  If your child is going to a camp or summer program, meet with the director before it begins. Share the accommodations your child uses at school and describe what's worked at home, so summer staff members have a clear idea of what your child needs.

  Keep in mind that a school 504 plan doesn’t automatically transfer to a summer camp. But under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), camps generally have to make reasonable accommodations for kids with disabilities. Being specific about what has helped your child in the past can make it easier for camp staff to say yes.

• Pick one or two skills to focus on

  Kids can lose important skills over the summer — teachers call it “the summer slide.” But trying to do too much can wear you and your child out. Pick one or two things to focus on over the summer, and be specific. For example, “We’ll read for 20 minutes and practice math flashcards three times a week.”

  Using tools like our summer reading log can help you and your child stick to the goals you set for the summer.