Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment When to expect decision on Davidson Young Scholar

If you end up with a 504 plan or IEP, you are always able to call another meeting to modify the plan, at any time. I'm not sure how soon you can request that they look again after they've found that nothing is necessary, though. I would go ahead and go to the meeting, but absolutely don't agree to "no accommodations" at the meeting. If only one of you goes, tell them you need to discuss it with your spouse before you can agree to that, or if it's both of you, discuss it with your DS's pediatrician or something. You may find that the meeting is mostly about figuring out which tests they will administer to him, rather than to actually develop a 504 plan.

If you disagree with the eligibility determination (e.g., they find him not to have an eligible disability, and/or not to have educational impacts from it), you may reject the finding, and then either request an independent evaluation, sometimes at district cost, or on a sliding scale (depends on the state), or you may appeal up the state DOE chain. (You may request one independent eval for each time the school district evaluates your child.) Your state may or may not have deadlines for when such an appeal or request must be made. That information should be in the parents' rights/due process brochure which they were mandated to give you at the beginning of this process.

I apologize for not remembering the details of your situation...but unless you have other reasons to believe the school is unduly antagonistic, the language of the meeting invite you received does not suggest one way or the other how the meeting will proceed. It's actually pretty standard language for a 504 eligibility meeting. Actually, they are not supposed to give you an indication one way or the other of the proposed outcomes, since that is, after all the topic for discussion at the meeting.

Just remember that you do not have to agree or disagree with anything right away.

Meeting done and referral for evaluation was denied since the classroom teachers are not seeing this writing issue and she certainly is not performing below grade level expectations. No IEP, no 504. They recommended working on her perfectionism - apparently her frustration about writing is just in her head and not truly visible at school. Frustrations with writing for homework were apparently caused by her being tired after the school day (according to school). NOthing can be done as far as IEP/ 504 unless she works below grade level - and she would have to work below 3rd grade level instead of 4th since 3rd is where she would belong age-wise...
Luckily school is implementing more computer work anyway and this week she was able to complete homework online and submit straight to the teacher online.

Ugh, I'm sorry. Are you going to request an independent evaluation?

no, it's useless.
She would only qualify for IEP/ 504 if classroom work is 1-2 grade levels below 3rd grade level (since her age would have put her in 3rd grade) or so they say. She is doing too well in 4th grade apparently. Still a frustrated, sad girl but doing well as far as her teachers can see.

Read about Lillie-Felton before you decide that it's useless - and don't rely on an adversary to teach you the correct law. They may be more experienced, but it's also in their interest for you to think the law is what they say it is.