School and ADHD: Kindergarten through 12th Grade
If your child is having trouble in school, where do you start?
Students diagnosed with ADHD may be entitled to classroom
accommodations or services if the disorder has a
negative impact on academic, social, or behavioral performance at
school. A diagnosis does not automatically entitle a
student to services or accommodations, however. The resources
listed below will provide you with a good background in the
services and/or accommodations that may be available to your
child. Every public school should also provide parents with
information about local procedures and policies governing ADHD
and support available through the school.
If you have placed your child in a private
school, or if your child's school receives no federal funding, you
may not have access to many of the services and accommodations offered
in public school. But you can still use many of the suggestions in
the resources below to develop a plan with your child's teacher and
school to provide a more supportive education
environment.
Use the menu on the right-hand side of this
page to find the topics of the most interest to
you.
 CHADD has a wealth of information to help you through the
process. Just browse and click on the resources relevant to
you. If there is a key next to a resource, then access is limited
to CHADD members. If you are already a CHADD member, be sure
to log
in first. If you are not a member, join today.
(Once you have joined, close your internet browser. Then reopen and
return to chadd.org. Log in as
a member and you will be able to access every resource.)
Educational Services in Public
Schools
Educational Rights for Children with AD/HD in Public
Schools: What We Know #4 - This is a great
introduction to the differences between special education services
(IDEA) and accommodations in the classroom (Section 504).
 Educational Rights for Children with
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Primer for Parents -
This is a bilingual publication (English and Spanish) from the
National Resource Center on AD/HD (NRC) at CHADD, produced in
collaboration with the National Alliance for Hispanic Health. A
hardcopy is available free of charge by requesting it online or by contacting the NRC at
800-233-4050. CHADD members may access the PDF
version online. The guide includes a helpful, step-by-step guide to the
special education process.
 The special education process: A step-by-step
diagram
El proceso de educación especial: Un diagrama paso
a paso
Comparison of IDEA and Section 504 - This table
gives you a step by step comparison of the difference in special
education (IDEA) and accommodations in the classroom (Section
504).
Parent to Parent Training - For an in-depth training
experience on all aspects of ADHD, including understanding the
educational system and working effectively with your school, sign up for
a Parent to Parent class in your local community or
online.
Content available to CHADD members
only
Return to top of page
Requesting an Evaluation in Public
Schools
Disclosure in Educational Settings - Although children with ADHD may certainly
improve over time, parents must keep in mind that the disorder is
chronic and that the symptoms and associated impairments are unlikely to
be remedied from one school year to the next.
Should You Tell the School About Your Child's ADHD
? - The decision to disclose your child's ADHD
can be difficult. Here is what the experts suggest.
Letter to Your Principal Requesting an Evaluation -
The first step is to request an evaluation of your child in
writing. This example will help you craft your letter.
Content available to CHADD
members
only Return to top of page
Special Education Services
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)
- IDEA is the law that authorizes special education services
for childen with disabilities. Find out if your child might qualify for
special education services.
Understanding the Legal Rights of People with ADHD under
Current Special Education Law - Special education attorney Matt
Cohen answers questions from parents in this Ask the Expert
chat.
How to Navigate the Special Ed Maze - A Guide to Special Education
Advocacy provides an
excellent overview of the current education laws impacting students with
disabilities in the United States.
Content available to CHADD
members
only Return to top of page
Section 504 in Public Schools
Section 504 - A great place to begin,
this page will help you understand what Section 504 is and how it
may help your child.
A 504 Primer - This overview will educate
you about Section 504 accommodations.
A Parent's Guide to Section 504 - Mary Durheim
answers frequently asked questions about Section 504.
Examples of Accommodations or Interventions for a
Section 504 Plan - Not sure what accommodations your child
needs? Here is a list of the common accommodations for students
with AD/HD.
Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008 -
Understand how changes in the ADA can help your child receive
accommodations in the classroom through an Ask the Expert chat with
special education lawyer Matt Cohen. Log in to "Ready Talk" to hear
this 75-minute audiotape.
Taking College Entrance Exams? - Asking for
extra time when talking college entrance exams can be a
challenge.
Content available to CHADD members
only Return to top of page
Preparing for an Individualized Education
Plan (IEP) or Section 504 Meeting
Sample Worksheet for Parents to Take to an IEP or 504
Planning Meeting - Take the time to prepare for your meeting by
filling out this sample worksheet.
Before the IEP Meeting: A Parent Checklist - Have
you put together everything you need? This checklist will help you
to be ready for this important meeting.
At the IEP Meeting: A Parent Checklist -
It's easy to be overwhelmed during a meeting with a table full of school
staff members talking about your child. This checklist will help you be
sure that you have accomplished all you
intended.
After the IEP Meeting: A Parent
Checklist - Once a plan is in place, don't assume all
will be well. You will need to set up procedures to monitor the
implementation and effectiveness of the plan for your child.
Content available to CHADD
members
only Return to top of page
Working with Your Child's Teacher and the
School
Connect with Local Parents - Want to find out about
the experiences of other parents with your local school? Plan to
attend a local CHADD meeting and ask others about their school
experience.
CHADD Educator's Manual on ADHD - Is your child's
teacher struggling with ADHD-related behaviors? Consider giving the
teacher a copy of CHADD's Educator Manual, which provides
teachers with a wealth of classroom strategies to effectively manage
ADHD behavior.
Teacher to Teacher - Training in classroom
management and educational interventions for students with ADHD is
provided in this one-day program. The training is for
classroom teachers, educators, and interested parents.
Identifying
Your School Advocates - Parents and schools must work together
for success. Here's how.
Joining
Forces: The Fairfax County ADHD
Partnership - Recognized as a model for how schools,
families, and community professionals can collaborate to best serve
the educational and emotional needs of children and teens with
ADHD, the ADHD Partnership offers many resources for those wishing to
establish strong collaborative teams.
Advocating for Your Student - How to
evaluate, educate, communicate, and advocate for your child within the
school system.
Why Teachers Resist: Understanding Teacher Attitudes
About ADHD - Sometimes a teacher is resistant to addressing problems
related to ADHD with a student. This article will help you
understand why and how to work effectively with the teacher.
ADHD, School and Executive Functioning - If your
child has deficits in executive functioning as part of ADHD, it has a
major impact on academics and school.
Helping Children with Executive Functioning - With
appropriate short- and long-term strategies and interventions, parents
and teachers can improve the chances of success for children and
adolescents with executive function impairments.
Classroom Interventions for ADHD - Classroom
interventions, with the support of teachers and parents, can result in
substantial improvement in your child's academic performance and
behavior at school.
Improving Schoolwide Behavior - Creating a positive
school environment with clear expectations for behavior can make a big
difference for all students, especially those who
experience difficulty in controlling impulsiveness.
Positive Behavior Supports - Learn how the entire
school can provide a safe, structured environment that supports all
of our children.
Strength-Based Approach for Schools - Too often we
see the negative behavior of our children, and so do their
teachers. A strengths-based approach will help to increase the
positive behavior of your student.
Behavior and School - Parents pose
questions to expert George DuPaul about children's behavior in
school in this helpful Ask the Expert chat.
Suspensions and Expulsions of Students with ADHD -
If your child is disciplined at school because of behavior related to
his or her ADHD, then this is a resource you want to read.
Time
Management and Task Completion - The tendency to measure the
use of time by its outcome creates problems in teaching time-management
skills to children with ADHD.
Content available to CHADD members
only Return to top of page
Changing School Behavior
Helping Children with Executive Functioning -
Parents and teachers have two
primary roles in helping kids with executive weaknesses. The first is to
help children to be successful in their daily lives. The second is to
teach the skills and approaches that allow the children to be
independent in the long run.
First Step to Success: An Early Intervention -
This program is recognized
nationally as an effective early intervention for reducing aggression in
children who exhibit such behaviors during their early school
years.
Behavior and School - George DuPaul’s research focuses on
schoolbased academic and behavioral interventions for youth in K-12
settings, early intervention for children at risk for ADHD, and the
assessment and treatment of college students with significant ADHD
symptoms.
Lying About Schoolwork - What to do if an
adolescent or child lies about schoolwork.
Starting the School Year Right
Start the School Year Right: How to Write a Letter
to the Teacher - Help your child's teacher know how
to be helpful to your child and what to expect by beginning the school
year with a letter. Here's how.
Starting the School Year Right - Your preparation
for the school year can make a big difference for your
child.
Helping Your Teen Start the School Year - High
school presents a new set of challenges. You can help smooth the
way.
Back to School Issues - Sandra Rief answers typical
parent questions on starting the school year in a CHADD Ask
the Expert chat.
The Transition to Middle School - The change from
elementary school to middle school is a huge transition for all
children, especially students with ADHD. Here is some guidance to
make the change easier for your student.
Strategies for a Successful Elementary School
Year - Build a partnership with your child's teacher from the
beginning of the school year.
Strategies for a Successful High School Year -
Spring is the time to begin planning for the next year of high
school.
Content available to CHADD
members
only Return to top of page
Homework
Handle
Homework Hassles - Six experts share their most helpful advice
on homework and children with ADHD.
Lying About Schoolwork - What to do if a child or
adolescent lies about schoolwork.
Meeting the Homework Challenge - Do you have
homework wars in your home? Find out how to bring order and calm
back to the process, and help your child learn the skills to master the
homework challenge.
12 Steps to Homework Completion - Homework is an
incredibly complex task and these 12 steps will help you identify where
the problems occur.
A Parent's Role in Homework - Has your child become
too dependent on you to help with homework and school
assignments?
Lying about Schoolwork - When children with ADHD
fall into a pattern of avoiding schoolwork and not being truthful about
it, what's a parent to do?
Elementary Tracker - A worksheet to help you and the
teacher track your child's behavior and homework each day.
Homework Plan Contract - Set up a system to
positively reinforce good homework behaviors.
Too Much Homework? - This simple list will help you
evaluate the impact of homework on your child and family. Then work
with the school to implement a more reasonable homework plan.
Time
Management and Task Completion - The tendency to measure the
use of time by its outcome creates problems in teaching time-management
skills to children with ADHD.
Content available to CHADD
members
only Return to top of page
Educational and Other Consultants
What Can an Educational Therapist Do for Your Child?
- Does your child need some extra assistance
outside of school? Find out what an educational therapist can do to
help.
Content available to CHADD
members
only Return to top of page
Records and Paperwork
The Importance of Keeping Records - Start keeping an
organized copy of all your child's school records and it will make your
work with the school system much easier. Here is a guide to what
you need.
Content available to CHADD
members
only Return to top of page
The Twice Exceptional Student
Twice Exceptional Students - If your child is gifted
and also has ADHD, that combination can present both challenges and
opportunities.
Content available to CHADD members
only Return to top of page
Appeals
Due Process and Appeals - What if you cannot
reach agreement with the public school district?
Content available to CHADD members
only Return to top of page
School-Wide Programs
School-Based Interventions for ADHD - There has been a groundswell of
literature directed toward educators on school-based interventions. Some
of these interventions are based on defined, data-driven, and
well-implemented programs. Far more, however, fall under the general
umbrella of “good ideas” absent scientific
support.
Positive Behavioral Supports
Thousands of schools across the country are using a program
called School-Wide Positive Behavioral Supports (PBS or PBIS) to
dramatically change the culture of a school to be safer, more respectful
and a better learning environment.
How Schools Can Adopt Strength Based Practices -
The lessons learned from a
strengths-based school program can help to support children’s
resiliency, positive behavior and growth in any setting.
Response to Intervention
Early Intervening Services are provided to any child who is falling
behind in public school. The most frequent next step is providing
Response to Intervention (RTI), which is the provision of an
evidence-based intervention targeting the child's specific problem,
collecting data about the child's response, and then making decisions
about what the child needs to succeed. This is sometimes the first
step in considering a referral for special education services.
Response to Intervention for Behavior and Academics
- When
schools raise their academic expectations, research shows that behavior
problems decrease. And when schools raise their behavioral expectations,
research shows that academic problems decrease.
Bullying Prevention
Bullying is a major problem in too many of our schools and has
particular adverse effects for any child who is different in any
way. But a number of well-researched programs have demonstrated
that schools can be effective in handling these problems.
Promising Practices: Bullying Prevention and
Interventions - While experts have been warning
us for some time about the serious long-term emotional,
physical, and academic effects of bullying on defenseless schoolage
children, some school administrators still refuse to take bullying
seriously.
Online Learning
The Virtual High School Global Consortium -
Drawing upon the
talents of highly skilled
teachers from around the United States and the world, the Virtual High
School Global Consortium provides middle and high school students
with exposure to courses and potential career paths usually first
encountered in college.
Need More?
The National Resource Center on ADHD has a searchable library as well as highly
trained ADHD information specialists who can help.
| 
