Does My Child Need a Support Plan for School?

written by Dr. Liz Nissim, published on Psychology Today

As a parent actively involved in your child’s education, you’ve likely become very familiar with their strengths, their challenges, and the subjects where there is resistance versus ease. You might have noticed patterns: some assignments lead to procrastinationor meltdowns, while others are tackled with independence and a sense of pride.

Many parents reach out to me when they begin to realize their child is struggling academically. The question that naturally follows is: Is this a learning disability, ADHD, anxiety, or a combination? And more importantly, Does my child need a support plan, such as a 504 Accommodation Plan or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)?

Red Flags by Grade Level

Recognizing early signs of learning or attention challenges can make a huge difference. Below is a guide, broken down by grade level, highlighting common concerns that may indicate the need for further evaluation or support.

Kindergarten

  • Difficulty identifying upper- and lower-case letters
  • Trouble recognizing letter sounds
  • Struggles with number identification
  • Limited rhyming and phonemic awareness
  • Very limited sight word vocabulary
  • Avoidance of writing tasks
  • Short attention span or difficulty sitting still
  • Impulsivity or trouble following two-step directions

First Grade

  • Learns sight words during a session but quickly forgets them
  • Sight word vocabulary smaller than expected
  • Below grade-level reading (based on Fountas & Pinnell levels)
  • Avoids writing tasks
  • Struggles with basic number concepts (e.g., bigger/smaller)
  • Short attention span and impulsivity
  • Memory challenges
  • Difficulty with word problems and multi-step directions
  • Emotional responses (tears or meltdowns) during schoolwork

Second Grade

  • Letter or number reversals continue
  • Poor reading comprehension and fluency
  • Difficulty decoding unfamiliar words
  • Attention issues and impulsivity
  • Memory and recall difficulties
  • Trouble staying focused to complete tasks
  • Strong emotional responses to schoolwork
  • Difficulty following 2–3 step instructions
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