How to Request a 504 Plan for ADHD (With the Exact Letter to Send)

TL;DR. One short email to the principal and the school psychologist, requesting a full evaluation under both IDEA and Section 504, starts the whole process - and a legal clock the school must honor. It costs nothing, you do not need a private diagnosis first, and the exact copy-paste letter is below. A hallway chat with the teacher starts nothing. A written request starts everything.

Why it has to be in writing

Schools run on paper. A verbal concern is a conversation; a written evaluation request is a formal event with obligations attached. Once you consent to the evaluation, federal law gives the school 60 days (or your state's own posted timeframe) to complete it (34 CFR 300.301(c)). No written request, no clock.

Two more reasons writing wins. First, your dated email is the start of the paper trail you will want if anything gets disputed later. Second, requesting evaluation under both laws at once (IDEA and Section 504) is the practical move we walked through in 504 Plan vs IEP for ADHD: the evaluation itself tells you which tool fits, and asking for the bigger one costs you nothing.

The exact letter

This is the evaluation-request template from the School Advocacy Kit, verbatim. Copy, fill the brackets, send.

Subject: Written request for evaluation - [child's name], [grade]

Dear [Principal] and [School Psychologist],

I am requesting a comprehensive evaluation for special education (IDEA) and Section 504 eligibility, in writing, as of today's date.

Please send me the paperwork for consent, along with the timeline your district follows.

I've attached [any diagnosis paperwork / examples]. I'm happy to meet and want to work as a team - I just want to get the process started formally.

[Name] · [Phone]

That is the whole letter. Short is a feature: there is nothing in it to argue with, and everything it asks for is something the school is obligated to provide.

Who to send it to

Email the principal AND the school psychologist or counselor - not just the teacher. The teacher is your ally, but the teacher cannot start an evaluation. CC the teacher if you want them in the loop. If your district lists a 504 coordinator on its website, add them too.

Then save the sent email. From this point on, every promise gets the same treatment: "Could you confirm that by email?" Paper wins meetings.

What happens next

1. The school sends consent paperwork. Sign and return it quickly - the 60-day clock starts at your signature, not at your first email (34 CFR 300.301(c)).
2. The evaluation runs. Records review, teacher input, possibly classroom observation and testing. It is provided at no cost to you (OCR parent guide).
3. The eligibility meeting. The team (you are a full legal member of it, not a guest) reviews results and decides: IEP, 504 plan, or neither - and if neither, you can ask for that decision in writing and dispute it.
4. The plan meeting. Before you walk in, print the free 504 Meeting Prep Sheet - the bring list, your non-negotiables, and the word-for-word scripts.

While you wait, gather your evidence: report cards, teacher emails, a one-week homework time log. Specific beats dramatic.

The three pushbacks (and the answers)

"Let's try some classroom strategies first." Interventions are fine alongside an evaluation, but they cannot be used to delay or deny one. The Department of Education's own 504 guidance addresses this pattern directly. The answer: "Happy to try strategies in parallel. Please still send the consent paperwork today."

"You'll need a diagnosis from a doctor first." False. The school's evaluation is the qualifying evaluation, and the school cannot require you to obtain a private diagnosis at your own expense (OCR parent guide). An outside diagnosis helps as evidence; it is not a ticket you must buy.

"He's doing fine on his medication." Under Section 504, the school must evaluate whether the disability substantially limits a major life activity without regard to mitigating measures like medication - the "he's fine on his meds" answer is not a lawful basis for a no (OCR parent guide). Same for grades: passing grades alone do not disqualify a kid.

If the school refuses to evaluate at all, it owes you that refusal in writing with its reasoning (prior written notice), and the refusal letter is the beginning of your dispute path, not the end of the road.

FAQ

Can the teacher request the evaluation instead of me?

Schools can and do refer students themselves, but do not wait for it. A parent's written request is the direct route, and it puts the timeline obligations on record with you holding the receipt.

Does requesting an evaluation cost anything?

No. The evaluation is provided at no cost to you, under both IDEA and Section 504. You never need to pay for testing the school is obligated to provide.

How long does the whole process take?

Roughly: consent paperwork within days, evaluation within 60 days of signed consent (or your state's posted timeframe), then the eligibility and plan meetings. Start to finish, plan on one to three months - which is exactly why the letter goes out today, not after the next bad report card.

What if my kid is homeschooled or in private school?

Different rules apply: IDEA services and Section 504 plans work differently outside public schools, and options vary by state and district. Ask your local public school district (which still handles evaluations for residents) what applies in your situation.