Sending a child with food allergies to school can be scary. After all, you’re used to being in control of what they eat and get exposed to. Passing that control off to other people takes a lot of courage.

Having a plan in place is essential to your child’s success at school. One way to do this is to set up a 504 plan. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your child’s plan contains everything necessary to ensure they have a safe, positive experience at school.

What Is a 504 Plan?

A 504 plan — sometimes called simply “a 504” — is a legal agreement between you and the school your child will attend. It ensures that your child’s civil rights are honored. Your 504 plan for managing food allergies will outline the accommodations the school will make so your child isn’t exposed to allergens in class or on school trips.

The name of the plan comes from the law that created it. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 explains that any program that uses federal funding, including public schools, can’t discriminate against anyone with a disability. The Americans with Disabilities Act defines severe food allergies as a disability because they can interfere with major life activities.

Once you have a Section 504 plan in place, your child’s school is legally obligated to follow it.

Does Your Child Need a 504 Plan?

Not every child will want or need a 504. Ask the school if they have a food allergy policy in place. They may already have a plan for students with allergies. Look at how well the school seems to understand your requests and how well it follows them. If you and your child feel comfortable without a 504 plan, you may not consider a 504 necessary.

You can also use an Individualized Health Care Plan (IHCP or IHP) or an Emergency Care Plan, two other types of food allergy action plans. An IHCP is a plan created by school nurses to help manage children’s health needs. An Emergency Care Plan outlines what to do during health-related emergencies. Unlike a 504, IHCPs and Emergency Care Plans are not legal documents. Some parents prefer to have a legal document in case the school refuses to follow the plan, changes its policies abruptly, or denies their accommodations.

What’s Included in a 504 Plan?

Many parents feel excited about the prospect of a 504, but they aren’t quite sure how to articulate their child’s needs. Here are some details that your child’s plan may include. Note that every child and every allergy is different, so you may add other items or set your plan up differently. Many 504 plans for allergies include some combination of the following information and accommodations.

Food Allergy Basics

Make sure the plan includes a list of what your child is allergic to and what their reactions look like. If anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction) is a possibility for your child, make sure you include a description of the signs school personnel should look for.

Requests for an Allergen-Free Classroom

Ask the school to ensure that any classroom where your child will be present is free from food allergens. This can involve a number of requests, including:

• Having teachers send parents a letter asking them to leave allergens out of their children’s lunches and snacks and whenever they bring food for the whole class
• Making sure art, games, and lessons will not use foods that contain allergens
• Cleaning the classroom and anything your child needs to use or touch regularly
• Ensuring all children and staff members wash their hands before returning to class after they eat

An Anaphylaxis Action Plan

If your child has a severe allergic reaction, you’ll want to make sure school staff responds appropriately. You can ask your doctor to write an emergency action plan and include it in the 504. The plan should include details like administering emergency medication (like epinephrine), calling 911, and contacting you or a designated person. It may state that your child must have quick and easy access to emergency medications at all times.

Strategies for a Safe Lunch

In the 504, you’ll want to outline the plan for your child at lunchtime. This can look many different ways. Some school districts may provide allergen-free lunches. Some parents choose to pack their children’s lunches. Either way, you will want to outline how and where your child will sit at lunch. An allergen-free lunch table may be an option for children with nut allergies, but this is far more difficult to arrange for a child with cow’s milk, wheat, or other allergies. It’s important to speak with your child, your child’s doctor, and the school to determine how your child can safely participate in lunch. Work with your child on strategies for self-advocacy if a situation feels unsafe at lunchtime or snacktime. You may want to provide the school with a safe lunch as a backup, in case there’s an emergency.

A Snack Plan

If your school has snacktime, talk to teachers and staff about keeping your child safe during that time. You may decide to keep safe snacks at school or have your child bring their own safe snack each day. If they eat in their classroom or outside, you’ll want to make a plan for preventing exposure to allergens in other children’s snacks. If you keep snacks at school, you may also specify that your child should use these during parties or other celebrations where parents often bring food. You can also provide a list of suggested snacks if other parents want to bring something your child can eat.

A Plan for Special Events

If your child will be going on field trips, attending classroom celebrations throughout the year, or riding a bus, you’ll want to include a plan for each of these situations in their 504.

The specifics will depend on the type of situation, trip, or activity. In the plan, you can specify that you would like to be notified of special events ahead of time so you and your child can plan accordingly. If you can, you may also choose to attend these events yourself to ensure your child stays safe.

How Do You Get a 504 Plan for Your Child?

Not every child with a food allergy qualifies for a 504. The school will need to make its own evaluation. You may need to ask your child’s health care provider or allergist for documentation that their allergies could interfere with major life activities, like eating or breathing. That said, not every school requires documentation.

Get Professional Feedback

You should also talk to your child’s doctor before school starts. This is especially important if your child is going to school with a food allergy for the first time.

Your doctor may have tips for working with certain schools or suggestions about what to include in the plan based on your child’s specific allergies. You can ask them what they think needs to be in the 504 and even have them put it in writing. That way, you’ll be able to bring their expertise with you when you first discuss the plan with the school.

Talk to the School

Start by contacting the school. Make plans to reach out before school starts so you can get your plan in place before the school year begins. Let them know that your child has a food allergy and ask who handles 504 plans. Some schools will have a dedicated person for this. Let them know what you want, and get a time frame for when they will finish their evaluation.

When they’re done, you might have a meeting. This is where you’ll set up the plan and advocate for your child.

If they decline some of your proposed accommodations or adopt a plan that you disagree with, you can request another meeting. Some parents choose to dispute the school’s plan or request additional accommodations. If the school continues to decline accommodations that you consider important, you can contact your local Office for Civil Rights or consult a lawyer to figure out what your options are.

Reach Out to Teachers and Staff

You can also reach out to your child’s teacher and to the school nurse directly. Having a good relationship with them will make the rest of the year easier. Make sure they understand your child’s allergies, their 504 plan, and your expectations. This can clear up misconceptions or misunderstandings to avoid unsafe situations.

Follow Up

You and your child can work together to determine whether their 504 plan is being followed. Even if your child is very young, you can explain what their teacher is supposed to do and ask them to tell you if those things don’t happen. Make sure you have regular conversations with your child about this, particularly at the beginning of the school year.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyFoodAllergyTeam is the social network for people with food allergies and their loved ones. On MyFoodAllergyTeam, more than 41,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with food allergies.

Have you set up a 504 plan to address your child’s food allergies? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.