Beginning of School Year Checklist for Parents
Children’s Medical Services (CMS) Health Plan, operated by Sunshine Health, is a plan for children and youth younger than 21 years old with serious chronic conditions. Follow these tips to help your child have a successful school year:
✓ Go to the open house and/or meet the teacher.
✓ Set up communication with all of your child’s teachers.
- Join their apps, such as Dojo or Remind, and check every day.
- Get email addresses.
- Contact your child’s teacher weekly.
✓ Create a parent portal account.
- Make an account for each of your children.
- Check weekly to keep up with your child’s grades.
✓ Find a contact at the school.
- Someone you can trust.
- Someone you can contact if you cannot get in touch with the teacher.
✓ Follow the school’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
- Important announcements are posted here.
- Visit the school and district websites regularly.
✓ If you need help ...
- Ask! Start with the teacher, then the principal. If you are not being heard, contact your local district representative (not the school board).
✓ Request a meeting.
- Give the school two weeks to get settled. Send a request to the principal via email.
✓ Answer the phone.
- Save the school and district phone numbers in your phone so you recognize them when they call with announcements.
✓ Keep a notebook.
- Log meetings, phone calls and behavior incidents with dates and names.
✓ Tell the teacher your child receives special services and keep paperwork on hand.
- 504 plan, behavior plan, IEP, BIP, healthcare plan, etc.
- Contact your child’s Care Manager to see if your child is eligible for tutoring services.
✓ Update contact information.
- Address
- Phone number
- Emergency contacts
- Medical records
- Allergies/medications
- Court orders