Success through Academics, Resources, and Research (STARR)

What is the STARR program?

The Success through Academics, Resources, and Research (STARR) program at St. Jude works with your child’s school to create an education plan called a 504 plan. This plan helps your child have equal access to public education. Children with sickle cell disease qualify for a 504 plan. 

Your child will have a STARR coordinator at St. Jude. This person serves as a link between the care team and your child’s school.

What you need to know about a 504 plan 

A 504 plan comes from Section 504 of a federal law called the Rehabilitation Act. It helps children with medical concerns or learning problems who need help in the classroom. The 504 plan will provide extra support for your child’s education.

Accommodations may be made for your child at their school. Accommodations are any changes to day-to-day instruction that support your child and remove obstacles to learning. 

Examples of common accommodations include:

• Seating at the front of the classroom
  
• Restroom, water, and rest breaks
  
• The ability to make up missed work
  
• Locker located near classrooms
  
• Second set of textbooks for home
  
• A “scribe” for long written work
  
• Copies of teacher’s notes
  
• Use of a study guide
  
• Extended time on tests, classroom assignments, and homework
  
• Shortened or modified assignments
  
• Use of elevator
  
• Verbal testing
  
• Memory, technology, verbal, or visual aids
  
• Permission to leave class early to walk in uncrowded hallways
  
• Buddy system for visits to the school nurse’s office
  
• Prompt phone contact with parent when another student in the classroom has a contagious illness

If you have questions about 504 plans, speak with: 

• Your child’s STARR coordinator (call 901-595-5775 or  901-595-5695) 
• Another member of your child’s health care team, such as a doctor, social worker, psychologist, or child life specialist 
  

How to set up a 504 plan meeting

You can take the following steps to schedule a 504 plan meeting with your child’s school:

1. Contact your child’s school and ask for a 504 plan.  
   
2. Tell the school that you would like to set up a meeting to discuss your child’s medical condition and create or update a 504 plan.  
   
3. Tell the school that you would like the school nurse and all your child’s teachers to attend if they are able. This includes teachers for physical education, music, art, and other activities. 
   
4. As soon as the meeting is scheduled, call a St. Jude STARR coordinator at 901-595-5775 or 901-595-5695. Give that person the date and time of the meeting.  
   
5. Before the meeting, make a list of concerns you want to discuss. 
   
6. Go over the 504 plan each year to make sure it works well for your child.  
   

How the STARR coordinator can help 

Your STARR coordinator is here to help you and your child. They can send the school any needed documents. A STARR coordinator might be able to go to the 504 plan meeting or attend virtually to help you speak about your child’s needs. Whether the coordinator joins will depend on:

• Your need
  
• The coordinator’s schedule
  
• Where the meeting is located
  

A STARR coordinator can talk to you before the meeting to answer questions and give guidance. You can also talk to them during your child’s regular clinic visit.

STARR coordinators hold parent workshops on how to speak up for your child during school meetings. If you would like to go to a workshop, ask your child’s STARR coordinator for more information.

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