You do have a right to know about the process. A big difference between the 504 and IEP processes is that you, the parent, do not have to be invited to the 504 meeting. In an IEP eligibility meeting, that group includes the child’s parent(s). If your child is eligible, the people in the group could make your child’s 504 Plan. At the meeting, a group of people who know your child will decide if they are eligible for 504 services. Use the Do-It-Yourself Letter Requesting Special Education Services (SES) or 504 Services tool to draft a letter requesting that your child be evaluated.Īfter the evaluation is done, the 504 coordinator will set up a meeting. You may want to make your request in writing. Once you contact this person, you can ask for a copy of the school’s 504 policy and ask that your child be evaluated. This person is in charge of making sure the school follows 504 guidelines. Specifically, you should contact the staff member in charge of the 504 process (sometimes called the 504 coordinator). If you want to ask for a 504 Plan for your child, you must first contact the school. That helps you ensure that the school is doing what it said it would do.

However, it is always a good idea to get the plan in writing. To learn more about evaluation guidelines for students with IEPs, read School Discipline: Rights for Students With Disabilities and Evaluations for Students With Disabilities.Īnother difference between 504 Plans and IEPs is that 504 Plans do not need to be in writing. One big difference is that 504 Plans do not have strict guidelines about the types of evaluations necessary or when they should happen. But the rules about student evaluations are not the same. Both 504 Plans and IEPs require student evaluations. Students must be evaluated before any major change (for example, a student given a helper to take notes for them because of a broken arm will be reevaluated once their arm is healed).

Students with 504 Plans should be evaluated every so often to adjust their plans. To learn more about these extra protections, read School Discipline: Rights for Students With Disabilities. However, a child with an IEP has more protections when it comes to discipline. Like 504 Plans, IEPs also list accommodations and instructions. The Services Providedĥ04 Plans list certain accommodations and instructions that are designed to help a student. All students with IEPs are eligible for 504 Plans, but the opposite is not true. Students with more severe disabilities are usually eligible for IEPs. Generally, 504 Plans are used to help students with disabilities who may not be eligible for an IEP, but still need some accommodations at school. There are three main differences between 504 Plans and IEPs:Īny student with a disability is eligible for 504 services. How Are 504 Plans Different Than Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)? The student’s teachers and other school staff must follow this plan. The 504 Plan should list the problems the student is having and the help the student will be offered. When a student is eligible for 504 services, the school and the child’s parents will make a 504 Plan. The specific accommodations a student needs will be listed in a 504 Plan. Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act requires public schools to offer accommodations for students with disabilities. If your child is struggling in school but is not eligible for Special Education Services, the school may still have to offer your child some accommodations.

504 accommodation plan