504 Educational Plans

Once a 504 is requested in writing, the school might conduct an assessment or accept medical documentation, like a letter from your child’s doctor. A meeting will be held, and at that time, the school will determine if they believe assessments are necessary.

A child can have both, but it isn’t necessary because an IEP will cover the accommodations a child needs. If a child qualifies for an IEP because they have a specific learning disability, but they also have a disease, you can write any accommodations that you need for the disease into the IEP.

A 504 plan should be updated or reviewed yearly. Not every school will perform a full assessment every three years, so it is a good idea to contact your school to learn their specific policies.

A 504 is sufficient when a child needs support accessing the learning environment or content. A 504 plan will typically only cover accommodations. A child who needs either specialized academic instruction or to be in a special education classroom will probably need an IEP.

There is no required attendee list for a 504; it is up to the school or district. Parents can request that the child’s teacher attend at a minimum, but a 504 plan does not require the parents to participate.

Accommodations provided under a 504 plan are designed to give children with disabilities access to the learning environment. Assistance carrying books, assistive technology devices, or materials with enlarged print are all examples of accommodations that can be provided through a 504 plan.