“It’s great if a child doesn’t need an IEP anymore because that means that the IEP has worked,” special education attorney Grace Clark says. However, that doesn’t mean a student would no longer need or benefit from some accommodations. In that case, it is possible to request a 504 plan.
Education advocate Lisa Carey tells us, “In order to exit a child from an IEP, assessments need to be done to show that the need for specialized instruction is no longer there. A 504 for accommodations, like more time on tests, can be set up by requesting it in writing. You can also request it at the final IEP meeting.” Once a 504 is requested in writing, your child will need to go through the entire process, even if they’ve been assessed for an IEP. 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.
For more information, see our article What’s the Difference Between a 504 Plan and an IEP?
