504 Plans
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against qualified individuals with a physical or mental disability and guarantees them a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Section 504 not only bars discrimination in providing educational services but also prohibits discrimination because of disability. It also outlaws retaliation, intimidation, coercion, or threats for reporting discrimination based on an individual’s disability. Section 504 provides accommodations within the general education setting. It does not provide specialized educational services.
In order to be eligible for Section 504 protections, a qualified individual must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. If there is reason to believe your student needs accommodations due to a qualifying disability, please contact your student's school.
A 504 Plan provides support to a student with a disability and removes barriers to learning. The goal of a 504 Plan is to prevent discrimination and give a student equal access to the general education setting at school.
Classroom Accommodations | 504 Plan | Individualized Education Plan (IEP) | |
|---|---|---|---|
What is the purpose of this support? | A plan to support student-specific needs and provide students with accommodations and interventions. | A plan to prevent discrimination against a student with a disability and provides accommodations to meet the needs of a child as adequately as other students. | A plan for individualized instruction for a student with a disability and provides individualized special education and related services to meet the unique needs of a child. |
What law applies to this form of support? | There is no law. This is a best practice to support all students. | Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This is a federal civil rights law to stop discrimination against people with disabilities. | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); this is a federal special education law for children with disabilities. |
Who is eligible for these supports? | All students are eligible. | To be eligible for a 504 plan a child must have a disability that significantly interferes with their ability to learn in a general education classroom and their disability must impact a major life activity. | To be eligible for Special Education a child must show:
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What is typically included with these supports? | Examples of Classroom accommodations include:
This document shares supports that are universally available to students who would benefit from them. | A 504 plan does not have to be a written document. A 504 plan generally includes the following:
| The IEP is a written document that sets annual learning goals for a child and describes the services the school will give the child. IEPs also must include a child's present level of performance, the timing of services, accommodations, and modifications. will participate in standardized tests
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