504 Plan

A 504 plan is named for section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires school districts to provide appropriate education to students with disabilities outlined under Section 504. 504 plans are generally implemented with the idea that their accommodations can "level the playing field" and allow students with disabilities to participate in the standard classroom as fully as possible, rather than provide a personalized or specialized educational plan that changes where or how the student is taught. The requirements to qualify for a 504 plan are generally broader than qualification for IEPs, but this also means that students who need support but potentially slightly less support than what's offered by an IEP also receive help.

The 504 Plan Document

Similar to an IEP, a 504 plan is written by the 504 team after determining that a student is eligible for 504 accommodations. The plan outlines both the disability criteria that the student qualifies for, as well as the accommodations that the student receives for these disabilities. These documents are revisited on a annual basis to review how the accommodations have worked and if any further or repeated assessment is needed.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for a 504 plan, a child must:

1. Not have a diagnosis for a disability listed in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as most with these diagnoses are better served by IEPs than 504s. However, a coordinator with SPED and 504s can help determine which may be right.
2. Have a disabling condition that substantially limits one major life activity. Major life activities include but are not limited to:

• Caring for oneself, manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, walking, standing, breathing, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.
• These guidelines also include physical conditions that affect disability such as immune system functioning, digestive system issues, bowel and bladder functioning, or endocrine disorders.

504 Services

If a student is found to qualify for a 504 plan, their accommodations will vary based on the diagnosed condition. However, PPS provides a list of examples of possible accommodations and services that could be offered for different conditions that could qualify for a 504 plan. This list can help provide parents with a sense of what accommodations can be arranged for their students with specific conditions.