What is the difference between special education and 504?
Mia Smith
Published Mar 10, 2026
What is the difference between special education and 504?
Differences. An IEP is an in-depth document for all students who require special education services. A 504 plan can accommodate students who can learn within a general education environment with stated modifications. An IEP can provide services and supports that a 504 plan can’t, such as specialized instruction.
Is IEP or 504 better?
A 504 Plan is a better option when the student is able to function well in a regular education environment with accommodations. The 504 is generally less restrictive than the IEP, and it is also less stigmatizing. An IEP is a better option for students with a disability that is adversely impacting education.
What is a 504 plan in special education?
504 Plan Defined The 504 Plan is a plan developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives accommodations that will ensure their academic success and access to the learning environment.
What qualifies as a 504 disability?
DISABILITIES COVERED UNDER SECTION 504 The ED Section 504 regulation defines an “individual with handicaps” as any person who (i) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, (ii) has a record of such an impairment, or (iii) is regarded as having such an impairment.
Do you need a diagnosis for a 504?
Section 504 requires a child to have an evaluation before receiving a 504 Plan. Decisions about who qualifies for Section 504 cannot be based solely on a single source of data (i.e. a doctor’s diagnosis or grades). A medical diagnosis is NOT required under Section 504.
Can you have a 504 plan and an IEP at the same time?
Answer: It’s possible to have both an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and a 504 plan, but it would be unlikely for your child to need both. Here’s why: Everything that’s in a 504 plan can be included in an IEP. The IEP can also provide services and supports that would not be available in a 504 plan.
Does a 504 plan follow you to college?
The short answer is there are no IEPs or 504 plans in college. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the law that provides students with IEPs , no longer applies to them once they graduate from high school.
Does a 504 go to college?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 still protects students from discrimination when they get to college. In other words, a your daughter’s 504 plan doesn’t “travel” with her to college. Students can still receive accommodations in college, though. Colleges have to provide accommodations under Section 504.
Is ADHD a 504?
Students with ADHD are eligible for services and an individual accommodation plan under Section 504 if they have significant difficulty learning in school due to ADHD impairments.
Which is better, a 504 plan or an IEP?
For many children, having an IEP is a much better choice because they have a very specific learning disability. Section 504 is going to protect kids with a wide variety of handicaps, whereas the IEP will have an individualized educational program that is designed to help with their specific learning disability.
What is the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan?
An IEP requires more regularly occurring reviews of progress, approximately every 3 months. A 504 Plan is usually reviewed at the beginning of each school year. A 504 Plan does not cost the school or district any additional money to provide. On the other hand, an IEP requires school funds to construct and execute.
How does a 504 plan differ from an IEP?
What is the difference between an IEP and a 504 Plan? IEP Defined. The Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an 504 Plan Defined. Subtle but Important Differences.
Who qualifies for a 504 plan?
The decision for qualification under the 504 Plan is made by a team. The team includes the parents of the student, the teachers, and the school head. The parents of the child are given equal importance in the decision. The team discusses the child’s disability and determines if it influences his or her learning.