504 vs. IEPs: What's the difference?
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 
Perhaps you've heard the terms 504 and IEP used to refer to your child's special education. What are these terms? Wrightslaw has a complete listing of the difference in this link, but here's a quick summary:
The 504 plan simply provide access to a "regular education" for your disabled child. The 504 plan gives much weaker legal protection to the disabled child. A child's 504 education plan can be changed without consulting the parents. The disabled child is also much more easily expelled or suspended in a 504 plan.
An IEP, or individualized education plan, has all the benefits of a 504 plan. However, the child is now also protected by federal IDEA law. The IEP provides "educational benefits" based on the child's unique needs, not just access to a regular education. The school or institution must notify parents of legal changes. The family can also use IDEA legal safeguards if there's a dispute with the school.
The IEP is a legal contract of what the school district is to provide to the disabled child. Each and every part of the IEP should be done by the school.
The 504 or IEP makes no difference in your child's ability to be in regular or special education classes.
In general, then, 504 plans apply to children who have mild disabilities. If you have been asked to switch to a 504 plan but have any doubts about the change, please contact a local autism support group or advocate for help.
Eye Contact Arkansas | Comments Off | Email Article | Share Article | Permalink | in IEPs, Local School Districts, Peter Wright 
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (2)
If my child is already recieving SSI due to his learning disability would that already qualify him for a IEP?
I seem to be getting no where with his school. I wanted to know why a Vice Principal would not know what SSI is she said that it had nothing to do with a IEP when my sons diagnosis through Social Security was ADD, and MR -learning disability catagorized under Mental Retardation. All his testing for services through the school were AT Risk highly At Risk but they said he did not qualify.... Help! he has every right to learn and his desk is actually almost out the class room door at this point completely secluded...
Your son's ADD clearly causes him a lot of distractions and behavior issues if the desk is almost out of the room.
For IDEA, his disability must affect his ability to learn, and require services AND a special education. If his school work hasn't been modified, which it probably should be for shorter assignments, etc., then he would not get an IEP. However, I suspect he needs one.
Please email me for further help.