When looking into accommodations for students, a lot of unfamiliar terms can arise. For example, what is an IEP? What is a 504 plan? Which one does my child need to do well in school?
Here are some definitions and explanations of what an IEP and a 504 plan are, and how they could help your child.
IEP (Individualized Education Plan)
IEP stands for Individualized Education Plan. It is a plan that lays out goals directly related to the child. An IEP is concerned with your special needs educational rights.
An IEP can be focused on reaching a single goal, such as accommodating a student’s needs in one area. If your student is able to be in a general education classroom but needs help with language and speech, an IEP can help state what help the student needs and how to provide it.
It can also help a student with many goals. Your child may not benefit from the general education curriculum and an IEP can help change the learning material to fit their needs.
An IEP is specific and specialized to your child’s needs.
504 Plan
A 504 plan ensures your student’s civil rights are being met. Your student is deserving of equal access. A 504 plan provides that access by removing barriers. It is a plan for the teacher to follow so that your student can work with a learning disability and succeed in class.
504 plans are not focused on goals or objectives specific to the student, since these students have the same standards of general education.
It is beneficial for students who can learn from the general education curriculum but need accommodations. Accommodations are not modifications, they are slight tweaks in a learning environment that help meet the student’s learning style or learning needs.
A 504 plan can meet the needs of a student with learning differences or a physical disability. This can range from an allergen-free environment to laying out where a child must sit in the class to accommodate hearing limitations.
A 504 plan used in school can be used as evidence to build a case for accommodations after high school in college or in the workplace.
How to get a 504 plan or IEP
In order to get an IEP, an individual must complete an educational evaluation with an educational psychologist. A child’s teacher may recommend them for an evaluation if they are falling significantly behind in one or more subject areas. In this case, if they show a need for special needs services, the plan is decided by a team at your student’s school. You, your child’s educators, and other professionals will meet to figure out what your child needs. An educational evaluation done through a private practice will assess for more than a need for special needs services.
A private assessment will provide more insight into your child’s learning strengths and weaknesses. You will have the opportunity to decide if you will give the results of the assessment to your child’s school to be added to their academic record.
Like an IEP, an educational evaluation is needed to determine the need for a 504 plan. However, the process may be a little less formal as it does not involve writing out and tracking goals for your student. You may be able to submit a request for a 504 plan for your child to their school.
What Does My Child Need?
If you are wondering where to start when it comes to your child, Compassionate Solutions can help. Schedule a phone consultation with us today. From there, we can help you determine the best route to helping your child reach their potential.
Contact us on our website or call us at (661) 255-2688.
