Evaluation and Referral
A 504 plan should be considered when a student isn't benefiting from instruction
due to a physical or mental impairment. The issue can be raised by a parent or legal
guardian, teacher, physician, or therapist.
A 504 plan can help when a student returns to school after a serious injury or
illness, or when
a student isn't eligible for special education services or an IEP, but still needs
extra services to succeed academically. Once an educational concern is raised, the
school principal or other academic advisor sets up a meeting of a 504 planning team.
The team usually consists of parents, the principal, classroom teachers, and other
school personnel (such as the school nurse, guidance counselor, psychologist, or social
worker).
After reviewing academic and medical records and interviewing the student and parents,
the 504 team determines if the child is eligible to have a 504 plan put in place.
Sometimes school officials and parents disagree about eligibility. Disagreements also
can arise about details within the 504 plan itself. In these cases, parents can make
written appeals to the school district or the U.S. Office for Civil Rights.
Reviewing the 504 Plan
Once the plan is developed by the team, all the student's teachers are responsible
for implementing the accommodations in the plan, as well as participating in plan
reviews.
The 504 plan should be reviewed at least annually to determine if the accommodations
are up to date and appropriate, based on the student's needs. Any 504 plan team member,
including the parent, may call for a 504 plan review at any time if there is an educational
concern or change in the student's needs.
The plan can be terminated if the 504 team determines that the student:
- is no longer disabled
- no longer requires any special accommodations or services to meet the identified
needs
- can be appropriately instructed in general education
A Final Word
Parents have the right to choose where their kids will be educated. This choice
includes public or private elementary schools and secondary schools, including religious
schools. It also includes charter schools and home schools.
However, it is important to understand that the rights of children with disabilities
who are placed by their parents in private elementary schools and secondary schools
are not the same as those of kids with disabilities who are enrolled in public schools
(or placed by public agencies in private schools when the public school is unable
to provide a free appropriate public education).
Children with disabilities who are placed in private schools may not get any
services or the same services they would have received in a public school./p>
Date reviewed: September 2016