To 504 or IEP, that is the question...

With the school year coming to a close, now is the time to make sure that you have the perfect plan in effect for your child's upcoming school year. Request a placement meeting to discuss the plans for next year. You can do these over the phone if needed. Below you will find a link to a pretty comprehensive explanation of the differences between and IEP and a 504 plan. The main difference is that a 504 plan DOES NOT require the child be in Special Education. This would be good for a child who is on grade level, but may face the struggles of ADD/ADHD, or have medical concerns like diabetes or asthma. A 504 plan helps to ensure that all steps are taking properly so that the child can have every opportunity to succeed. An IEP would be needed for Speech/OT/PT, when the child has noticeable developmental delays, or placement in a inclusive classroom. http://specialchildren.about.com/od/504s/a/504accom.htm