What Is a 504 Plan?

What Is a 504 Plan?

A 504 Plan is a written plan that outlines accommodations for a student with a disability to ensure they have equal access to education. It is named after Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in schools that receive federal funding.

A 504 Plan does not provide specialized instruction - it simply removes barriers that would otherwise prevent the student from participating fully in the general education program.

Who Qualifies for a 504 Plan?

A student qualifies for a 504 Plan when:

1. The student has a physical or mental impairment that
2. Substantially limits one or more major life activities

Major life activities include: learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, walking, seeing, hearing, and self-care.

Examples of conditions that commonly lead to 504 Plans:

• ADHD (when it affects concentration but does not require specialized instruction)
• Anxiety or depression
• Asthma or severe allergies
• Diabetes or other medical conditions requiring monitoring
• Mild dyslexia not severe enough to qualify for an IEP

What Is in a 504 Plan?

Unlike an IEP, a 504 Plan does not require a specific federal format, but it typically includes:

Student information: Name, grade, disability, and how it affects school performance

Accommodations: Specific, concrete adjustments the school will provide

Personnel responsible: Which staff members will implement each accommodation

Review date: When the plan will be reviewed (typically annually)

Common 504 Accommodations

Time: Extended time on tests and assignments, reduced homework

Environment: Preferential seating (near the teacher, away from distractions), separate testing room

Presentation: Larger print materials, audio versions of text, simplified directions

Response: Allow oral responses instead of written, use of a scribe, speech-to-text software

Scheduling: Frequent breaks, flexible deadlines, modified schedule

Equipment: Calculator, text-to-speech software, fidget tools, noise-canceling headphones

Medical: Nurse check-ins, snacks for blood sugar management, medication administration

504 Plan vs. IEP: Key Differences

Governing law: Rehabilitation Act (civil rights)

Eligibility standard: Disability that limits a major life activity

****Specialized instruction?: No

****Annual goals?: No

****Special education placement?: No - general ed only

****Team required?: No formal team required

Reevaluation: No required timeline

When to use which: If a student needs a different way to learn (a different curriculum, approach, or teacher) → IEP. If the student can learn grade-level content but needs adjustments to how it is delivered or assessed → 504.

The 504 Meeting

While 504 Plans do not require the same formal team as an IEP, schools typically hold a 504 meeting that includes:

• Parents/Guardians
• General education teacher
• School counselor or psychologist (sometimes)
• An administrator or 504 coordinator

Parents have the right to review and consent to the plan.

Practice Activities

• Compare a sample IEP accommodation list and a sample 504 accommodation list - which accommodations appear on both? Which are only on one?
• Discuss a case study: a student with ADHD who is struggling to focus but is performing at grade level - IEP or 504? Justify the reasoning.
• Research five common accommodations and explain how each one removes a barrier for a specific type of learner.
• Role-play a parent-teacher conversation about requesting a 504 evaluation for a student.
• Create an infographic for parents explaining the difference between a 504 Plan and an IEP in simple, jargon-free language.