Aloha Notes: My career as a School Psychologist in Hawaii

Which is better, a 504 Plan or an IEP? Lately, I've sat in a number of meetings where a student's eligibility for Special Education is on the fence.  This is a question I often hear in the schools and see in message boards: Which is better a 504 Plan or an IEP? That' s a hard question to answer, because they both serve different purposes and have their own strengths. In a broad sense, they are both detailed plans, created by the school and parents to outline how a student with a disability will learn. A 504 Plan and an IEP are both intended to protect a student with a disability to ensure that they are learning in the least restrictive environment. A 504 Plan and an IEP also have unique differences. The way in which a student qualifies for services under each plan is a major difference. It is more difficult to qualify for special education services and receive an IEP. A student must meet criteria under one of the categories of special education. A student can

What is the difference between a Section 504 plan and an IEP: Section 504 Plan: ( Chapter 61) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974  is a FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAW   that protects students with disabilities from discrimination. In Hawaii, Chapter 61 (previously Chapter 53) is the Hawaii Administrative Rule that ensures the applicability of § 504 in the public schools and assures a  Free Appropriate Public Education  (FAPE) to eligible students with disabilities. To qualify for a 504 Plan, a student must have a disability that is affecting a major life function. Unlike an IEP, a "major life function" does not have to be educational impact. A student can be doing well academically, but need social skills assistance or organizational skills due to   ADHD. With either plan, a direct connection must be made from the disability to the impairment in school.  A 504 Plan is usually a good option when the student is able to function well in a regular education environm