What is the difference between IEP & 504 Plans?

An IEP is an individualized education plan, an educational road map for children with disabilities. Required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, an IEP is a regularly updated document that outlines goals and milestones for students based on their unique abilities. All students who receive special education services have IEPs.

Students in special education may spend the majority of their day in general education classrooms and can receive their specialized services there depending on their needs. Benchmark ESS department works to include students with exhibiting disabilities in classes with their peers as much as possible to provide the least restrictive environment, in accordance with federal law. 

“504 plan” refers to section 504 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which states that any organization, including a school, that receives federal money cannot discriminate against people with disabilities. At schools, this can mean that students with disabilities, for example, can get extra time to take tests or finish homework, sit near the front of the classroom, or use textbooks in formats they can understand, such as audiobooks. A team of teachers, specialists, and parents determines what accommodations a student receives under their 504 plan. 
 
In general, the goal of a 504 plan is to accommodate students with disabilities in general education classrooms. 
 
A 504 plan can help a student thrive in a general education classroom with minimal disruption in their education, and it can be tailored to each education environment, such as art class or P.E., that the student experiences throughout the day.