IEPs and 504 plans: What Parents Should Know

Sometimes children need extra support at school, but navigating that topic can be overwhelming and confusing. The good news is that you don’t have to do it alone, and resources are available to help your child thrive. Two of the most common options are known as IEPs (Individualized Education Programs) and 504 Plans. Both options can make a huge difference in your child’s life, but it’s important to understand what each one is as they both serve different purposes. 

What Is An IEP?

An IEP is a legal provision under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law. The IEP provides a legally-bound document that provides specialized instruction and services for students who have a disability that impacts their ability to learn in a general classroom on their own. There are 13 disability categories that fall under IDEA, one of those being autism. Once your child has been evaluated and found to meet the requirements to be eligible for an IEP, the specifics of the plan will be developed by a team that includes you as the parent, their teachers, therapists and the school administrators. IEPs outline requirements for specialized instruction customized to your child's needs, which may look like speech therapy, occupational therapy, or ABA-related support. IEPs are reviewed at least once a year.

What Is A 504 Plan?

A 504 Plan is another federally-mandated program that falls under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. While it doesn’t include specialized instruction like an IEP, it does ensure equal access to education is provided to students with a disability. 504 Plans are more focused on providing necessary accommodations to support student learning, such as giving extra time on tests, access to sensory items, certain seating, and more. 

How To Determine What Your Child Needs

Whether your child would benefit from an IEP or 504 plan depends on a number of different things that vary from child to child. The best way to determine which one would work best for your child is to request an evaluation from the school, which they are legally obligated to provide. Here are the steps to take:

• Submit a request in writing requesting an evaluation to determine if your child is eligible for support. This traditionally will be submitted to the school principal, counselor or special education director. Start with your child’s teacher to inquire what the protocol is for your school. 

• Within your letter, clearly state you are requesting a special education evaluation under IDEA. Specifically requesting this begins a timeline that must be followed according to the law.  It is important to note that you do not have to have an official medical diagnosis to request an evaluation. However, if you do have one be sure to include it with your request.

• The school must respond within 30 days in Missouri. If they agree to the evaluation, you will be given a “consent for evaluation” form to sign. If they choose to decline to evaluate, you must be provided with a written explanation (known as a Notice of Action Refused). You will also be given information on your rights to dispute it.

• Once you sign the parent evaluation consent form, the school has 60 calendar days to complete their evaluation. Evaluations may include classroom observations, academic testing, input from parents and teachers, and a variety of assessments depending on specific concerns (speech, occupational, psychological, etc.).

• Upon completing the evaluation, an eligibility meeting will be held with you and the school team to review results and determine qualification. If your child qualifies, either the IEP or 504 plan will be drafted. Once you as the parent or caregiver agree to the drafted plan, it will go into effect. If it is determined that your child doesn’t qualify, once again the school must provide written notice with information on your legal rights to appeal. 

The process can feel intimidating, but knowing how it works step by step can take away some of the overwhelm. If you would like someone to support you in the journey, in Missouri it is your legal right to bring an advocate, like an ABA therapist, with you to meetings to help navigate the process. Schools must also consider your input as equal to other evaluating team members. 

How ABA Therapy Fits In

ABA therapy can be an important factor in your child’s progress, so it’s no surprise that it also can play a huge role in supporting both IEP and 504 plans. ABA therapy works best when practiced across all areas of a child’s life, with ABA goals overlapping with school and home - think social skills, communication, independence, confidence. We frequently work alongside school teams to continue to build bridges between school and home, integrating skills that will stick with your child through their entire life. 

Find Support with Bloom Behavioral Healthcare

Every child deserves a quality education. IEPs and 504 plans are both designed to give children better access to that education while taking their specific needs into consideration. You have a legal right to request an evaluation for your child to determine if a plan would be beneficial for your child, and which one would be best. And remember - you don’t have to do this alone. 

The team at Bloom Behavioral Healthcare LLC is here if you are looking for support in helping your child live their best life, including assisting with navigating the IEP or 504 process at their school. ABA therapy can help your child truly bloom within their own potential, and integrating ABA strategies beyond sessions and into school and home is the best way to do that. 

Contact Bloom today to learn more about how we can help!