School Closure: Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Students with a disability who do not qualify for an IEP may qualify for a Section 504 Service Agreement. Section 504 plans provide accommodations for students with a broader range of disabilities who need accommodations due to a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. Accommodations through a 504 plan are meant to remove barriers to participation in the regular education program. A 504 plan is not considered to be “special education.” For questions or concerns related to 504 Service Agreements, please contact your child’s school.
To be eligible for a 504 plan, a student must meet the following conditions:
- The student is of school age.
- The student has a physical or mental disability that substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the student’s school program.
- The student is not eligible for special education services and programs under IDEA. - You cannot have a 504 plan and an IEP.
- The student is eligible for special education and is raising a claim of discrimination.
Students may be referred by the District or through parent request. Parents/guardians requesting a 504 plan need to do so in writing.
For students with medical conditions, documentation of the condition and physician recommendations for accommodations may be requested. The district is not responsible for providing evaluations conducted by independent evaluators to support a diagnosis (e.g. physician, specialist, audiologist, psychiatrist). Parents are responsible for providing the district with a physician’s diagnosis for conditions that would qualify for a disability under Section 504.
Students who are considered “Protected Handicapped Students” will be provided with a 504 service agreement. This agreement lists the accommodations to be provided by the school and the individuals responsible for those accommodations. At North East School District, the school counselors for each school are responsible for providing the general education teachers with updated 504 information at the beginning of each year and any time the 504 plan is updated.
The 504 service agreement will be reviewed yearly. Both the parents and the school district may request changes to the 504 plan at any time.
The difference between an IEP and 504 plan - https://www.understood.org/articles/en/the-difference-between-ieps-and-504-plans
PA Department of Education IEPs and 504 Service Agreements - https://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Homebound%20Instruction/Pages/IEPs-and-504-Service-Agreements.aspx
