Need Special Education Services and Accommodations? 504 Plans and IEPs

How do you request an evaluation for special education services?

Ask about the process and steps that the school takes to review and support students who may need additional services. Appropriate interventions as necessary may be tried out and monitored — for example, frequent movement breaks, sitting closer to the front of the room, or having a fidget.

If these informal interventions do not seem to help your child, you can make a formal request for an evaluation to determine eligibility for accommodations.

To request an evaluation:

• Ask a teacher, counselor, or the principal how to make a referral and for the contact information of the person who coordinates accommodations in your school district. In some districts, this will be the special education coordinator. In other districts, specific school staff are assigned to evaluate 504 or IEP requests.
• After the above steps are complete, provide a request in writing to the coordinator. You can simply state that you are requesting a 504 plan or an IEP evaluation for your child, and you can also include any helpful information like records, diagnoses, or a description of the ways in which the young person’s challenges affect their ability to learn. In some cases, the school may suggest the evaluation before you request it, but you will always need to provide consent before the evaluation happens.
• If an evaluation is needed (required by law for an IEP; some schools require for a 504 plan), the school will usually arrange and pay for one, either with a school psychologist or an outside professional. If an evaluation is not needed, the school will tell you the next steps after they have received your request. It’s important to note that evaluations and subsequent recommendations are often academically focused, so if your child needs a neuropsychological evaluation for a mental health concern, that will need to be done through a healthcare provider outside of school.

For more, read Opens in a new tabHow to Get a Core Evaluation Completed Through Your School District from The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds.

504 plan

A 504 plan helps students who have disabilities or health conditions that are a barrier to learning in a classroom along with their peers. It provides accommodations intended to help make this possible, but doesn’t provide a plan for specialized instruction. For example, if the young person has anxiety, they might be allowed movement breaks, extra time for work or processing, or fidget toys. Or if they have ADHD, they might be given a seat at the front of the classroom or have extra time to finish a test.

The process for evaluating the need for a 504 plan varies depending on the school district. For example:

• Some districts will review your child’s medical and school records, observe your child in the classroom, or talk with your child’s teachers or other involved adults.
• Other schools will do a formal evaluation, at their expense, that may involve testing.

If a 504 plan is approved, the school’s 504 coordinator and team will work with you to determine the best accommodations for your child. Legally, a 504 plan does not need to be in writing, but it’s a good idea to request this and make sure that the plan goes into your child’s school file.

Though rules vary by state, 504 plans are often reviewed annually by school staff, such as a 504 plan coordinator. They will work with you to determine if the plan is still necessary, or if accommodations need to be adjusted based on a young person’s evolving or changing needs. If the school requires an evaluation for a 504 plan, this is usually redone every three years or when needed. It’s a good idea to ask the school how often the plan will be reviewed, and what your role will be in that re-evaluation process.