What is a 504 Plan designed to provide for students with disabilities?

A 504 Plan is designed to provide special services and accommodations to students with disabilities to ensure their access to a free and appropriate public education. This type of plan originates from Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The primary goal of a 504 Plan is to remove barriers to learning, allowing students to participate as fully as possible in their educational environment.

Accommodations may include modifications to the classroom setting, changes in teaching strategies, or additional support services tailored to meet the individual needs of the student. Such adjustments ensure that students with disabilities can learn alongside their peers, utilizing modifications as needed without requiring a separate educational curriculum or placement into special education.

Other options, while important in different contexts, do not fully encapsulate the primary purpose of a 504 Plan. For example, full-time special education services would typically be covered under an Individualized Education Program (IEP), focusing specifically on more intensive special education services rather than the broader accommodations and supports provided by a 504 Plan. Similarly, behavioral assessments or extracurricular supports may be essential components of a student’s educational experience, but they do not represent the core of what a 504 Plan aims to achieve for students with disabilities.