IEP or 504?
What's the Difference?
What is an IEP?
Step 1 - Referral/Permission to Test
Step 2 - Academic and Functional Testing
Step 3 - MDT (Every 3 yrs)
A Multidisciplinary Team Meeting is held to share evaluation and assessment results that assist the team in determining eligibility for special education services and related serves and under which verification(s) they qualify. MDTs or reevaluations must be completed every three years.
Step 4 - IEP (Annually)
An Individualized Education Plan to provide special education services to the student through specially designed instruction. Per IDEA, procedures must be followed, and the student must meet one or more of the 13 verifications under eligibility guidelines. Decisions are made by mandated team members including the parents and the student. Parental rights are introduced. Testing, observations, and data determine academic and functional goals. This information allows for progress monitoring. Annual IEP meetings are held to discuss progress, placement, accommodations, current needs, and set goals.
***IEPs can be used for the determination of disability by postsecondary institutions. However, these institutions do not offer the same services or accommodations as secondary education. Postsecondary institutions do not modify curriculums. Also, students must seek out and request disability services and accommodations independently, as needed, and be able to state why they need the accommodation.
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What is a 504 Plan?
A 504 Plan supports K-12 general education students giving them "access" to their education. Accommodations are made to the learning environment or physical space due to a physical or mental impairment that significantly limits one or more major life activities. An evaluation process determines the specific needs of the individual student. A 504 Plan is not a special education program; therefore, no goal-setting or progress monitoring exists. Unlike an IEP, a 504 Plan can follow the student to postsecondary education, although some adjustments may need to be made.
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Summary of Performance
(SOP)
The Summary of Performance is a document of the student's academic achievements
and functional performance. The document will also include recommendations, including the student's input on how to assist the student in meeting their postsecondary goals, such as evaluation results, including related services, preferences, strengths, needs, accommodations, modifications, medical information, assistive technology, what works and what doesn't, etc.
This documentation is provided when the student is discharged from Special Education services due to graduating with a regular diploma or reaching the end of the school year after the student turns 21 years old.
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Rule 51 - Verification Guidelines
For more information, please refer to the following:
Nebraska Department of Education
Specific Learning Disabilities
(Nebraska Department of Education, pg 65-67)