Magister Yeats
What is a 504?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires “school district to provide a ‘free appropriate public education’ (FAPE) to each qualified student with a disability who is in the school district's jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability. Under Section 504, FAPE consists of the provision of regular or special education and related aids and services designed to meet the student's individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of nondisabled students are met” (Office for Civil Rights)
In other words, a 504 is the school's plan to provide education for children with any kind of disability. 504 has a broader definition of disability than an IEP does (see below). For some students with 504s, a student's classroom expectations will change very little if at all (e.g., students with diabetes may need a snack in class, but they may be expected to do the same amount of math problems as other students). Necessary modifications and accommodations for disabilities not related directly to the coursework will of course be provided.
If you want more information on the difference between 504s and IEPs, this side-by-side comparison goes into more detail.
What is an IEP?
An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is a document based on application of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1990. An IEP is a plan made for an individual with disabilities that significantly impact their ability to learn. An IEP spells out how teachers will work with a student on a daily basis to overcome overcome barriers to success.
Disabilities that qualify for an IEP are spelled out in IDEA:
autism; deaf-blindness
deafness
emotional disturbance
hearing impairment
intellectual disability
multiple disabilities
orthopedic impairment
other health impairment
specific learning disability
speech or language impairment
traumatic brain injury
visual impairments.
A 504 is meant to cover any disability and can be pretty broad. An IEP, as the name Individual Education Plan suggests, is much more specific to the individual child. See this educational resources information center brochure for more about IDEA.
If you want more information on the difference between 504s and IEPs, this side-by-side comparison goes into more detail.
What are common accommodations and modifications?
For many students, especially those with learning disabilities or with attention deficits, the most common accommodations/modifications are:
Additional time on assignments/assessments
Shorter assignments/assessments
Check-ins with teachers to ensure completion of tasks
Seating closer to the teacher and farther away from distractions
Allowing students time to recover from strong emotional responses
Students can find a link at the top of each stage summarizing what common accommodations and modifications are provided.
Can students with learning disabilities do well in Latin?
Yes! Students and parents should be aware that a substantial portion of our course focuses on reading and vocabulary. As a result, many of the difficulties students face in a language arts class will also appear in a Latin course. But students with disabilities can and do succeed in Latin courses.
Who do I contact for further questions about 504s and IEPs?
If you have questions about an existing 504 or IEP, or need to start the process of making a 504 or IEP, I would advise reaching out to your school counselor. Their website can be found here.