Spring 2006
Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas
Volume 4 Issue 3
IEPs, 504 Plans and Student Accommodation Plans
Students arrive in the classroom with a variety of information in their files including classroom grades and standardized test
scores. In addition, some students come with documents such as IEPs, Section 504 plans or Student Accommodation Plans.
What are these documents? What are your responsibilities when a student enters your classroom with an IEP, 504 plan or a
Student Accommodation Plan? All schools may make accommodations for the general student population, at-risk students
and students with special learning needs. The plans are called Student Support Plans, at your school these may be called one
of the following: Learning Assistance Plans, Care Plans or Student Accommodation Plans. It is not important what the plan
is called, what is important is student accommodations are documented and evaluated periodically for effectiveness.
Accommodations for students are included in IEPs and Section 504 Plans, but did you know that student accommodations are
part of good instruction and may stand alone without the creation of an IEP or 504 Plan?
Individuals with Disabilities
Education Improvement Act
(IDEIA)
*formerly known as IDEA
What is IDEIA?
The Individuals with Disabilities
Education Improvement Act (IDEIA)
is the nation’s special education law.
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act) was first enacted in
1975 to ensure a free appropriate
education (FAPE) in the least
restrictive environment (LRE) for
children regardless of ability. IDEA
was reauthorized in 2004 and the
name was changed to IDEIA at that
time.
Who qualifies?
Children between the ages of 3 and 21
who have a disability that adversely
affects his or her educational
performance and requires special
education in order to receive an
appropriate education.
What is an Individualized
Education Plan?
The Individualized Education Plan
(IEP) is the key document developed
by the parent and his or her child’s
teachers and related service personnel
(OT, PT, SLP) that:
 Documents the child’s academic
Section 504
Accommodation
What is Section 504?
As part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
Congress passed Section 504. Section
504 is a civil rights law designed to
protect people with disabilities by
removing barriers and allowing people
full participation in areas such as
education and work.
What is an Accommodation?
Accommodations are tools or
procedures in the area of presentation,
response, timing/scheduling, and
setting that provide equitable access
during instruction and assessment for
students with special learning needs.
Who qualifies?
A person (birth through death) with a
mental or physical impairment that limits
one or more major life activities, such as
caring for oneself, performing manual
tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking,
breathing, learning and working, to a
substantial degree.
What is a 504 Plan?
Who qualifies?
Any student who needs individual
accommodations to be successful in the
general classroom but does not qualify
for an IEP or Section 504 plan.
A 504 Plan is a written document,
developed by a site school team, that
gives a child with a disability access to
the general education curriculum. This
plan is focused on identifying reasonable
accommodations to help a student
What is a Student Accommodation
Plan?
A Student Accommodation Plan is a
written plan developed by the school
personnel to support students in the
general education curriculum.
An accommodation plan may include
student accommodations in the
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achievement and functional
performance
Describes and explains how the
child will be included in the
general education curriculum
Establishes annual goals for the
child and how those goals will be
measured
States what special education and
related service personnel are
needed for the child
Describes how the child will be
appropriately assessed
Determines what accommodations
may be appropriate for the
student’s instruction and
assessment
What are my responsibilities as a
teacher when I have student with an
IEP?
An IEP is a legally binding document.
Although, the public school is
responsible for providing specialized
instruction and related services, as a
teacher you are legally responsible for
providing all identified classroom and
assessment modifications documented
in the IEP.
succeed in the classroom. A 504 plan
should include the following:
 Nature of the student’s disability and
major life activity it limits
 Basis for determining the disability
 Educational impact of the disability
 Necessary accommodations
What are my responsibilities as a
teacher when I have a student with a
504 Plan?
A 504 Plan is a legally binding document.
The school where the student is enrolled
is legally responsible for providing all of
the accommodations documented in the
student’s 504 Plan. Classroom teachers
must provide the accommodations
identified in the 504 Plan.
The Perfect Wings Coordinator should be
contacted prior to creating a 504 Plan.
Transition Reminder
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Maintain and document communication
between official staffings with public school
special education professionals with whom
you may be working (resource teachers,
speech therapists, occupational therapists and
physical therapists)
Maintain (and document) communication
with parents regarding student’s progress
Document any new accommodations and
modifications and their effectiveness
Upcoming Training Opportunities
Student Improvement Team Training
March 30 and 31, 2006 in Lawrence, KS
Cost- $75.00 per person
To register send an e-mail to sitsec@nekesc.org
following areas:
 Instruction
Examples: guided practice, key
concepts emphasized, and use of visual
study aids
 Assignments
Examples: reduced quantity of work,
extra time to complete assignments,
and reduced essay work
 Environment
Examples: preferential seating, private
study space, and reduction of visual
distractions
 Assessment
Examples: detailed study guide, oral
testing, testing in an alternate location,
and reading test items to a student
 Behavior Management
Examples: assignment journal,
proximity control, frequent breaks, and
opportunity for movement
What are my responsibilities as a
teacher when I have a student with a
Student Accommodation Plan?
A Student Accommodation Plan is
written as a tool to support student
learning and success. Classroom
accommodations should be utilized on
a regular basis to increase student
success. In addition, the
accommodations identified, if utilized
on a regular basis, may be available to
the student on standardized tests and
the Kansas State Assessment.
International Dyslexia Association
Overcoming Dyslexia: Research, Diagnosis and
Treatment
April 21-22
Overland Park Convention Center
Overland Park, KS
For more information call 816-838-7323 or visit the
website at www.ksmoida.org.
Start by doing what’s necessary,
Then what’s possible,
and suddenly you are doing
the impossible.
St. Francis of Assisi