Which is Better, a 504 plan or an IEP?

One of the first decisions a parent has to make once their child is diagnosed with ADHD is what kind of educational accommodations they should ask the school for.  This article discusses the differences between a 504 plan and an IEP, to help you decide which is best for your child.

First of all, 504 plans and IEPs only apply to public schools in the United States.  If your child is in a private school, you must discuss with your child's school whether and how they can accommodate your child.

504 plans
A 504 plan is usually best if your child is doing ok academically, but is having behavioral issues in the classroom that may affect their learning or the learning environment for other children.   Generally the types of accommodations provided are things that do not require a special education teacher to implement.  They would usually be changes a general education teacher could provide in a classroom while attending to a full class of children.  Examples include allowing the child some kind of fidget item/weighted lap pad/wobble cushion/standup desk, giving the child breaks upon request, preferential seating, redirection, verbal and written instructions, not withholding gym or recess, emailing homework assignments, and incentive charting.  At times, if a child has significant behavioral issues, a one on one aide might be provided under a 504 plan, but if your child definitely requires a one on one aide to function, you will probably want to go for an IEP.

A qualifying diagnosis, such as developmental delay or ADHD, is all that is needed for a child to qualify for a 504 plan.  No school testing or response to intervention is required by law for a child to get a 504 plan, so the process should be relatively quick, although the parent is responsible for holding the school accountable to adhering to the plan.

IEP
An IEP is usually what is needed if your child is struggling with academics, either because of an identified learning disability or because of ADHD alone.  Signs that your child is struggling academically include poor grades or having the teacher suggest that your child will not be ready to advance to the next grade.  Other common signs of academic trouble include not reading at grade level or frequently being unable to complete homework because of a lack of understanding of what was taught.

An IEP will label your child as a special education student, but will not necessarily result in a placement in a special education classroom.  What it can provide is a plan with specific goals and a timeline for improving academics, which usually includes access to a special education teacher and/or an instructional aide, curriculum, and other types of academic support.  If your child also has behavioral issues, the IEP usually also includes accommodations provided under a 504 plan, so you do not need both.

To qualify for an IEP, a child has to show that they have a learning problem.  In some districts, the teacher's word is all that is needed, but other districts have complex requirements for testing and response to intervention in order to come up with their plan.  If you switch districts, the new district will almost always require copies of academic records and testing, which is one reason why you should keep detailed records of your IEP journey.  Because of the need for evaluation, the process for getting an IEP is usually longer than that for getting a 504, so some families opt to get the 504 first while waiting for the IEP.

As you can see, 504 plans and IEP's are different, but no one is necessarily better than the other.  It just depends on what your child's needs are.    Generally speaking, an IEP is better for children who are having trouble with learning, while a 504 would be better for a child who can learn if their behavior can be better managed.