504 overview

SECTION 504 OVERVIEW

Jessica Taormina & Bonnie OlintoApril 23, 2014

2013-2014 UCP Institute

AFTER THIS WEBINAR, PLEASE VISIT BIT.LY/POSTCHARTER504 TO COMPLETE A POST-WEBINAR SURVEY.

http://bit.ly/postcharter504


Overview of Today’s Learning Outcomes

1. Participants will be able to compare and contrast a 504 Plan and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

2. Participants will be able to determine when a child is eligible for a 504 Plan

3. Participants will be able to create a 504 Plan & hold a 504 Plan meeting


WHAT IS A 504 PLAN?

What is the difference between a 504 Plan and an IEP?


What is Section 504?

-Section 504 is a federal civil rights law under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that provides protection against discrimination for individuals with disabilities.

-Section 504 is designed to provide equal access and fairness in general education to students with disabilities that do not require specialized instruction, including access to extracurricular activities.

-The educational services provided to students with disabilities must be equivalent to the service provided to students without disabilities.

- Can include behavior plan, if needed.


504 vs. IEP

A section 504 plan is created to ensure that a student who is identified as having a disability and is attending an elementary/secondary school receives the necessary accommodations to provide access to the learning environment.

An IEP (Individualized Education Plan) is created to ensure that a student who is identified as having a disability and is attending an elementary/secondary school receives the necessary accommodations, specialized instruction and related services to provide access to the learning environment. An IEP requires documentation of measurable growth (goals) under IDEA.


WHAT IS THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 504 PLAN & AN IEP?


ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION

How does a student qualify for a 504 Plan?


Requirements for Qualification: Ask yourself two questions

- Does the child have a mental or physical impairment?

* Impairment may be: current, temporary, episodic, remission

If yes, ask the next question. If no, the child is not eligible.

- Does the mental or physical impairment affect a major life activity?

If yes, the child qualifies. If no, the child is not eligible.


Specialized Instruction

-Students under Section 504, have been identified as having a disability under IDEA and requiring accommodations but DO NOT require specialized instruction.

-What is specialized instruction?

- Adapting instruction through change in content, methodology or delivery of instruction

-If a student requires specialized instruction, they should be evaluated for an IEP.


Examples of Impairments

-HIV/AIDS

-Tuberculosis

-Arthritis

-Asthma

-Anxiety

-Allergies

-Diabetes

-Obesity

-Epilepsy

-Heart Disease

-Chronic Fatigue

-Orthopedic

- ADD/ADHD

- Migraine Headaches

- Tourette Syndrome

- Traumatic Brain Injury

- Cerebral Palsy

- Cancer

- Multiple Sclerosis

- Bipolar Disorder


Major Life Activities- Caring for oneself - Eating

- Walking - Standing

- Seeing - Lifting

- Hearing - Bending

- Reading - Concentrating

- Speaking - Breathing

- Learning - Thinking

- Working - Sleeping

- Performing manual tasks - Major Bodily Functions


WHO QUALIFIES FOR A 504 PLAN?


CREATING & HOLDING A MEETINGWhat steps are required to create a 504 Plan and to hold a meeting?


Referral

-Anyone that has interaction with a student can refer them evaluation for a 504 plan.

- Teachers

- Parents

- Nurses

- Therapists

- School staff

-If a child is referred, a meeting must be held.


Process

- Referral

- Evaluation (Does not mean testing must take place, existing data can be used)

- Must have parent consent

- Must be completed in a reasonable amount of time (60 days)

- Data and information gathered from a variety of sources

(student grades, disciplinary referrals, health information, parent information, language surveys, non-school factors (cultural and economic- do not want to misidentify)


Possible Outcomes

- Eligible and plan needed

- Eligible, plan when active

- Technically eligible, no plan needed - receives protections under IDEA, procedural safeguards

- Not eligible

-Administrator or Staffing Specialist must submit eligibility results into SMS


Eligible?

- If a student is determined eligible for a Section 504 plan, an annual meeting must occur (re-evaluate, determine continued needs for accommodations).

- Accommodations must be documented and made available upon request

- Lesson plans

- Narratives (logs, journals, anecdotal notes)

- Student portfolio

- 504 Students are protected in the same manner as IDEA students.

-FAPE, LRE


Sample Accommodations

- Modified homework, class work

and tests

- Extra time for homework, class

work and tests

- Extra set of books for home

- Alternative books with similar

concepts at easier reading level

- Preferential seating close to

source of instruction

-Assistance when moving

about the building

- Grading based on individual

progress or effort

- Test retake for better grades

- Visual aids

- Read test directions orally

- Frequent breaks


Documents

- Meeting Notice

- Procedural Safeguards

- Eligibility Determination

- Teacher Input

- 504 Plan w/ Behavior Plan if needed

- Meeting Notes

(Any documents used to determine eligibility)


WHAT IS REQUIRED TO CREATE A 504 PLAN & HOLD A MEETING?


In Review Learning Outcomes

1. Participants will be able to differentiate between a 504 Plan & an IEP.

2. Participants will be able to determine what makes a student eligible for a 504 Plan.

3. Participants will be able to create a 504 Plan & hold a 504 Plan meeting.


PLEASE VISIT BIT.LY/POSTCHARTER504 TO COMPLETE A POST-WEBINAR SURVEY

http://bit.ly/postcharter504

QUESTIONS?Jessica Taormina5th Grade ESE [email protected] Olinto5th Grade ESE [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

504 overview

Education

plan meeting

ucp institute hivaids

behavior plan

idea students

eligible administrator

delivery of instruction

adapting instruction

necessary accommodations