A 504 plan should be considered when a student is not benefiting from instruction due to a physical or mental impairment. The concern can be raised by a parent or legal guardian, teacher, physician, or therapist. A 504 plan may also be considered when a student returns to school after a serious injury or illness or when a student is not eligible for special education services through an individualized education plan (IEP), but still needs extra services to learn in the classroom.
Once an educational concern is raised, the school's 504 coordinator sets a 504 planning team meeting. The team typically consists of parents, the school principal, classroom teachers, and other school personnel (such as the school nurse, guidance counselor, psychologist, or social worker). Once the plan is developed by the team, all the student's teachers are responsible for implementing the accommodations in the plan. The 504 plan should be reviewed frequently to determine if the accommodations are up to date, and appropriate, based on the student's needs.
