504 Plan FAQ

Page coming soon! Currently under construction!

• What is an IEP?

- An Individualized Education Plan (or IEP), is a specialized blueprint of the services, goals, and requirements for a student who has special needs. To qualify for an IEP, the student must be diagnosed with one or more of the disabilities laid out in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA). This disability must also affect the student's ability to perform in a general education classroom. The IEP is created by a team that includes myself, the child's parents/guardians, and a panel of education specialists. It includes specific goals and services is reviewed and updated yearly. This helps to keep all our students with disabilities on track and prevents them from slipping through the cracks!

• What is a 504 Plan?

- A 504 Plan is a plan for how a school intends to add supports or remove barriers for a child with special needs. This type of plan is broader, and anyone identified with a disability that interferes with their ability to learn in a standard classroom setting can qualify. Many students who don't qualify for an IEP can still get a 504 plan. A team of professionals including the school counselor (me!) and the student's caregivers will work to create this plan, which is less rigid than an IEP, but still outlines services and adjustments for kids with special needs.

• What are tiered interventions?

- Response to intervention (or RTI) is a method that schools use to help identify students who are at risk in some way and may need a little extra support. Counselors like me break these students down into groups or tiers - to best serve them. Tier 1 includes all students, and the supports/screenings/instruction they receive. Tier 2 includes students who need a bit more attention. These students may be in counseling groups or receiving academic assistance. Tier 3 includes students who need specialized supports. These students may have and IEP or may be seen for individual counseling sessions. All of this is done to be sure that no student gets left behind.

The graphic below offers a visual example of what tiered interventions look like in the school setting. The video describes tiered interventions in more depth.