IEP vs. 504 plan

perrinomed
Oct 24, 2025
3 min read

I get a lot of questions about what an IEP plan is and how it compares to a 504 plan. Let's do a deep dive to learn about these important education advocacy tools.

What is an IEP?

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legal document provided under Federal law that is used for children ages 3-21 in public schools who need special education. It is developed with the child's legal guardians and members of the school system who are trained to administer IEP according to the law. It is based on an evaluation of the child describing their current levels of performance, strengths, and needs.

The IEP document outlines:

The goals of the plan
What special accommodations and services are needed
Who will provide these services
When and how progress is measured

The IEP is reviewed every year to assess the child's current level of performance, whether the goals have been met, and what if any modifications are needed to improve performance.

Who Qualifies for an IEP?

Under the definitions outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education (IDEA), the disability must have a negative impact on the child's academic performance.

The categories of qualifying disabilities include:

Intellectual disability
Hearing impairment
Speech or language impairment
Visual impairment
Emotional disturbance
Orthopedic impairment
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Traumatic brain injury
Specific learning disability (such as dyslexia)
Deaf-blindness
Multiple disabilities
Any other health impairment affecting strength, energy, or alertness (such as asthma, ADHD, diabetes, or sickle cell anemia)

What IEP Services Are Available?

Audiology
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Speech Therapy
Parent Counseling and Training
Psychological Services
Recreation
School Health Services

Differences Between the IEP and 504 Plan

The IEP and 504 Plan both support children with disabilities at no cost to families. The IEP was created under the Individuals with Disabilities Education (IDEA) Act of 1990, while the 504 Plan was enacted under an anti-discrimination law called the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The 504 covers a broader range of disabilities than the IEP and is available for kids with disabilities who don’t qualify for the IEP. Although these children may have a disability that needs assistance, they are not struggling to keep up with their learning or schoolwork.

A few other key differences between the IEP and 504 Plan include:

Consent: Both require permission from a parent or guardian before evaluation, but the IEP requires written consent.
Eligibility: An IEP is more appropriate for a child who is falling behind academically while a 504 provides a child with disabilities accommodations.
Evaluation: The IEP evaluation process is more formal and lengthy than the 504.
Family notification: Both plans require notice to parents or guardians before a change, meeting, or evaluation. However, the IEP notification must be in writing.
Review: An IEP has to be reviewed yearly and reevaluated every three years. Typically states follow these guidelines for the 504, but it can vary.
Document type: An IEP must be a written document while the 504 does not.
Who creates it: The IEP is more strict about team members than the 504.
What’s in it: An IEP is specific about a child’s performance, goals, and timing of services provided. The 504 states who will provide services and who makes sure the plan is done.