504 Plans
Section 504 plans make sure all students can participate in educational activities.
- Understood: What is a 504 plan?
- Understood: The difference between IEPs and 504 plans
- Undivided: What’s the Difference Between a 504 Plan and an IEP?
- U.S. Department of Education: Dear Colleague Letter and Resource Guide on Students with ADHD and Section 504
- U.S. Department of Education: Know Your Rights: Students with ADHD
- U.S. Department of Education: Protecting Students With Disabilities: Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities
- U.S. Department of Education: The Civil Rights of Students with Hidden Disabilities Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Special Education
Special education services and supports help students with disabilities learn. Students who qualify for special education have an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
- Understood: What Is Special Education?
- Center for Parent Information and Resources: Key Terms to Know in Special Education
- Disability Rights California: Special Education Timelines
- Disability Rights California: Special Education Rights and Responsibilities (SERR)
- Disability Rights California: Special Education Basics Toolkit
- Understood: What is an evaluation for special education?
Documenting Concerns
Put it in Writing! Here are some examples of how to document parent/caregiver concerns.
- Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund: Sample Letters and Forms
- A Day in Our Shoes: How To Write a Parent Concerns Letter for your IEP that Gets Noticed
- A Day in Our Shoes: Parent Concerns Letter Templates
- Understood: How to Consent to Some Parts of an IEP and Not Others
- A Day in Our Shoes: IEP Vision Statement Examples | Samples | Free Workbook
Prior Written Notice
Getting decisions/answers in writing. Schools are required to explain their special education decisions in writing. Know more about what should be included and why it’s important.