Your Student and 504 Law

504 Plan:
Will your student need a diagnosis?

Contrary to what seems to be a commonly held belief, a formal diagnosis isn’t necessary for your student to have a 504. The school only needs to determine that your student has a disability that significantly impacts a major life activity and in this case specifically, that would be learning. (Not necessarily all subjects)

What does your student need to qualify?

To qualify, your student must have a disability that restricts their ability to prosper in the classroom. They will go through an evaluation process where academic performance relative to the class as a whole, their teacher's observations, your observations as the parent, medical history, and records, will all be taken into consideration.

This can be a lengthy process sometimes taking weeks or months.

IEP:
Will your student need a diagnosis?

The law does not require a student to have a diagnosis to receive an IEP, though a diagnosis with one of the disabilities listed in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) won’t hurt. However, even if your student is diagnosed, they will still go through an evaluation process. The evaluation may support the need for an IEP or it may show that there is not a need even though a student has been diagnosed.

What does your student need to qualify?

The IEP is a more comprehensive level of support for a student. The school will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether a student qualifies for this elevated level of support. The evaluation will look to see if the student has one of the disabilities listed under IDEA. and that the disability impacts their ability to benefit from general classroom instruction.

This can be a lengthy process sometimes taking weeks or months.


In summary, a diagnosis may but will not necessarily support a school giving special services to a student in the form of a 504 or an IEP. Eligibility will primarily be determined by how the student's disability affects their academic performance.