Placement

Must my child be placed in a "special" classroom when they receive an IEP?

You and the school district will jointly determine where your child is placed. However, your child is required by law to be in the least restrictive environment possible, which for most students is the regular classroom.

Where should I try to place my child?

You should try to place your child in regular classrooms as much of the time as possible. Administrators may insist that your child is either not academically equipped or not safe enough to be in the mainstream curriculum, but studies have shown that children with IEPs generally show more improvements when they receive an education like children without IEPs, provided they have the help they need.

Will my child not receive the help they need if they are in the mainstream curriculum?

Your child is required by law to receive the help they need to be able to succeed in the classroom, no matter where they are placed. However, the IEP team can determine that your child is unsafe or needs more special education than is necessary for the general curriculum. The way this help is received will be worked out at the IEP meeting.

What is the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan

504 plans are plans that schools make to give students with disabilities the support that they need in the classroom. These plans are covered under section 504 of the US rehabilitation act, which is a civil rights law, hence the name. Unlike IEPs, 504 plans are not part of special education, which means a 504 plan does not provide services to a student outside of the classroom, nor do they form specific goals the way an IEP does. Unlike an IEP, a 504 plan can be written as plans for any disability a student has, provided that it limits one or more basic life activities. While there is a team to prepare the 504 plan, only the school principal and a parent or caregiver must participate in making a 504 plan. In comparison, an IEP team must also include a general education teacher, a special education teacher, a school psychologist, and a district representative. If you are in doubt, request an IEP to the school, not only because it has more strict requirements than a 504 plan, but the requirements outlined in an IEP are usually followed more strictly than in a 504 plan because there is usually more symbolic power given to an IEP than a 504 plan in school districts.