Under Section 504, which statement correctly describes the identification and evaluation process for students in relation to special education services?

• A. students who are determined ineligible for sped services receive a 504 plan
• B. students that have a 504 plan can be evaluated for sped services
• C. students who receive sped services cannot also have a 504 plan
• D. students who are determined ineligible for a 504 plan cannot receive special education services

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that having a Section 504 plan does not prevent a student from being evaluated for eligibility for special education services. Section 504 provides accommodations to ensure access to the general curriculum, but a student can still be evaluated under IDEA to see if they qualify for specialized instruction. If the evaluation shows they are eligible for SPED, an Individualized Education Program would be developed to provide those services. So, students with a 504 plan can indeed be evaluated for sped services, and this reflects how the two processes can work together to determine the best supports for a student.