Accommodations Don’t Have a Word Count

Clarity Trumps Word Count When Writing IEPs and 504 Plans

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, there are no specific requirements regarding the word count for accommodations in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan. The primary focus is on clarity and ensuring that the unique needs of the student are effectively addressed.

Clarity Over Brevity

The language in IEPs and 504 Plans is crucial. Ambiguities can lead to misunderstandings and noncompliance, adversely affecting the student's educational progress.

For example, one student had the following in his IEP:

"School will provide monthly reading data to the parent and meet to discuss it."

The parent met with the school each month to review the reading data from the year-long reading elective the student was taking, and it seemed positive. However, at the end of the school year, the student was assessed for over-all growth, and the result wasn’t positive. The student regressed a grade level, even though he was enrolled in a year-long reading elective.

How could this happen?