Special Education/504 Agreements PIN

Jo Anne W. Norris            jnorris@columbia.k12.pa.us

Taylor Elementary School    45 North 9th Street    Columbia, PA 17512    (717) 684-4010 ext. 302

"When you help a child today, you write the history of tomorrow"

The School Counselor and Special Education

                A school counselor’s role in special education can vary from school to school and district to district depending on what position for which you were hired and what is described in your job description.  School counselors provide the same services to identified children as they do to children who are not identified.  They may need to spend more time with some of the children by providing small groups or do some short-term, solution focused work them.   However, school counselors do not write goals and objectives on IEP’s and they do not serve as case managers for students.  That is the responsibility of the special education teacher who has been educated and trained to do just that.  One thing to remember school counseling should not be put on the IEP as a related service.  If you have any questions about school counseling and special education, please contact me I would be happy to answer them.

504 Plans

                A 504 plan is a service agreement plan that supports students who qualify under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  This access law prohibits discrimination based on disability and allows for modifications and accommodations.  The 504 plan is for students who are found to have a disability but do not qualify for specially designed instruction under special education regulations.  See the Comparison of the Three Laws document on the website for any clarification.  If you have any questions about 504 plans, please contact me I would be happy to answer them.