When your child is identified as having dyslexia, you’ll likely hear about two main support options: 504 Plans and IEPs. While both can provide important accommodations, the real question isn’t which legal document is better—it’s which option gives your child the best opportunity to develop strong reading skills. Understanding how each approach supports brain development and skill building will help you make the right choice for your child’s reading journey.
Understanding Your Options: The Key Differences Between 504 Plans and IEPs
When your child is developing reading skills and has been identified as having dyslexia, you’ll likely face the choice between a 504 Plan and an IEP. Both are legal documents designed to ensure your child receives appropriate support, but they operate under different laws and offer different levels of service.
A 504 Plan falls under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which focuses on eliminating barriers to access and participation. For children building reading skills, this typically means accommodations like extended time on tests, preferential seating, or access to audiobooks. These supports help your child access the same curriculum as their peers while they’re developing their reading capabilities.
An IEP (Individualized Education Program) operates under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and provides more comprehensive services. Beyond accommodations, IEPs include specially designed instruction, measurable goals, and regular progress monitoring. For children developing reading skills systematically, an IEP can provide intensive, evidence-based reading intervention that directly builds the neural pathways needed for reading success.
The most important question isn’t which document is “better” – it’s which one will provide your child with the systematic skill-building they need to become a confident, capable reader. Research shows that children’s brains have remarkable plasticity, and with the right kind of intensive instruction, they can develop the same reading networks as typically developing readers.
A 504 Plan can be the right choice when your child is developing reading skills with appropriate classroom instruction but needs some accommodations to demonstrate their knowledge and stay engaged with learning. Many children who are building reading skills can thrive with general education instruction paired with strategic supports.
504 Plans work particularly well when your child’s school already provides high-quality, structured literacy instruction in the general education classroom. If teachers are using evidence-based reading programs with explicit phonics instruction, multisensory approaches, and systematic skill building, your child may be able to develop reading skills within this framework while receiving accommodations for their current skill level.
The accommodations in a 504 Plan should never replace instruction – they should provide temporary support while your child builds independent reading skills. For example, having text read aloud can help your child access grade-level content and vocabulary while they’re developing decoding skills. The key is ensuring that accommodations are paired with continued reading skill development, not used as permanent substitutes for reading growth.
Watch for signs that a 504 Plan is supporting genuine skill development: your child should be making measurable progress in reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension over time. If accommodations are working as intended, you should see your child needing them less frequently as their reading skills strengthen. The goal is always building capability, not creating dependence on supports.
Author Quote"
The most important question isn’t which document is ‘better’ – it’s which one will provide your child with the systematic skill-building they need to become a confident, capable reader.
"
When IEPs Provide More Comprehensive Skill Building
An IEP becomes the better choice when your child needs intensive, systematic reading instruction that goes beyond what’s available in the general education classroom. Children who are developing reading skills often benefit from the explicit, multisensory instruction that IEPs can provide through special education services.
IEPs excel at providing the kind of intensive practice that rewires the brain for reading success. Research in neuroplasticity shows that systematic, structured literacy instruction literally changes brain structure in children developing reading skills. The intensive services available through an IEP – like daily structured literacy instruction, small group interventions, or specialized reading programs – can provide the neural training that builds strong reading foundations.
The measurable goals in an IEP create accountability for your child’s reading skill development. Instead of vague statements about “accommodating reading difficulties,” IEP goals specify exactly which reading skills your child will develop and by when. This might include goals for phonemic awareness, phonics accuracy, reading fluency, or comprehension strategies – all measurable targets that track your child’s brain development for reading.
Perhaps most importantly, IEPs require regular progress monitoring and team meetings to adjust instruction based on your child’s response. If one approach isn’t building reading skills effectively, the team must modify the instruction until they find what works. This responsive approach honors the reality that every child’s brain develops reading skills differently and may need customized approaches to unlock their reading potential.
Key Takeaways:
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504 Plans provide access accommodations while your child develops reading skills in general education settings
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IEPs offer intensive, specialized instruction designed to build reading neural pathways systematically
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Both options should maintain high expectations for your child's ultimate reading potential and independence
Making the Right Choice for Your Child’s Reading Journey
The decision between a 504 Plan and an IEP should be based on what your child needs to develop strong, independent reading skills. Consider your child’s current reading skill level, the quality of reading instruction available in your school, and how intensively they need to practice reading skills to make consistent progress.
If your school provides excellent general education reading instruction and your child is making steady progress with minimal accommodations, a 504 Plan might provide the right level of support. However, if your child needs more intensive, specialized reading instruction to develop the neural pathways for reading success, an IEP offers more comprehensive services and accountability.
Remember that neither plan should lower expectations for your child’s ultimate reading potential. Both should maintain the goal of developing your child into a skilled, confident reader while providing appropriate support during the skill-building process. The brain’s remarkable ability to change means that with the right instruction and sufficient practice, your child can develop reading skills that serve them throughout their life.
You can also move between these options as your child’s needs change. Many families start with a 504 Plan and transition to an IEP if more intensive services are needed, or move from an IEP back to a 504 Plan as reading skills strengthen and less support is required. The key is choosing the option that provides your child with the best opportunity to develop their reading potential while building confidence in their growing capabilities.
Author Quote"
Research shows that children’s brains have remarkable plasticity, and with the right kind of intensive instruction, they can develop the same reading networks as typically developing readers.
"
Making the right choice between a 504 Plan and IEP isn’t about picking the “better” option—it’s about selecting the approach that will most effectively help your child develop the reading skills they need for lifelong success. Whether through accommodations or intensive instruction, both paths should lead to the same destination: a confident, capable reader who has developed the neural pathways for reading success. If you’re looking for comprehensive support that addresses all aspects of your child’s learning development, explore the All Access Program for research-based strategies that build skills across all learning areas.
