--- title: Does my child’s 504 plan have to be reviewed at the start of each school year? description: Do schools have a legal obligation to review 504 plans annually? An expert explains and shares tips for working with the school. slug: does-my-childs-504-plan-have-to-be-reviewed-at-the-beginning-of-each-school-year author: Lindsay Jones, JD reviewer: Andrea M. Spencer, PhD published: '2019-08-05T15:37:28.528Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/86EA5A5C4CAD44C5A56E4FC6C76E40E9/ba05aaaf780cfe771a8533ed012db852/i75720209.jpg source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/does-my-childs-504-plan-have-to-be-reviewed-at-the-beginning-of-each-school-year lang: en --- # Does my child’s 504 plan have to be reviewed at the start of each school year? **Q. ****Does my child’s 504 plan have to be revisited at the start of each school year? Is there a legal requirement to review it annually?** **A. **No, unlike with IEPs, there’s no legal requirement to review a [504 plan](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-a-504-plan) each year. But it’s a good idea to have an annual 504 plan review meeting anyway. In fact, it’s hard to imagine a situation where you *wouldn’t* want to revisit the plan at the start of the year. The new school year brings a lot of changes for your child — like new teachers, subjects, and classes. Kids starting middle school or high school may be in a new setting for the first time. There may also be changes in medication and new extracurricular activities, like sports and clubs. A 504 plan should adjust for these changes. If possible, I suggest you reach out to your child’s school *before* the start of the year to ask about a 504 plan review. You’ll want to contact the staff person responsible for 504 plans. This person is sometimes called a 504 coordinator, but the title may vary by school. Once you get in contact, you can ask for a meeting. There isn’t a required list of attendees for a 504 plan meeting. But it’s important for you to ask that key staff attend. At the very least, this includes your child’s teachers and the principal. During the meeting, you may want to go over your child’s needs, current services and accommodations, any changes in the new school year, and what’s working and what’s not. Keep in mind that revisiting your child’s 504 plan isn’t the same as a 504 reevaluation. A reevaluation is more extensive. It may include testing and teacher observations. The law doesn’t require an annual 504 plan reevaluation. It only requires “periodic reevaluation,” which is generally every three years or so. If there are significant changes in your child’s needs or placement in school, then you may want to consider asking for a reevaluation, in addition to a review. For instance, the beginning of middle school or high school is a good time for a reevaluation. It’s important to stay on top of your child’s 504 plan. Revisiting it at the start of each school year can help you [make sure the 504 plan is working for your child](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/7-tips-for-developing-a-good-504-plan). --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [My child’s 504 plan doesn’t seem to be working. Now what?](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/my-childs-504-plan-doesnt-seem-to-be-workingnow-what) - Are you concerned that your childs 504 plan isnt working? Sometimes 504 plans need to be adjusted to better meet kids needs. Here are steps you can take if you think your childs 504 plan isnt working and needs changes. 1. Define what not working means to you. The first step is to identify why you th - [Can the school make changes to my child’s 504 plan without telling me?](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/can-the-school-make-changes-to-my-childs-504-plan-without-telling-me) - Q. Can the school make changes to my childs 504 plan without telling me? One of my childs accommodations was taken away and I didnt know about it. A. Yes. Legally, the school doesnt have to tell you about small changes to your childs 504 plan. It only has to tell you about major things, like if your - [Does my child need to be evaluated to get a 504 plan?](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/does-my-child-need-to-be-evaluated-to-get-a-504-plan) - Q. A doctor diagnosed my childs ADHD. Does my child still need to be evaluated by the school to get a 504 plan? A. Yes. Before offering a 504 plan to your child, the school must do a formal evaluation. Having a diagnosis may be helpful, but it doesnt get rid of this requirement. 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