IEPs and 504 Plans both seek to assist students with disabilities by making sure they have the tools and modifications they need to do well in school. The particular requirements and qualifying standards of the child will determine which of the two—an IEP or a 504 Plan—to use.

US special education laws guarantee disabled children a free and adequate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment. Several federal laws underpin these statutes. A summary of the important statutes and their provisions: