504 Plan vs. IEP for Dyslexia in Florida Schools

Two different tools, two different purposes. Here's what each one actually provides for a child with dyslexia in a Florida public school — and how to figure out which path fits.

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Quick Answer

A 504 Plan provides accommodations, like extended time or audiobooks, without specialized instruction. An IEP provides individualized, specialized instruction with measurable goals and requires a formal evaluation under Florida's Exceptional Student Education (ESE) process. Children who need direct reading intervention, not just accommodations, typically need an IEP rather than a 504 Plan.

Two Different Paths

504 Plan vs. IEP: what's actually different

Section 504 Plan

Provides accommodations (extra time, audiobooks, preferential seating)
Does not typically provide specialized, individualized instruction
Governed by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Generally easier and faster to qualify for
Reviewed periodically, but less formally structured than an IEP

IEP (Individualized Education Program)

Provides specialized instruction, services, and measurable goals
Can include structured literacy or reading intervention minutes
Governed by IDEA and Florida's Exceptional Student Education (ESE) rules
Requires a formal evaluation establishing eligibility
Reviewed annually with a full re-evaluation on a set schedule

Which One Does My Child Need?

A simple way to think about it

Accommodations are enough

If your child can access grade-level material with extra time, assistive tech, or minor adjustments, a 504 Plan may be sufficient.

Specialized instruction is needed

If your child needs direct, specialized reading instruction to make progress — not just accommodations — an IEP is usually the more appropriate path.

Either way, request an evaluation in writing

Florida school districts are required to respond to a written request for an evaluation through their Exceptional Student Education (ESE) department — this starts the formal process for either plan.

Neither plan replaces outside, one-on-one Orton-Gillingham therapy — both are about what happens inside the school day. Many ClearPath families use school accommodations and private structured literacy therapy together.

Who's Teaching It

It matters who's teaching your child.

Most reading tutors are not trained in dyslexia. Real progress comes from Orton-Gillingham-based instruction, delivered by someone certified to teach it — that one fact is often the difference between a child who keeps struggling and a child who finally moves forward.

A General Reading Tutor

Reviews homework and practices sight words
Uses whatever curriculum the school sends home
No specific training in language-based learning differences

A CALT-Certified Academic Language Therapist

Trained specifically to diagnose and treat dyslexia
Delivers structured, explicit, cumulative instruction
Certified through a rigorous, supervised training program

Sessions at ClearPath Dyslexia are led directly by Kathleen Ferrufino, M.Ed., CALT — a Certified Academic Language Therapist and Dyslexia Therapist based in Orlando, Florida, trained and credentialed specifically to work with students with dyslexia and language-based reading difficulties. Not a rotating tutor. Not a generic curriculum. Every plan starts with an assessment and is tracked with data, so you always know where your child stands.

🎓 M.Ed., Certified Academic Language Therapist 📚 Wilson · Take Flight · BUILD trained 🎯 Specializes exclusively in dyslexia & reading differences

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Kathleen Ferrufino, M.Ed., CALT, founder of ClearPath Dyslexia

Paying For Therapy

Florida families: dyslexia therapy may be more affordable than you think.

Through Step Up For Students, Florida's Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) gives families of children with dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities an Education Savings Account they can use to pay for tutoring and therapy — including sessions with a Certified Academic Language Therapist.

The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA)

Formerly known as the Gardiner Scholarship, FES-UA is open to Florida students ages 3 through 12th grade with a documented specific learning disability, including dyslexia. Funds can go directly toward tutoring, therapy, and approved educational services — not just private school tuition.

Ask About Scholarship Eligibility

~$10,000 average FES-UA award per year, administered by Step Up For Students

Eligibility and award amounts are set by Step Up For Students and the state of Florida, not by ClearPath Dyslexia. We're happy to help you understand how a scholarship could apply to therapy sessions — reach out and we'll walk you through it.

Common Questions

504 vs. IEP, Answered

Does dyslexia automatically qualify a child for an IEP in Florida?

Not automatically. Dyslexia falls under the Specific Learning Disability category, but eligibility requires a formal evaluation through the school's Exceptional Student Education (ESE) department showing the disability significantly impacts educational performance.

Can my child have both a 504 Plan and outside dyslexia therapy?

Yes, and it's common. A 504 Plan or IEP addresses what happens during the school day; private, one-on-one Orton-Gillingham-based therapy addresses the underlying reading skill gap directly. Many families use both together.

How do I request an evaluation from my Florida school district?

Submit a written request to your child's school or district ESE department asking for an evaluation for a Specific Learning Disability. Putting it in writing creates a documented timeline the district is required to follow.

Which plan is better for dyslexia, a 504 or an IEP?

Neither is universally better — it depends on what your child needs. If accommodations alone help your child access the curriculum, a 504 may be enough. If your child needs specialized, direct reading instruction to make progress, an IEP is typically the more appropriate and more robust option.