What happens to my child's IEP or 504 Plan when they go to college?
IEPs end at high school graduation, as IDEA does not apply to postsecondary education. 504 Plans don't transfer either. In college, accommodations are governed by Section 504 and the ADA, but with a critical difference: your child must self-advocate. They need to self-identify to the Disability Services Office, provide documentation, and be found eligible. College accommodations focus on equal access, not guaranteed success, meaning no modified curriculum or specialized instruction. Common accommodations include extended test time, note-taking support, and priority registration. FERPA transfers educational decision-making to your child at 18, so you'll need a signed waiver to access their records. Register with Disability Services immediately upon enrollment, as the process can take up to 6 weeks. Solyo.ai helps families prepare for this transition by tracking academic progress and building documentation throughout high school.
Understanding the Answer
IEPs end at high school graduation, as IDEA does not apply to postsecondary education. 504 Plans don't transfer either. In college, accommodations are governed by Section 504 and the ADA, but with a critical difference: your child must self-advocate. They need to self-identify to the Disability Services Office, provide documentation, and be found eligible.
College accommodations focus on equal access, not guaranteed success, meaning no modified curriculum or specialized instruction. Common accommodations include extended test time, note-taking support, and priority registration. The shift from K-12, where the school is responsible for identifying and serving students, to college, where the student must initiate the process, catches many families off guard.
FERPA transfers educational decision-making to your child at 18, so you'll need a signed waiver to access their records. Register with Disability Services immediately upon enrollment, as the process can take up to 6 weeks. Keep all high school documentation organized, including the most recent IEP or 504 Plan, psychoeducational evaluations, and any medical records supporting the disability.
Why This Matters
This is one of the most common questions parents ask about the transition from high school to college for students with disabilities. Understanding this topic helps families make informed decisions about their child's academic journey and stay ahead of potential challenges before they become problems.
IEPs and 504 Plans do not follow your child to college. Register with the Disability Services Office immediately upon enrollment, bring all documentation, and help your child practice self-advocacy before they leave home.
How Solyo Helps
Solyo.ai is designed to make this process easier for parents. By automatically syncing with school systems and processing school emails, Solyo eliminates the manual work involved in tracking academic progress. Create a free account to get started in under 2 minutes.
Stay proactive rather than reactive. Setting up automated grade tracking and school email processing through Solyo.ai ensures you're always informed about your child's academic progress without the manual effort.
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