504 Plan for ADHD in Arkansas: What It Covers and How to Get One

Your child has an ADHD diagnosis and the school is suggesting a 504 plan. Or maybe you've asked for a 504 plan and the district is dragging its feet. Here is how the 504 process actually works in Arkansas and what a 504 plan should include to be useful.

What a 504 Plan Is (and Isn't)

A 504 plan is a document created under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act — a federal civil rights law, not IDEA. Section 504 prohibits schools from discriminating against students with disabilities, and it requires schools to provide reasonable accommodations so students with disabilities can access the same education as their non-disabled peers.

A 504 plan is not an IEP. It does not provide specially designed instruction, dedicated service providers, or the same procedural protections as IDEA. What it does provide is a structured set of accommodations — modifications to the environment, instructions, and testing conditions that help a student with ADHD access the standard curriculum.

For many students with ADHD whose core academic skills are at grade level, a well-written 504 plan is the right tool. For students who have fallen behind academically because of ADHD-related deficits, an IEP may be more appropriate.

Eligibility for a 504 Plan in Arkansas

Section 504 eligibility is broader than IDEA eligibility. To qualify for a 504 plan, a student must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Learning, concentrating, reading, and thinking are all recognized major life activities.

A student with ADHD who does not qualify for an IEP under the Other Health Impairment category (because the educational impact does not require specially designed instruction) will almost always qualify for a 504 plan. The substantially limits standard is lower than IDEA's "adversely affects educational performance requiring specially designed instruction" standard.

You do not need to provide a medical diagnosis to the school, but a diagnosis from a physician or psychologist documenting ADHD substantially strengthens the eligibility request. Most schools will not question eligibility when you provide a documented ADHD diagnosis from a qualified professional.

How to Request a 504 Plan in Arkansas

Submit a written request to the school's 504 coordinator — many districts assign this role to the assistant principal or a special education coordinator. State that you are requesting a 504 evaluation and accommodation plan for your child under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, based on a documented ADHD diagnosis.

Arkansas DESE does not set a specific evaluation timeline for 504 plans the way IDEA sets a 60-day evaluation window. However, schools must respond to 504 requests within a reasonable time. "Reasonable" is generally interpreted as 30–60 days in practice. If you submit a request and hear nothing for 6 weeks, follow up in writing.

The district will typically hold a 504 team meeting — with you, the teacher(s), and an administrator — to review documentation and develop the plan.

Effective ADHD Accommodations for an Arkansas 504 Plan

A 504 plan is only useful if the accommodations are specific and implemented consistently. Generic language ("teacher support as needed") is not an accommodation — it is meaningless. Push for specific, concrete accommodations:

Time and task management:

• Extended time on tests and quizzes — specify the ratio (1.5x or 2x standard time)
• Extended deadlines for long-term assignments with intermediate checkpoints
• Breaking multi-step projects into staged due dates

Attention and focus:

• Preferential seating — front of the room, near the teacher, away from windows and doors
• Frequent brief check-ins (specify frequency: every 15 minutes, during transitions)
• Verbal cuing before transitions between activities
• Reduced distraction testing environment (separate room or small-group testing)

Organization:

• Homework planner checked and initialed by teacher daily
• Graphic organizers provided for writing assignments
• Access to a copy of teacher notes or outlines
• Assignment modification (reduce volume while maintaining content expectations)

Physical:

• Flexible seating options (standing desk, wobble chair, stability cushion)
• Access to movement breaks on a defined schedule
• Permission to use fidget tools that do not disrupt others

Each accommodation should specify who is responsible for providing it, not just that it exists. "Extended time" only works if every teacher knows about it and implements it.

The Arkansas 504 Complaint Process

If the school is not implementing the 504 plan or denies your 504 request and you believe that is discriminatory, the complaint process for 504 is different from IDEA complaints.

Section 504 complaints are filed with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education, or with the Equity Assistance Center (EAC). The statute of limitations for filing a 504 complaint is 120 days from the date the discriminatory act occurred.

This is a short window. If a specific incident — a test given without extended time, a refusal to evaluate — occurred more than 120 days ago, you may have lost your right to complain about that specific incident. If you are tracking a pattern of noncompliance, document each incident as it occurs with dates so you preserve your complaint rights.

Arkansas DESE handles complaints about IEP/IDEA violations, but Section 504 oversight sits with OCR at the federal level (or state civil rights agencies). The processes and timelines are different.

When to Consider Moving from a 504 to an IEP

A 504 plan may become insufficient when:

• Academic skills fall significantly below grade level despite accommodations — the accommodations are helping access the curriculum but not closing skill gaps
• Behavior is escalating and the 504 plan does not provide behavioral supports
• The student needs specialized instruction (not just accommodations) to make progress
• The 504 plan is consistently not being implemented and you need the stronger procedural protections of IDEA

Requesting an IEP evaluation does not mean giving up the 504 plan. If the IDEA evaluation finds your child does not qualify for an IEP, the 504 plan remains in effect.

The Arkansas IEP & 504 Blueprint covers the 504 process alongside the IEP process — with request letter templates, accommodation checklists, and guidance on when to escalate from a 504 to an IEP evaluation request. It also explains the 504 complaint process with the EAC so you know how to document noncompliance before the 120-day window closes.

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