IEP and 504 Plan in High School. Will It Automatically Transfer to College?
For years, your child may have relied on an IEP or a 504 plan to get through school. Extra time on tests. Preferential seating. Support that helped level the playing field.
So it makes sense for parents to assume those supports will continue in college.
Unfortunately, this is where many families are caught off guard.
As graduation approaches, parents often discover that college disability services operate under entirely different rules. When accommodations disappear or are denied, panic sets in. A child feels unprepared. Parents feel blindsided.
Understanding why this change happens and what families can do before freshman year begins can prevent a stressful and confusing start to college.
WHY HIGH SCHOOL SUPPORT DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY CONTINUE
The biggest misconception families have is believing that high school accommodations transfer automatically.
They do not.
In high school, support is driven by education law. In college, support is governed by civil rights law. That shift changes everything.
In K to 12 settings, schools are responsible for identifying a child with disabilities and providing services. After graduation, that responsibility shifts to the student.
Colleges are not required to seek out students who need help. Students must come forward, request accommodations, and provide documentation that meets college standards.
IDEA VS ADA. THE LAW BEHIND THE CHANGE
High school IEPs are governed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, often called IDEA. This law focuses on child’s success. Schools must actively provide services and support once a child qualifies.
The college operates under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. These laws focus on access, not outcomes.
Under ADA, colleges must remove barriers. They are not required to provide special education services, modify curriculum, or ensure a child passes.
This legal difference explains why an IEP in college does not exist and why a 504 plan does not transfer to college.
DOES A 504 TRANSFER TO COLLEGE OR COUNT AS DOCUMENTATION
This is one of the most common and stressful questions families ask.
No. A 504 plan does not transfer to college.
Colleges may review a 504 or an IEP as background information, but they do not accept them as sufficient documentation on their own.
College disability services require current documentation that shows how a condition affects learning in a college environment. Past accommodations do not guarantee future approval.
Even child who had support for many years can be denied if their documentation does not clearly demonstrate functional impact.
WHAT CHANGES AFTER GRADUATION
After high school, several important shifts happen at once.
Parents no longer communicate directly with the school
Students must self identify and advocate for themselves
Colleges do not adjust curriculum or grading
Accommodations are approved only after documentation is reviewed
In high school, support is proactive.
In college, support is reactive.
If a student does not request accommodations or lacks appropriate documentation, colleges are not required to intervene.
HOW COLLEGE DISABILITY SERVICES WORK
College disability services exist to ensure equal access, not individualized instruction.
Common accommodations may include extended test time, reduced distraction testing environments, note taking support, or assistive technology.
What colleges do not provide are modified expectations, special education services, or personalized learning plans.
To approve accommodations, colleges need documentation that clearly explains how a disability creates academic barriers and how specific accommodations reduce those barriers.
WHAT TO DO THE SUMMER BEFORE FRESHMAN YEAR
The summer before college is one of the most important times for families to act.
Steps to take include:
Review existing evaluations to be sure they are current
Confirm documentation meets college requirements
Contact college disability services early
Help your child understand their diagnosis and supports
Waiting until classes begin or until a problem arises often limits options. Accommodations are not retroactive, and delays can affect grades and confidence.
FINAL THOUGHTS
IEPs and 504 plans provide essential support in high school, but they do not automatically follow a child into college.
College disability services operate under different laws, with different expectations and responsibilities. Support is still available, but students must request it and provide documentation that clearly shows need.
Families who understand this shift early are better positioned to plan, update evaluations, and help children begin college with confidence instead of confusion.
At The Mind Center, we help families navigate this transition by reviewing documentation, explaining college requirements, and helping a child turn evaluations into meaningful support.
Searching for ADHD testing, dyslexia evaluations, gifted assessments, psychoeducational testing, or college accommodations testing for the SAT, LSAT, or MCAT?
The Mind Center for Kids provides evidence-based psychoeducational evaluations across Washington, DC; Northern Virginia (including Fairfax and Alexandria Counties); Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland; and South Florida, including Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and Palm Beach County.
Both in-person and virtual testing options are available. PsyPact-authorized telehealth services are offered where eligible.
At The Mind Center, we help children access accommodations that reflect how they actually perform under testing conditions, not just what a diagnosis says on paper. For many children, that includes extended time, testing over multiple days, and additional breaks.
To see how the right documentation led to approval, read our Success Story.
If you are navigating accommodations for college entrance or standardized exams, our College Testing page explains what testing agencies look for and how families can prepare.
When testing clearly shows functional impact, accommodations can open the door to fair access and real opportunity.
The Mind Center, LLC is a thought leadership mental health brand dedicated to helping parents, their kids, and the schools they attend. At The Mind Center LLC, we specialize in psycho-educational evaluations and offer a range of services to support children. Contact us today.
