Which of the following statements distinguishes between the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504?

• A. IDEA covers any student with a physical or mental impairment, while Section 504 is limited to students with specific learning exceptionalities.
• B. IDEA provides an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for eligible students, while Section 504 offers accommodations for a broader range of exceptionalities.
• C. IDEA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on an exceptionality, while Section 504 specifically addresses educational needs.
• D. IDEA applies to all students with exceptionalities from birth to age 21, while Section 504 only applies to public school students.

Answer: (B)

The correct answer highlights a fundamental distinction between IDEA and Section 504 in terms of their scopes and the educational frameworks they support. IDEA, or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, is specifically designed to provide free appropriate public education (FAPE) through the development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for students who meet certain eligibility criteria related to specific disabilities. This law mandates that schools create personalized educational plans tailored to the unique needs of students with disabilities to ensure their academic success.

On the other hand, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is broader and encompasses a wider range of disabilities, allowing for accommodations and modifications in the educational environment for students who may not qualify for services under IDEA but still have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. While it supports students' rights to access general education, it does not require the formalized IEP process present in IDEA.

By focusing on the structured provision of IEPs in IDEA compared to the broader accommodations of Section 504, the correct answer effectively captures the essential difference in how each law supports students with disabilities within the education system.