What is the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan?

An IEP (under IDEA) provides specialized instruction and services; a 504 plan provides accommodations for a student with a disability. See our Special Education section for details.

What does EL or MLL mean?

English Learner and Multilingual Learner — newer, more affirming terms for students learning English, sometimes still called ELL or ESL.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports — a framework for giving students increasing levels of academic and behavioral help based on need.

Where can I find definitions, not just acronyms?

See the Glossary for full plain-English definitions of education terms.

What is the difference between IDEA and Section 504?

IDEA is the special-education law behind IEPs; Section 504 is a civil-rights law providing accommodations. IDEA is narrower and provides more services.

Education Acronyms Decoder — K12 Academics Reference

The idea

Cutting through the alphabet soup

Schools run on acronyms, and they can leave families lost in meetings and letters. This decoder expands the ones you're most likely to meet, grouped by topic. For full definitions of education terms, see the Glossary.

Group 1

Special education & support

Acronym	Stands for
IEP	Individualized Education Program
504	Section 504 Plan (accommodations)
IDEA	Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
FAPE	Free Appropriate Public Education
LRE	Least Restrictive Environment
SPED	Special Education
EL / ELL / MLL	English Learner / English Language Learner / Multilingual Learner
RTI	Response to Intervention
MTSS	Multi-Tiered System of Supports
OT / PT / SLP	Occupational / Physical Therapy / Speech-Language Pathologist
GT	Gifted & Talented
ARD	Admission, Review & Dismissal (IEP meeting, some states)

Group 2

Testing, standards & learning

Acronym	Stands for
SAT / ACT	College admissions tests
PSAT	Preliminary SAT / National Merit qualifier
AP / IB	Advanced Placement / International Baccalaureate
NAEP	National Assessment of Educational Progress ('the Nation's Report Card')
CCSS	Common Core State Standards
NGSS	Next Generation Science Standards
GPA	Grade Point Average
SEL	Social-Emotional Learning
STEM / STEAM	Science, Tech, Engineering, (Arts,) Math
PBL	Project-Based Learning
UDL	Universal Design for Learning

Group 3

Funding, programs & governance

Acronym	Stands for
FAFSA	Free Application for Federal Student Aid
ESSA	Every Student Succeeds Act
ESSER	Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief
Title I	Federal funding for high-poverty schools
FRL	Free & Reduced-price Lunch
CTE	Career & Technical Education
SEA / LEA	State / Local Education Agency
PTA / PTO	Parent-Teacher Association / Organization
NCLB	No Child Left Behind (ESSA's predecessor)

Group 4

General terms

Acronym	Stands for
K-12	Kindergarten through 12th grade
ECE	Early Childhood Education
ESL	English as a Second Language
GED	General Educational Development (high-school equivalency)
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
FERPA	Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act
PD	Professional Development
IHE	Institution of Higher Education

Keep exploring

Related resources

See the Glossary of terms, Key Education Laws, and Parent & Student Rights.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan? An IEP (under IDEA) provides specialized instruction and services; a 504 plan provides accommodations for a student with a disability. See our Special Education section for details.
What does EL or MLL mean? English Learner and Multilingual Learner — newer, more affirming terms for students learning English, sometimes still called ELL or ESL.
What is MTSS? Multi-Tiered System of Supports — a framework for giving students increasing levels of academic and behavioral help based on need.
Where can I find definitions, not just acronyms? See the Glossary for full plain-English definitions of education terms.
What is the difference between IDEA and Section 504? IDEA is the special-education law behind IEPs; Section 504 is a civil-rights law providing accommodations. IDEA is narrower and provides more services.