Section 504 is civil rights legislation that is part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 directly affects public schools, prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities. More specifically to students with disabilities, Section 504 provides various procedural protections and, for students, an entitlement to "appropriate education," which the regulations define as regular or special education and related services. Before proceeding with a Section 504 plan, the school district personnel must have a clear understanding of this law in comparison with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). With more privately diagnosed impairments, such as bipolar disorder, auditory processing disorder, dysthymia, oppositional defiant disorder, multiple chemical sensitivity and food allergies, becoming part of the lexicon of public education, schools are at risk for giving out Section 504 plans as "consolation prizes." In this article, the authors discuss how a sound understanding of what Section 504 actually requires can save a school from awarding too many "consolation prizes" to students who don't qualify for an individual education plan.