Section 504 is a federal civil rights law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities by ensuring equal access to education and school-related activities. Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, students with physical or mental impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities may qualify for accommodations and support services. These services are intended to remove barriers to learning and participation without altering the instructional content or expectations. On this page, families and staff can learn more about eligibility, the evaluation process, and how Section 504 plans are developed and implemented in our schools.

Students who qualify for 504 have:

1. A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major activity,

2. a record of such impairment; or

3. been regarded as having such an impairment.

Major life activities include, but are not limited to:

• Walking

• Seeing

• Hearing

• Speaking

• Breathing

• Learning

• Sleeping

• Bending

• Concentrating

• Thinking

• Communication

• Reading

• Eating

• Manual tasks

Major bodily functions include, but are not limited to:

• Immune system

• Digestive

• Normal cell growth

• Bowel

• Bladder

• Reproductive

• Respiratory

• Cardiovascular

• Endocrine

• Neurological

• Brain

• Hemic & Lymphatic

• Musculoskeletal functions

If you think your child might have a disability and required assistance at school, please contact the counselor at the campus at which your student is enrolled to discuss a possible referral under Section 504.

Section 504 program can provide accommodations, services and modification policies for students with disabilities that are not severe enough to require highly specialized instruction through special education.

Evaluations under Section 504 might not require additional testing and can generally be undertaken with existing school records and information that you can provide about your child.

1. Give notice and acquire consent to evaluate a student that might be eligible for Section 504.

2. Create an accommodation plan that will level the playing field for the student and ensure that it is implemented.

3. Meet on an annual basis to ensure the accommodation plan continues to be appropriate.

4. Ensure parents receive copies of all documentation on the student's accommodation plan.

Parents have the right to an impartial due process hearing if they wish to contest any action of the district with regard to the child's identification, evaluation, or placement under Section 504. Parents have the right to participate personally at the hearing, and to be represented by an attorney, if they wish to hire one.

Section 504 students are generally educated in regular classes with their non-disabled peers as much as possible. If your child qualifies, a team would meet periodically to review the 504 plan with you. If your child qualifies, you would have the right to be notified before any significant actions on your child's education, to review educational records, and to complain about the 504 team's decision locally or in an impartial hearing.