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Section 504
Our Mission
To assist campuses in providing a quality education to students with disabilities that allows them to achieve their greatest potential and prepares them for future success.
What is Section 504?
Section 504 is a federal civil rights law that focuses on the non-discrimination of students with disabilities. The law says that a public school, or any other federally funded public facility, cannot discriminate against a student because of a disability and must be given the same opportunities to participate in academic and extracurricular activities.
Under Section 504, students with disabilities may receive accommodations and services to ensure that their individual educational needs are met as adequately as those of non-disabled students.
Our Purpose
ACCEPT
referrals from individuals who suspect a student has a disability.
GUIDE
individuals who suspect a student has a disability through the process to determine a student鈥檚 eligibility and needed services.
EDUCATE
teachers, campuses, parents, and the community on Section 504 laws and procedures.
ASSIST
campuses in following laws that mandate the referral, eligibility, and provided services for students identified under Section 504.
CREATE
individual accommodation plans (IAP) to ensure student success in all academic and extracurricular areas.
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DISD Section 504 Operational Guidelines
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Notice to Parents of Students with Disabilities of their Legal Rights under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Decree of 1973
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, commonly known in the schools as "Section 504," is a federal law passed by the United States Congress with the purpose of prohibiting discrimination against disabled persons who may participate in, or receive benefits from, programs receiving federal financial assistance. In the public schools specifically, §504 applies to ensure that eligible disabled students are provided with educational benefits and opportunities equal to those provided to non-disabled students. Under §504, a student is considered "disabled" if he or she suffers from a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Section 504 also protects students with a record of an impairment, or who are regarded as having an impairment from discrimination on the basis of disability. Students can be considered disabled, and can receive services under §504, including regular or 果冻传媒appl education and related aids and services, even if they do not qualify for ,or receive, 果冻传媒appl education services under the IDEA. The purpose of this Notice is to inform parents and students of the rights granted to them under §504. The federal regulations that implement §504 are found at Title 34, Part 104 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and entitle eligible students and their parents, to the following rights:
- You have a right to be informed about your rights under §504. [34 CFR 104.32] The School District must provide you with written notice of your rights under §504 (this document represents written notice of rights as required under §504). If you need further explanation or clarification of any of the rights described in this Notice, contact appropriate staff persons at the District's §504 Office and they will assist you in understanding your rights.
- Under §504, your child has the right to an appropriate education designed to meet his or her educational needs as adequately as the needs of non-disabled students are met. [34CFR104.33]. You have the right to refuse consent for services at any time.
- Your child has the right to free educational services, with the exception of certain costs normally also paid by the parents of nondisabled students. Insurance companies and other similar third parties are not relieved of any existing obligation to provide or pay for services to a student that becomes eligible for services under §504. [34CFR104.33]
- To the maximum extent appropriate, your child has the right to be educated with children who are not disabled. Your child will be placed and educated in regular classes, unless the District demonstrates that his or her educational needs cannot be adequately met in the regular classroom, even with the use of supplementary aids and services. [34CFR104.34]
- Your child has the right to services, facilities, and activities comparable to those provided to non-disabled students. [34CFR104.34]
- The School District must undertake an evaluation of your child prior to determining his or her appropriate educational placement or program of services under §504,and also before every subsequent significant change in placement. [34CFR104.35]You have the right to refuse consent for initial evaluation.
- If formal assessment instruments are used as part of an evaluation, procedures used to administer assessments and other instruments must comply with the requirements of §504 regarding test validity, proper method of administration, and appropriate test selection. [34 CFR104.35]. The District will appropriately consider information from a variety of sources in making its determinations, including,for example: aptitude and achievement tests, teacher recommendations, reports of physical condition, social and cultural background, adaptive behavior, health records, report cards, progress notes, parent observations, statewide assessment scores, and mitigating measures, among others. [34CFR104.35]
- Placement decisions regarding your child must be made by a group of persons (a §504 committee) knowledgeable about your child, the meaning of the evaluation data, possible placement options, and the requirement that to the maximum extent appropriate, disabled children should be educated with non-disabled children. [34CFR104.35]
- If your child is eligible under §504, he or she has a right to periodic reevaluations. A reevaluation must take place at least every three years. [34CFR104.35]
- You have the right to be notified by the District prior to any action regarding the identification, evaluation, or placement of your child. [34CFR104.36]
- You have the right to examine relevant documents and records regarding your child (generally documents relating to identification, evaluation, and placement of your child under §504). [34CFR104.36]
- You have the right to an impartial due process hearing if you wish to contest any action of the District with regard to your child's identification, evaluation, or placement under §504. [34CFR104.36]. You have the right to participate personally at the hearing, and to be represented by an attorney, if you wish to hire one.
- If you wish to contest an action taken by the §504 Committee by means of an impartial due process hearing, you must submit a Notice of Appeal or a Request for Hearing to the District's §504 Coordinator. A date will be set for the hearing and an impartial hearing officer will be appointed. You will then be notified in writing of the hearing date, time, and place. Please address your Notice of Appeal to: Erin Gracy, 果冻传媒app ISD Section 504 Coordinator, Section 504 and Dyslexia Services | (972)581-4238 |
- If you disagree with the decision of the hearing officer, you have a right to seek a review of the decision by making a written request to the District's Section 504 Coordinator, and/or you may seek relief in state or federal court as allowed by law.
- You also have a right to present a grievance or complaint through the District's local grievance process. The District will investigate the situation, take into account the nature of the complaint and all necessary factors, and respond appropriately to you within a reasonable time. Parents may contact the District's Section 504 Coordinator for more information about the District's grievance process.
- You also have a right to file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the Department of Education. The address of the OCR Regional Office that covers this school district is: Director, Office for Civil Rights, Region VI | 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620, 果冻传媒app, Texas 75201-6810 | Tel. 214-661-9600
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Aviso a Padres de Estudiantes Incapacitados de sus Derechos Legales bajo la Seccion 504 del Decreto de Rehabilitaci贸n de 1973
El Decreto de Rehabilitación de 1973, conocido generalmente como la “Seccion 504,” es una ley federal legislada por el Congreso de los Estados Unidos. El propósito de esta ley es de prohibir discriminación contra estudiantes incapacitados y asegurar que tengan oportunidades y beneficios educativos tan adequados como los de estudiantes sin incapacidades.
鈥婤ajo la Seccion 504, un estudiante es considerado “incapacitado” si padece de un impedimento o condición física o mental que limita substanciálmente por lo menos una de sus actividades vitales. La ley tambien protege a estudiantes que han tenido un impedimento o condición física o mental substancial en el pasado, o que son considerados incapacitados aunque realmente no lo sean. Estudiantes pueden ser considerados incapacitados bajo la Seccion 504 y pueden recibir asistencia educativa bajo esa ley, incluyendo servicios educativos regulares o e果冻传媒apples y otra asistencia relacionada aunque no reciban educación e果冻传媒appl segun la ley federal IDEA.
鈥婨l propósito de este Aviso es de explicarle los derechos legales garantizados bajo la Seccion 504 a estudiantes incapacitados y a sus padres. Los reglamentos federales que dan efecto a la Seccion 504 (los cuales se encuentran en el Título 34, Parte 104 del Código Federal de Reglamentos, o CFR) otorgan a los padres de familia y a estudiantes incapacitados los siguientes derechos:
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- Usted tiene derecho a ser informado de sus derechos bajo la Seccion 504. [34 CFR 104.32]. El distrito escolar debe darle información escrita sobre sus derechos (este Aviso precísamente sirve para informarle de sus derechos). Si necesita que le expliquen o clarifiquen cualquier de los siguientes derechos, los dirigentes apropiados del distrito escolar le ayudarán a resolver sus preguntas.
- Bajo la Seccion 504, su hijo/a tiene derecho a una educación apropriada diseñada para satisfacer sus necesidades educativas individuales tan adecuádamente como las de estudiantes sin incapacidades. [34 CFR 104.33]. Usted tiene el derecho de rechazar, a cualquier punto, su permiso a recibir servicios.
- Su hijo/a tiene derecho a servicios educativos gratuitos, con la excepción de gastos que normalmente se les cobran tambien a estudiantes sin incapacidades (o a sus padres). Compañías de seguros, y otras terceras personas similares, no son libres de sus obligaciones normales para proporcionar o pagar por servicios para un estudiante considerado incapacitado bajo la Seccion 504. [34 CFR 104.33]. El recibir asistencia educativa bajo la Seccion 504 no disminuye su derecho a recibir otra asistencia pública o privada de cualquier tipo.
- Su hijo/a tiene derecho a ser colocado en el ambiente educativo que permita máximo contacto y relaciones con estudiantes sin incapacidades. [34 CFR 104.34]. A menos que sus necesidades educativas no puedan ser satisfechas ahí, su hijo/a será colocado en clases regulares.
- Su hijo/a tiene derecho a equipo, clases, edificios, servicios y actividades comparables a las que son proporcionadas a estudiantes sin incapacidades. [34 CFR 104.34]
- Su hijo/a tiene derecho a una evaluación antes de determinar una colocación educativa o programa de asistencia bajo la Seccion 504, y tambien antes de cualquier cambio importante en colocación subsequente. [34 CFR 104.35] Usted tiene el derecho de rechazar permiso para la evaluación inicial.
- Procedimientos utilizados para administrar pruebas y otras evaluaciones educativas deben cumplir con los requisitos de la Seccion 504 en cuanto a la validez de las pruebas, su forma de administración, y las areas necesarias de evaluación. [34 CFR 104.35]. El distrito considerará apropiadamente información de diversas fuentes y orígenes, incluyendo, por ejemplo: pruebas de aptitudes y aprovechamiento, recomendaciones de maestros, reportes de condición física, antecedentes sociales y culturales, análysis de comportamiento adaptado, reportes médicos, calificaciones, reportes de progreso, observaciones de los padres, anécdotas de maestros, calificaciones de pruebas estatales, y medidas aliviantes, entre otras. [34 CFR 104.35]
- Las decisiones de colocación educativa deben realizarse por un grupo de personas (llamado el comité 504) que conocen la situación de su hijo/a, el significado de los resultados de las evaluaciones, las opciones de colocación, y la obligación legal de asegurar el ambiente educativo que permita el máximo contacto con estudiantes no incapacitados. [34 CFR 104.35]
- Si es considerado incapacitado bajo la Seccion 504, su hijo/a tendrá derecho a nuevas evaluaciones, llamadas re- evaluaciones, periódicamente. Generalmente re-evaluaciones educativas se haran para cada niño incapacitado por lo menos cada tres años. [34 CFR 104.35]
- Usted tiene derecho a que el distrito escolar le avise antes de tomar cualquier acción en relación a la identificación, evaluación o colocación educativa de su hijo/a. [34 CFR 104.36]
- Usted tiene derecho a examinar archivos y documentos relacionados a la educación de su hijo/a (normalmente archivos y documentos con relación a la identificación, evaluación o colocación educativa de su hijo/a). [34 CFR 104.36]
- Usted tiene derecho a una audiencia imparcial si no esta de acuerdo con las acciones del distrito en relación a la identificación, evaluación, o colocación educativa de su hijo/a. Usted tiene la oportunidad de participar personalmente en tal audiencia y de ser representada por un abogado, si desea contratarlo. [34 CFR 104.36]
- Si desea protestar o disputar las acciones del Comité 504 del distrito a traves de una audiencia imparcial, debe presentar un Aviso de Apelación escrito ante el Coordinador 504 del distrito, en la siguiente dirección. Se fijará una fecha para una audiencia ante un oficial imparcial, y serán notificados por escrito de la fecha, hora, y lugar de la audiencia. Erin Gracy, 果冻传媒app ISD Section 504 Coordinator, Section 504 and Dyslexia Services | (972)581-4238 | egracey@dallasisd.org
- Si usted está en desacuerdo con la decisión final del oficial imparcial de audiencia, tiene derecho a pedir por escrito un reviso de tal decisión al Coordinador de §504 del Districto Escolar, o a traves de petición formal a una corte estatal o federal tal permitida por ley. [34 CFR 104.36]
- Tambien tiene el derecho de presentar una queja local al Coordinador de §504 del Districto Escolar (o su dirigente), quien investigará la situacion, considerará los temas de la queja y todo factor necesario, y le responderá apropiadamente dentro de un plazo de tiempo razonable. Si tiene preguntas sobre el proceso para presentar quejas locales, se puede comunicar con el Coordinador de §504 para obtener respuesta
- Usted también tiene el derecho a presentar una queja ante la Oficina de Derechos Civiles de el Departamento de Educación de los Estados Unidos. La dirección de la Oficina Regional a la cual pertenece a este distrito es: Director, Office for Civil Rights, Region VI | 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620, 果冻传媒app, Texas 75201-6810 | Tel. 214-661-9600
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Section 504 Information for Parents and Families
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Supporting Students With Disabilities
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§504 CHILD FIND NOTICE
Pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the District has a duty to identify, refer, evaluate and if eligible, provide a free, appropriate public education to disabled students. For additional information about the rights of parents of eligible children, or for answers to any questions you might have about identification, evaluation and placement into Section 504 programs, please contact the District’s Section 504 Coordinator, Erin Gracey at egracey@dallasisd.org.