Section 504 outlines protections and requirements for students with disabilities. It defines a student with a disability as someone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. School districts must provide free appropriate public education to students with disabilities through reasonable accommodations. They must also implement identification, evaluation, and procedural safeguards for students and notify parents of their rights annually.

1. Welcome to Section 504 Updates

2. A Student With a Disability Is One Who: Has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities; Has a record of such an impairment; Is regarded as having such an impairment

3. Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) Accommodations must be individualized; Modifications to general education program or special programs; Designed to meet individual educational needs

4. School Districts Must: Adopt a nondiscrimination policy, develop a grievance procedure and appoint a compliance officer; Provide notice of nondiscrimination in admission or access to programs or activities; Give a second notice to parents of students with disabilities outlining their rights;

5. Continued -- Schools Must: Identify and evaluate students with disabilities or suspected disabilities; Implement an appropriate education program for students with disabilities; Have a self-evaluation and transition plan on file Annually notify students and parents of the school district’s § 504 responsibilities

6. “ Student with a Disability” Any student who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits a major life activity, has a record of such an impairment or is regarded as having such an impairment.

7. “ Physical or Mental Impairment” Any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement or anatomical loss affecting one or more body systems.

8. “ Major Life Activities” Functions such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working.

9. Parent Teacher Student “ Helping Professional” Together We Can! Identify Concern

10. Evaluation If there is reason to believe that, because of a qualifying disability, a student needs accommodations or services, the district must evaluate the student

11. Problem Solving Team Chair Reviews Concern Invites P.S.T Members and Schedules Meeting Problem Solving Team Contact Parents Give Notice of Rights Get Consent to Evaluate

12. Parental Notice If you intend to evaluate or re-evaluate a child. If you make any changes in the accommodation plan or eligibility. If you refuse to act on any parental request

13. Problem Solving Committee Must, collectively, be knowledgeable about: The student The disability Interpretation of the evaluation

14. Problem Solving Committee Continued The committee should also have an individual who can: * Commit school district resources * Recommend placement options and accommodations

15. Problem Solving Team Chair Reviews Concern Invites AD HOC Members and Schedules Meeting Problem Solving Team Contact Parents Give Notice of Rights Get Consent to Evaluate

16. No Evidence that Impairment Substantially Limits A Major Life Activity Data Indicates Impairment May Substantially Limit a Major Life Activity

17. Need More Information- Use Relevant 504 Assessment Procedures and/or Monitoring of Existing Interventions Make connection Between Diagnosis And Educational Needs Reconvene PST to Discuss 504 Data and/or Success of Existing Intervention

18. Have Needed Information Write 504 Accommodation Plan and Monitoring Procedures Successful: Review within 1 Year Not Successful: Recycle Through PST and/or Consider IDEA

19. 1. Physical or Mental Impairment 2. Impairment in a Major Life Activity 3. Substantially Limited 4. 504 Eligible 504 Eligibility “Funnel”

20. 504 Eligibility “Funnel” “Substantially Limited” Without accommodations, the student with a disability would not be afforded a comparable opportunity to an appropriate education. Is the impairment a) negligible? - not eligible b) mild? - not eligible c) moderate? - not eligible d) substantial? - ELIGIBLE e) extreme? - ELIGIBLE Definition #1 Definition #2

21. Eligible for Section 504 If it is determined by the team that a student has a disability under Section 504, the district must develop and implement an accommodation plan for the delivery of any needed services. Accommodations must be carried out as they are identified, and are the responsibility of the general education program.

22. Accommodations Must be individualized Adjustments in academic requirements and expectations may be necessary Should be designed to meet the individual educational needs of students with disabilities as adequately as the needs of other students are met

23. Section 504 Accommodations Lesson Preparation Test Taking Assignments Physical arrangement of room Study skills/organization Attendance Medical needs

24. In disciplining a student: The administrator needs to determine whether the student committed the infraction. The student’s team needs to determine whether the behavior was caused by the disability if so, the student’s team determines whether the accommodation plan is appropriate or whether the student may need special education services

25. If the team determines the behavior was not caused by the disability, the student is referred back to the administration for discipline as a general education student.

26. Procedural Safeguards Parents have a right to be notified in writing of any decisions concerning the identification, evaluation, or educational placement. The parents have a right to examine, copy and request amendments to the students educational records. The parents have a right to an impartial hearing regarding school district decisions.

27. The parents have a right to a further review of the impartial hearing officer’s decision.

28. School District Responsibilities Adopt a nondiscrimination policy, develop a grievance procedure and appoint a compliance officer. Provide notice of nondiscrimination in admission or access to programs or activities. Give a second notice to parents of students with disabilities outlining their rights.

29. School District Responsibilities Continued Annually notify students with disabilities and their parents of the school district's responsibilities under Section 504, including: * notice of their rights * an opportunity to review relevant records * an impartial hearing

30. School District Responsibilities Continued Identify and evaluate students with disabilities or suspected disabilities. Implement an appropriate education program for students with disabilities. Have a self-evaluation and transition plan on file.