Section 504 and ADA are laws that prohibit discrimination against any person with a disability by any program receiving federal financial assistance. These laws define a person with a disability as anyone who:

1. has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities (major life activities such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working)
2. has a record of such an impairment, or
3. is regarded as having such an impairment.

 

In order to fulfill its obligation under Section 504, the School Board of Charlotte County, Florida recognizes a responsibility to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel and students. No discrimination against any person with a disability will knowingly be permitted in any of the programs and practices in the school system.

The school district has specific responsibilities under Section 504, which include the responsibility to identify, evaluate, and if the child is determined to be eligible under Section 504, to afford access to appropriate educational services.

If the parent or guardian disagrees with the determination made by the professional staff of the school district, he/she has a right to a hearing with an impartial hearing officer.

504 District Compliance Officers
The following person is designated as the District Section 504 Compliance Officer/ADA Coordinator for students:

Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Employee Relationships
Adrienne McElroy, Ed.D.
1445 Education Way
Port Charlotte, Florida 33948
941-255-0808, ext. 2071
adrienne.mcelroy@yourcharlotteschools.net  

The following person is designated as the District Compliance Coordinator for receiving complaints pertaining to Section 504 and/or ADA:

Coordinator of Psychological Services
1445 Education Way
Port Charlotte, Florida 33948
Phone: 941-255-0808, Ext. 2151
Fax: 941-255-7573

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) also specifies rights related to educational records. This law gives the parent or guardian the right to:

1. inspect and review his/her child's educational records
2. make copies of these records
3. receive a list of all individuals having access to those records
4. ask for an explanation of any item in the records
5. ask for an amendment to any report on the grounds that it is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the child's rights
6. a hearing on the issue if the school refuses to make the amendment.