Section 504 is a part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that prohibits discrimination based upon disability. Section 504 is an anti-discrimination, civil rights statute that requires the needs of students with disabilities to be met as adequately as the needs of the non-disabled are met.

Parent/Student Rights in Identification, Evaluation, and Placement Section 504

Below  is  a  description  of  the  rights  granted  by  federal  law  to  students  with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  The intent of the law is to keep you fully informed  concerning  decisions  about your child and to inform you of your rights if you disagree with any of these decisions.

You have the right to the following:

• Right to have your child with disabilities take part in, and receive benefits from public education programs without discrimination because of his or her disability.
• Right to receive all information in the parent’s or guardian’s native language or primary other mode of communication.
• Right to  have  your  child  receive  free  appropriate  public  education  which includes  the  right  of  the  child  to  be  educated  with  students  without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate.
• Right to  have  your  child  have  equal  opportunity  to  participate  in  school programs and extracurricular activities sponsored by the school.
• Right to  receive  notice  a  reasonable   time  before  a  district  identifies, evaluates, or changes your child’s placement.
• Right to inspect and review all of your child’s educational records, including the right to obtain copies of education records at reasonable cost unless the cost would deny you access to the records, and the right to amend the record if you believe information contained in the record is inaccurate or misleading. If the school  district  refuses  to amend  the  record,  you  have  the  right  to request a hearing.
• Right to have educational evaluation and placement decisions made based on information from a variety of sources and by persons who know the needs of the student, meaning of evaluation data, and placement options.
• Right to periodic reevaluation and evaluation before any significant change in placement.
• Right to an impartial hearing if you disagree with school district’s proposed action.  You  will  be  an  active  participant.     You  have  the  right  to  be represented by counsel in the impartial hearing process.  You have the right to appeal the impartial hearing officer’s decision.