Section 504
Section 504 is the part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that guarantees specific rights in federally funded programs and activities to people who qualify as disabled.
Section 504 states: "no otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States...shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance..."
Section 504 is enforced by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Sycamore Community Schools is responsible for the implementation of Section 504. The main purpose of Section 504 is to prohibit discrimination while assuring that students with disabilities have educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to non-disabled students. If a student is found not to be eligible under IDEA, the requirements of Section 504 may be suitable if he/she meets the Section 504 definition of a disability, which is any person who has a physical or mental impairment, which substantially limits a major life activity.
Under Section 504, a grievance may be filed with the School District or a complaint may be filed with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.
Section 504 Compliance Officer:
Stacey Spencer, Director of Student Services
For more information on Section 504, click on the links below to access the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
- Disability Discrimination
- OCR Reading Room
- Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504 & the Education of Children With Disabilities