Section 504 » Section 504

Section 504

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was designed to eliminate discrimination against any student with a disability in any program offered by the school district. Section 504 states that:

No otherwise qualified individual with a disability 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 other program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

 

If you would like more information regarding 504 please contact:

 

Director of Special Education

2608 Avenue H

Hondo, Texas

(830)426-5902

Referral to the Child Study Team (CST) and/or 504 Team

  • When a student is experiencing difficulty, he or she should be referred to the  Campus Child Study Team. Referrals to the team are filed with the campus administrator or counselor and are accepted from parents and/or the student’s teacher.
  • The Child Study Team meets to discuss any concerns and presenting problem(s). Previous interventions are considered and reviewed. The review/discussion should include all current information, performance data, and recommendations.  
  • The team suggests research-based intervention strategies to help correct the difficulties. The primary function of the team is to develop an Intervention Plan, if necessary, for the student. 
  • If the team determines that an Intervention Plan is needed, then the plan is developed, implemented, and reviewed after a defined period of time. If the review demonstrates that shows that the response to this intervention was unsuccessful, the team can make a referral to another program for evaluation.
  • The team may also determine if the nature of the student’s difficulty warrants an immediate referral to another program for evaluation. Important: If the student has an obvious disability or is in obvious crisis, the team should not delay in making a referral for a multidisciplinary evaluation to consider the possible need for special education or Section 504.

Notice and Consent for Evaluation 504

Parents are provided a Notice of the evaluation to take place and must sign a consent prior to the evaluation being conducted. Procedural Rights are given to parents at this time.

Evaluation

An evaluation is conducted as specified in the Notice provided in writing to parents. The timeline for evaluation is specified as 45 school days.

504 Meeting

A Section 504 meeting is convened to review the evaluation and determine if the student is eligible for 504 and accommodations. The 504 Plan Committee will review: Evaluation results, Section 504 identification determination, the student’s unmet needs, parent concerns, services and/or accommodations based on individual student needs, and least restrictive environment for services.

Annual Review – 504 Meeting

An annual meeting will be held to discuss the student’s progress and needs.

Three Year Reevaluation

An evaluation review will occur at least every three years when a student is being provided services under Section 504.

What Does a Section 504 Meeting Look Like?

A committee is formed to review the student’s evaluation and presenting needs to determine if an accommodation  plan should be developed. Parents are encouraged to participate in Section 504 meetings. Around the conference  table you will see a group of campus staff that are knowledgeable of the student’s needs. A campus administrator or  designee, a general education teacher, academic specialists, such as a reading specialist, dyslexia specialist or math  specialist that have provided interventions, the campus nurse, and/or a counselor may be attending. The parent will be  in attendance unless they have declined to participate.

Typically, a campus staff person will present the purpose of the meeting. The evaluation will be reviewed and discussion regarding the student’s needs will occur. If it is determined the student is eligible for 504 then a discussion regarding accommodations will begin. An accommodation plan will be developed during the meeting. If the student is in grade 3 or above, State Assessment will be discussed to determine if any accommodations may be required for testing. Deliberations will be taken during the meeting and a copy will be provided to the parent.

Section 504 – A federal civil rights law under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 provides protection against discrimination for individuals with disabilities. Students in school settings fall under the civil rights protection of Section 504. The law and regulations prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability from all school programs and activities in both public and private schools receiving direct or indirect federal funding.

The student must be evaluated and meet the Section 504 identification criteria. A student is entitled to a Section 504 Accommodation Plan if they have been identified and the evaluation shows that the individual has a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working. 42 U.S.C. 12102(4)(a)(2)(A).This determination is made by a team of knowledgeable individuals, including the parents, who are familiar of the student and his/her disability. This team is the 504 committee.

Section 504 accommodations could be available to identified students with disabilities, who have been evaluated. Section 504 is designed to provide equal access and fairness in general education to students with disabilities, thereby leveling the playing field for them through what is known as a Section 504 Accommodation Plan. The Accommodation Plan is not a plan designed to enhance a student’s performance. It is a plan to provide fairness and equal access to education.

Where do I begin?

The general education Child Study Team is usually the starting point to consider whether or not a student needs to be evaluated for accommodations. When a student has not responded positively to research-based interventions in an intervention plan and/or has a suspected disability, the team may determine to conduct an evaluation for special education and/or Section 504.

Who makes up a Section 504 Team?

Responsibility for considering and developing a Section 504 Accommodation Plan consists of a core group that includes the school principal or administrator, referring and/or general education classroom teacher, academic specialists, such as, a reading specialist, dyslexia specialist, math specialist working with the student, and parents.

FAPE

Section 504/ADA requires the provision of a free and appropriate public education for students who are identified as having a disability. The regulations define this: The provision of an appropriate education is the provision of regular or special education and related aids and services that (i) are designed to meet individual needs of disabled persons as adequately as the needs of nondisabled persons are met and (ii) are based upon adherence to procedures that satisfy the requirements of 104.34 (LRE), 104.35 (evaluation), 104.36 (procedural safeguards).

504 Campus Coordinators

Meyer Elementary

Jeanette Gilbert

Counselor

(830)426-3161

 

Woolls Intermediate School

Jessica Clark

Counselor

(830)426-7666

 

McDowell Middle School

Julie Cowan

Counselor

(830)426-2261

 

Hondo High School

Alicia Gonzales

504 Campus Coordinator

(830)426-3341