General Information Regarding Section 504 Services:
This site is designed as a resource for staff, parents, and community members.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) prohibits discrimination by entities receiving federal funds against individuals who have a disability.
Included in the U.S. Department of Education regulations for Section 504 is the requirement that learners with disabilities be provided with a "free appropriate public education." These regulations have four basic requirements:
- Identification and location of all eligible learners
- Evaluation
- Least restrictive environment (LRE)
- Procedural Safeguards
Other requirements include providing written assurance of nondiscrimination, identifying a Section 504 coordinator and developing grievance and hearing procedures. For many years, Section 504 focused on access to facilities and employment issues; however, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has become more active in enforcing the provisions of Section 504 and The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) regarding the instructional accommodations and services needed for the education of individuals with disabilities.