Section 504

The primary contact at the school is the 504 coordinator. However, meetings may be requested through administration, teachers, or counselors.
 

No. The school 504 team can only make determinations related to eligibility and 504 plans in the current educational setting.

504 plans include the following: Basic student information, student strengths and weaknesses, a statement regarding the impact of the student’s disability on successful participation in the school setting, necessary accommodations, and individuals responsible for implementing those accommodations.
 

A student is eligible if he or she has a physical, mental, or emotional impairment that “substantially limits one or more major life activities”. Major life activities can include: breathing, seeing, learning, hearing, speaking, working, caring for oneself, or performing manual tasks. Eligibility decisions are based upon the extent to which an impairment adversely impacts successful participation in a school setting.

A school-based team meets to consider relevant information such as medical history, grades, school records, teacher information, parent information, and standardized test scores. The team may include the nurse, counselor, previous teachers, current teachers, speech therapists, administrators, school psychologist, and parents and/or guardians. Representatives from outside agencies may also attend the meeting when invited by the parents. The 504 coordinator will be present during all team meetings.

School personnel or parents may request eligibility meetings. The 504 coordinator at the school is responsible for scheduling the meeting(s) with all required participants.

Parents are encouraged to bring any relevant medical documentation that supports the existence of a disability and its impact on a major life activity.

No. A medical diagnosis and/or private testing do not automatically qualify students for 504 accommodations. Eligibility is determined by the team, based on the presence of a disability and its impact on a major life activity.

Section 504 does not define “substantial”, but rather requires a school team to make that determination. Current and previous school performance, test scores, classroom behavior, evaluations, and information from parents and teachers will be considered when determining the extent to which a major life activity is affected.

Not necessarily. Student 504 plans are reviewed periodically (at least on an annual basis)  to determine if eligibility continues to be applicable or if modifications to the plan are appropriate. The review team may conclude that a student’s disability no longer substantially limits a major life activity.