Section 504 Service Agreements
Section 504 (of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973)
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil rights law intended to give all individuals the same advantages and opportunities in order to give individuals with disabilities an equal chance for success. Section 504 protects the rights of individuals who have been determined to have a protected disability. Section 504 provides: "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..." The law and its regulations require public educational agencies to ensure that these students have equal opportunity to participate in the school program and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate based upon the ability of the student.
The Downingtown Area School District complies with federal law by providing accommodations, services, and/or aids to students who have a mental or physical disability that substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program, whether academic or non-academic in nature. A student who qualifies under Section 504 as a student with a disability1 is eligible to receive supports under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 through a Section 504 Service Agreement.
If an evaluation and subsequent parent/school team determine that a child is eligible, a service agreement noting reasonable accommodations in regular education is developed based on a student’s unique needs. For questions regarding Section 504 Service Agreements, please contact your student’s School Counselor.
As a student with a disability, your student has certain rights that are described in the Procedural Safeguards.
PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS
PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS (SPANISH VERSION)
From U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
1Parent and Educator Resource Guide (PDF, 52 pages) to Section 504 in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools