Section 504: Parent & Student Rights

  • Your Rights Under Section 504

    You have the right to be informed by the school district of your rights under Section 504. This is a notice of you and your child’s rights under Section 504 and the rights you have if you disagree with the school district’s decisions.

    Your child has the right to:

    • Receive a free and appropriate public education.
    • Participate in and benefit from the district’s educational programs without discrimination.
    • Be provided an equal opportunity to participate in the district’s nonacademic and extracurricular activities.
    • Be educated with students who do not have disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate.
    • Be educated in facilities and receive services that are comparable to those provided to students without disabilities.
    • Receive accommodations and/or related aids and services to allow your child an equal opportunity to participate in school activities.
    • Receive educational and related aids and services without cost, except for those fees imposed on the parents of children without disabilities.
    • Receive special education services if needed.

    You have the right to:

    • Review your child’s educational records and to receive copies at a reasonable cost. You will not be charged if the cost would keep you from reviewing the records.
    • Ask the district to change your child’s education records if you believe that they are wrong, misleading, or are otherwise in violation of your child’s privacy rights. If the district refuses this request, you
    • have the right to challenge the refusal by requesting an impartial hearing.
    • A response to your reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of your child’s education records.

    The Section 504 Process

    Your child has the right to an evaluation before the school determines if he or she is eligible under Section 504.

    You have the right to:

    • Receive notice before the district takes any action regarding the identification, evaluation, and placement of your child.
    • Have evaluation and placement decisions made by a group of persons, often called a “504 team”, including persons who know your child, the meaning of the evaluation information, and the placement options available.
    • Have evaluation decisions based on a variety of sources, such as aptitude and achievement tests, teacher recommendations, physical conditions, medical records, and parental observations.
    • Refuse consent for the initial evaluation and initial placement of your child.

    If your child is eligible under Section 504, your child has a right to periodic re-evaluations, including re-evaluations before any significant change is made in your child’s placement.

    If You Disagree with the District's Decision

    If you disagree with the district’s decisions regarding your child’s identification, evaluation, educational program, or placement under Section 504, you may request mediation or an impartial due process hearing. You and your child have the right to take part in the hearing and have an attorney represent you. Hearing requests and other concerns can be made to our Section 504 Coordinator Cheri Simpson.

    You have the right to file a complaint of discrimination with the , or to file a complaint in federal court. Generally, an OCR complaint may be filed within 180 calendar days of the act that you believe was discriminatory. The regional office is located at 915 Second Ave, Room 3310, Seattle, WA 98174-1099. The phone number is (206) 607-1600 or TDD: (206) 607-1647.

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Last Modified on July 28, 2021