Section 504 is an anti-discrimination civil rights statute that requires the needs of students with disabilities to be met as adequately as the needs of the non-disabled are met.

NPS Notice of Parent/Student Rights

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, commonly referred to as “Section 504”, is a nondiscrimination statute enacted by the United States Congress. One purpose of the Act is to prohibit discrimination and to assure that students with disabilities have educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to non-disabled students.

An eligible student under Section 504 is a student who (a) currently has, or (b) has a record of having, or (c) is regarded as having a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits a major life activity such as learning, self-care, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working or performing manual tasks.

Section 504 Rights

The enabling regulations for Section 504 as set out in 34 CFR Part 104 provide parents and/or students with the following rights:

1. You have a right to be informed by the school district of your rights under Section 504. (The purpose of this notice form is to advise you of those rights). 34 CFR 104.32.
2. Your child has the right to a free, appropriate public education designed to meet his/her individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of non-disabled students are met. 34 CFR 104.33.
3. Your child has the right to free educational services except for those fees that are imposed on non-disabled students or their parents. Insurers and similar third parties are not relieved from an otherwise valid obligation to provide or pay for services provided to a disabled student. 34 CFR 104.33.
4. Your child has a right to placement in the least restrictive environment. 34 CFR 104.34.
5. Your child has a right to facilities, services and activities that are comparable to those provided for non-disabled students. 34 CFR 104.34.
6. Your child has a right to an evaluation before an Initial Section 504 placement and any subsequent significant change in placement. The district shall consider, as appropriate, information from a variety of sources, including aptitude and achievement tests, teacher recommendations, physical condition, social and cultural background, adaptive behavior, physical or medical reports, student grades, progress reports, parent observations, anecdotal reports, and other sources. 34 CFR 104.35.
7. If eligible under Section 504, your child has a right to periodic formal or informal re-evaluations, generally every three years. 34 CFR 104.35.
8. You have the right to notice prior to any action by the district in regard to the identification, evaluation, or placement of your child. 34 CFR 104.36.
9. You have the right to examine relevant records. 34 CFR 104.36.
10. On Section 504 matters, you have the right to file a complaint with the district’s Section 504 Coordinator (or designee), who will investigate the allegations to the extent warranted by the nature of the complaint in an effort to reach a prompt and equitable resolution.
11. If you wish to challenge the actions of the district’s Section 504 Committee in regard to your child’s identification, evaluation, or educational placement, you should file a written Notice of Appeal with the district’s Section 504 Coordinator after you receive written notice of the Section 504 Committee’s action(s).
12. You may also request a hearing directly from the Massachusetts Bureau of Special Education Appeals in Malden: (781) 338-6407. You have the right to an impartial hearing with respect to the district’s actions regarding your child’s identification, evaluation, or educational placement, with opportunity for parental participation in the hearing and representation by an attorney. 34 CFR 104.36.
13. If you disagree with the decision of the impartial hearing officer, you have a right to a review of that decision by a court of competent jurisdiction. 34 CFR 104.36.
14. You also have a right to file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights. The address of the Regional Office which covers Massachusetts is:
    Office of Civil Rights, Region 1
    U.S. Department of Education
    John W. McCormack, POCH
    Room 701
    Boston, MA 02189-4557