504

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ("Section 504") prohibits discrimination against individuals with a disability in any program receiving Federal financial assistance. To be protected under Section 504, an individual must be determined to: (1) have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; (2) have a record of such an impairment; or (3) be regarded as having such an impairment.

In order to fulfill its obligation under Section 504, the Regional School District #19 recognize a responsibility to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel, students, parents and members of the public who participate in school sponsored programs. In this regard, the Board of Education prohibits discrimination against any person with a disability in any of the programs operated by the school system.

The school district also has specific responsibilities under Section 504 to identify, evaluate and provide an educational placement for students who have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. The school district's obligation includes providing access to free appropriate public education ("FAPE") for students determined to be eligible under Section 504. Under Section 504, FAPE is defined as the provision of regular or special education and related services that are designed to meet the individual educational needs of a student with a disability as adequately as the needs of students without disabilities are met, and that are provided without cost (except for fees imposed on nondisabled students/parents).

If the parent or guardian of a student disagrees with the decisions made by the professional staff of the school district with respect to the identification, evaluation, and/or educational placement of his/her child, a parent/guardian has a right to request an impartial due process hearing. The parent or guardian may also file an internal grievance on these issues or any other type of discrimination on the basis of disability by utilizing the complaint procedures outlined in the Board's Administrative Regulations, and/or may file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education.

Any student, parent, guardian or other individual who believes he/she has been discriminated against by or within the district on the basis of a disability may utilize the complaint procedures outlined in the Board's Administrative Regulations, and/or may file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education., 8th Floor, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 900, Boston, MA 02109-0111; TELEPHONE NUMBER (617) 289-0111.

Anyone who wishes to file a complaint, or who has questions or concerns about this policy, should contact Ms. Sarah Ouellet (487-2207), Regional School District #19 Section 504 Coordinator.

Legal References: 29 U.S.C. § 794

34 C.F.R. § 104 et seq.

42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.

ADA Amendments of 2008, Public Law 110-325

Protecting Students with Disabilities, Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities, Office for Civil Rights (March 17, 2011), available at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html

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