Section 504
Section 504 is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). 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 Section 504 regulations require a school district to provide a "free appropriate public education" (FAPE) to each qualified student with a disability who is in the school district's jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability. Under Section 504, FAPE consists of the provision of regular or special education and related aids and services designed to meet the student's individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of nondisabled students are met.
Section 504 covers qualified students with disabilities who attend schools receiving Federal financial assistance. To be protected under Section 504, a student must be determined to: (1) have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; or (2) have a record of such an impairment; or (3) be regarded as having such an impairment. Section 504 requires that school districts provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to qualified students in their jurisdictions who have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
The above overview can be found in full on the US Department of Education's website for Protecting Students with Disabilities.https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html
Sharon Tolliver
Phone: (423) 626-3543
Email: Sharon.Tolliver@claibornecsd.org
Disabled Individuals Policy Statement
TN Department of Education Section 504 Guide
US Department of Education Protecting Students With Disabilities
US Department of Education Parent and Educator Resource Guide To Section 504 in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools
US Department of Education TITLE 34 EDUCATION
The Claiborne County School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its educational programs, activities or employment policies and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding compliance on the non-discrimination policies should be directed to 504/Title IX Coordinator at (423) 626-3543.