Section 504 and 504 Plans

Achievement for All

What is Section 504?

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a federal law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability and applies to organizations that receive financial assistance from any Federal department or agency, including the United States Department of Education. Section 504 prohibits organizations from excluding or denying individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to receive program benefits and services, and it defines the rights of individuals with disabilities to participate in, and have access to, program benefits and services.

Section 504’s purpose is to ensure that students with disabilities have educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to students without disabilities.  Responsibilities of school districts under Section 504 include Child Find, Evaluation, Free Appropriate Public Education, Placement, and Procedural Safeguards. An eligible student under Section 504 is a student who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. If a student is covered by Section 504, Tempe Elementary School District must provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), including accommodations as necessary to ensure that the student has equal access to services, programs, and activities offered by our schools. Support is provided through a 504 Plan, which outlines the specific accommodations and services the student needs. Think of it as a blueprint for removing barriers to learning.