• 504 Information

  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) is a broad civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. To be protected under Section 504, a student must 1) have a mental or physical 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.

    Section 504 guarantees that a student with a disability has access to an education comparable to the education provided to a student without a disability. For some students who have a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, this may require the development of a Section 504 plan. A Section 504 plan guarantees equal access to education and allows for certain accommodations or modifications.

    If a student is suspected of having a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a parent, teacher, or other staff member may refer the student for an evaluation. If necessary, a Section 504 team will evaluate the student to determine if the student has a disability and needs special education or related services as a result of that disability.

  • If you feel your child meets the eligibility requirements to receive support under Section 504, please reach out to your school's administrator and ask for an S-Team meeting. A referral form is linked below. The guiding principle for Section 504 is that no otherwise qualified disabled individual shall solely by reason of disability:

    • be excluded from participation in,
    • be denied benefits of,
    • be subjected to discrimination;


    by any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

    Students are potentially eligible if they have a physical or mental impairment that impacts one or more major life activities.

  • Filing a Grievance for Section 504

    If you are unsatisfied with the determination of the S-team referral, you may file a grievance for further investigation of your student's case.

    Step 1

    A written statement of the grievance signed by the complainant shall be submitted to the 504 Compliance Officer, Daphne Odom. The Compliance Officer shall further investigate the matters of grievance and reply in writing to the complainant within fifteen (15) business days. 

    Step 2

    If the complainant wishes to appeal the decision of the Compliance Officer, s/he may submit a signed statement of appeal to the Superintendent of Schools within fifteen (15) business days after receipt of response. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall meet with all parties involved, formulate a conclusion, and respond in writing to the complainant within fifteen (15) business days.

    Step 3

    If the complainant remains unsatisfied, s/he may appeal through a signed written statement to the Board of Education within fifteen (15) business days of his/her receipt of the Superintendent’s response in step two. In an attempt to resolve the grievance, the Board of Education shall meet with the concerned parties and their representative within forty (40) days of the receipt of such an appeal. A copy of the Board’s disposition of the appeal shall be sent to each concerned party within fifteen (15) days of this meeting.

    Step 4

    If at this point the grievance has not been satisfactorily settled, further appeal may be made to the Department of Education, Section 504 Office, Washington, D.C., 20201. Inquiries concerning the nondiscriminatory policy may be directed to Director, Section 504, Department of Education, Washington, D.C., 20201. The 504 Compliance Officer, on request, will provide a copy of the District’s grievance procedure and investigate all complaints in accordance with this procedure. A copy of each of the Acts and the regulations on which this notice is based, may be found in the 504 Compliance office. Nothing in this policy and procedure shall be construed as preventing or inhibiting a person from filing a request for an official due process hearing before an impartial hearing officer as per the regulations. Request(s) for an official hearing shall be in writing and directed to the Section 504 Compliance Office for processing.

    » KCS Due Process Hearing Procedure » S-Team Referral