Section 504 Action Plan

The Richland School District will distribute information, including the procedural safeguards notice, to all parents annually regarding parent rights under Section 504.Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, commonly called “Section 504,” is a federal law that protects students from discrimination based on disability. Section 504 assures students with disabilities have educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to students without disabilities. To be eligible, a student must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity.

Your Child’s Education

• Receive a free and appropriate public education. 
• Participate in and benefit from the district’s educational programs without discrimination.
• Be provided an equal opportunity to participate in the district’s nonacademic and extracurricular activities.
• Be educated with students who do not have disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate. 
• Be educated in facilities and receive services that are comparable to those provided to students without disabilities.
• Receive accommodations and/or related aids and services to allow your child an equal opportunity to participate in school activities. 
• Receive educational and related aids and services without cost, except for those fees imposed on the parents of children without disabilities. 
• Receive special education services if needed. 

Your Child’s Education Records

• Review your child’s educational records and to receive copies at a reasonable cost. You will not be charged if the cost would keep you from reviewing the records. 
• Ask the district to change your child’s education records if you believe that they are wrong, misleading, or are otherwise in violation of your child’s privacy rights. If the district refuses this request, you have the right to challenge the refusal by requesting an impartial hearing. 
• A response to your reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of your child’s education records.

The Section 504 Process

• Receive notice before the district takes any action regarding the identification, evaluation, and placement of your child. 
• Have evaluation and placement decisions made by a group of persons, often called a “504 team”, including persons who know your child, the meaning of the evaluation information, and the placement options available. 
• Have evaluation decisions based on a variety of sources, such as aptitude and achievement tests, teacher recommendations, physical conditions, medical records, and parental observations. 
• Refuse consent for the initial evaluation and initial placement of your child.

If your child is eligible under Section 504, your child has a right to periodic re-evaluations, including re-evaluations before any significant change is made in your child’s placement.

If You Disagree With The District’s Decision

If you disagree with the district’s decisions regarding your child’s identification, evaluation, educational program, or placement under Section 504, you may request mediation or an impartial due process hearing. You and your child have the right to take part in the hearing and have an attorney represent you. Hearing requests and other concerns can be made to your district’s Section 504 Coordinator, Dr. Bryan Jones, 6972 Keene Road, West Richland, WA 99353. Or email Bryan.Jones@rsd.edu.

You have the right to file a complaint of discrimination with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), or to file a complaint in federal court. Generally, an OCR complaint may be filed within 180 calendar days of the act that you believe was discriminatory. The regional office is located at 915 Second Ave, Room 3310, Seattle, WA 98174-1099. Phone: 206-607-1600/TDD: 206-607-1647. Website: www.ed.gov/OCR.

More information about the Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 can be found at ospi.k12.wa.us/policy-funding/equity-and-civil-rights/information-families-civil-rights-washington-schools/section-504-students-disabilities.

Plan to Ensure That Parental Consent is Provided

Counselors will receive training in September of each year regarding Section 504 including processes, procedures and communication requirements ensuring that the procedural safeguards notice is provided to parents when any actions are  taken regarding identification, evaluation or placement under Section 504.

All documentation regarding Section 504 meetings, eligibility decisions, parental notifications and consent forms and plans for accommodations where eligibility exists will be forwarded to the office of the 504 compliance officer:

• Section 504 Coordinator: Dr. Bryan Jones, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary: Bryan.Jones@rsd.edu