HGSD 504 Policies & Procedures

The Harmony Grove School District acknowledges its responsibility under Section 504 to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel and students. No discrimination against any person with a disability shall knowingly be permitted in any program or practice in the Harmony Grove School District. Under Section 504, the Harmony Grove School District has the responsibility to identify, evaluate; and, if the student is determined to be qualified under Section 504, to afford access to appropriate educational services. 

The Harmony Grove School District does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to its educational programs, in treatment and the administration of services it offers, in its recruitment, hiring and employment practices, or in any aspect of its operations in violation of Section 504. 

The Harmony Grove School District takes appropriate steps to notify students with disabilities and their parents or guardians of our duty to annually identify and locate every qualified student with a disability residing in the school district’s jurisdiction who is not receiving a public education. 

The Harmony Grove School District Special Education Director/504 Coordinator, Amanda Huey, is designated to coordinate Section 504 compliance activities at the Harmony Grove School District and may be contacted at: 

Amanda Huey, Ed.S. HGSD Special Education Director/504 Coordinator 

Harmony Grove School District

2621 Hwy 229

Benton, AR 72015

501-778-4693

ahuey@harmonygrovesd.org 

This announcement is available in alternative formats to accommodate the hearing and vision impaired.  Information as to the existence and location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible to and useable by individuals with disabilities may be requested from the above-referenced coordinator.   

Section 504 procedural safeguards are designed to protect the rights of eligible students with a disability and their parents.  These safeguards provide families and school systems with mechanisms to prevent disability-based discrimination.  

Section 504 procedural safeguards include:

• Notice of this non-discrimination law and how it applies to the Harmony Grove School District. 

• Referral process for an evaluation when there is a suspicion that a student has a disability. 

• Parental consent for the initial evaluation. 

• Evaluation, determination of qualification, and placement made by a team based on information from a variety of sources - including assessments, attendance, behavior referrals, grades, teacher and parent observation, or a formal diagnosis (a formal diagnosis is not required). 

• Periodic reevaluation – including before a significant change in the student’s placement. 

• Opportunity for students and parents to examine relevant records. 

• A copy of these rights and protections provided to the parent and/or student as appropriate. 

• Grievance procedure. 

• Impartial hearing procedure with opportunity for representation by counsel. 

• Review procedure of the impartial hearing. 

Section 504 also provides protections for students with disabilities who are subjected to disciplinary removals from school or significant changes in placement due to behaviors that are a result of the student’s disability. 

An individual evaluation is required before any action is taken with respect either to the initial placement in a regular or special education program or to any subsequent significant change in that placement (34 C.F.R. Subpart D). 

Regularly communicating Section 504’s procedural safeguards and protections to the school community assists the Harmony Grove School District in meeting the responsibility of providing a free appropriate public education.  

If any person believes that the Harmony Grove School District or any of the District’s staff has inadequately applied the principles and/or regulations of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, he/she may bring forward a complaint, which shall be referred to as a grievance. 

The following steps outline the grievance procedures: 

1. The person who believes he/she has a valid basis for grievance shall discuss the grievance informally and on a verbal basis with the Building Administrator/District Level Section 504 Coordinator, who will in turn investigate and answer the complaint within ten (10) school days. The Building Administrator/District Level Section 504 Coordinator shall maintain a signed, dated, written record of the complaint and resolution. 

2. If the complainant wishes to appeal the local school decision, he/she may request a statement of appeal to the office of the Superintendent and District Level Section 504 Coordinator. The appeal to the District Level Section 504 Coordinator must be written and must clearly address the specifics of the complaint. The appeal must be filed within fifteen (15) calendar days of the final ruling of the school. 

3. The District 504 Coordinator, or designee, shall contact the complainant within ten (10) school days of receipt of the written complaint to schedule a meeting. The District 504 Coordinator shall meet with all parties involved, formulate a conclusion, and provide a written response to the parties, including the complainant, within ten (10) school days of the meeting. The written decision will be filed and a copy sent to the parent, school principal/Building 504 coordinator (if applicable), and the Superintendent of Schools.  

4. Step 4 The availability and use of this Section 504 grievance procedure does not prevent a person from requesting a local Section 504 impartial hearing, filing a complaint with the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Compliance Assistance Center (CAC), the United States Department of Education (USDOE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR), or filing a civil action in federal or state court.