Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil-rights law that prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. In public schools, Section 504 protects students from being excluded from, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in education because of a disability.

A student is generally protected under Section 504 when the student has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment. The definition is broader than the eligibility requirements under IDEA, so a student may qualify for Section 504 even when the student does not qualify for special education services.