What is Section 504?
Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act prevents discrimination against students with substantially limiting disabilities that affect one or more major life activities. Eligible students are provided reasonable accommodations to give those students the same access to the benefit of public education as all other students.
Section 504 FAQ:
Did my student’s 504 plan transfer over to middle school?
Yes! Every in-district Section 504 plan transfers over seamlessly to the middle school. Elementary 504 Coordinators have archived all 504 folders for the students’ middle school coordinators. Middle school 504 Coordinators have shared accommodation plans with your child’s teachers.
Will I need to have a 504 meeting at the beginning of the year in 6th grade?
No! Students will begin the year (on day one of school) with the accommodation plan in place on the last day of 5th grade. In order to hold an effective 504 meeting, we will need to gather current data from the student’s teachers. Thus, it is better to wait until the student has settled into their new schedule before convening to consider any changes.
What if my student receives a new diagnosis over the summer?
Please let me know, and we can notify teachers. This notification will allow us to collect data in order to be able to give appropriate feedback and possible recommendations for updating a 504 plan. You are always welcome to reach out to teachers at any time to ask questions or share information.
When do 504 meetings start for the current school year?
We start holding Section 504 meetings after the fourth week of school to allow teachers and students to establish a routine. There are also many student schedule changes that occur during this time, so it is more effective to wait.
Who attends the 504 meetings in middle school?
We always include the students, one or two of the core academic teachers, and parents (if they would like to attend). Parents are not required to attend Section 504 meetings, but we always love and welcome your input. You may participate by phone, in person or virtually.
How are 504 meetings scheduled in middle school?
Parents will receive a phone call or email from the 504 Coordinator to select a date for a pre-determined time slot that their student’s team of teachers are available to meet (typically a common planning period). Meetings will be scheduled annually based on the previous year’s meeting date unless there is new information or there is a request by a teacher or parent.
*Note: Section 504 meetings can occur at any time during the school year. If you have not received a notification to schedule your annual meeting and you feel your student’s 504 plan needs to be adjusted, please feel free to reach out to me to set it up as soon as possible!