Each school in Union School District implements the SST process to assist students and their families, along with the school team to address needs of all students. Each school's SST Team is comprised of school administration, the student’s teacher, parents, the student (if appropriate) and other staff with knowledge of the student. The team may assist in issues related to classwork, homework, attendance, school adjustment or other matters. The school may contact you to schedule a meeting with the team. Parents may also contact the school to request an SST Team meeting to discuss any concerns they may have in regards to their child's progress.

Section 504

Students with a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities may be eligible for accommodations or modifications under Section 504 Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact the school principal for additional information.

504 Information for Families

What is a 504?

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil rights law. This law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. In a school setting, it means the district must provide necessary accommodations so that a student with a qualifying disability can participate in all school programs and activities to the same extent as a non-disabled student. The plan provides accommodations to help a student reach an average level. These are changes to how a student learns or how the environment is set up. They do not change what the student is expected to learn. A 504 addresses students' current levels; it is not meant to serve as a safety net later in a student's academic career.

How does a Student Qualify for a 504 plan?

A student is eligible for a 504 Plan if they have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Physical or mental impairment means any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss; or any mental or psychological disorder, such as intellectual disability, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities
Substantial limitation means a limitation that affects a person’s ability to perform an activity in relation to the average person in the general student population

504 Evaluation Process

It's a common misconception that a doctor's note alone is sufficient to create a 504 Plan. However, determining eligibility for a 504 Plan requires a more thorough, team-based evaluation process with multiple sources—it's not solely a medical decision.

The team reviews multiple data points—not just the diagnosis—to understand the full impact of the condition at school, to determine two things:

Does the student have an impairment that substantially limits a significant life activity (such as learning, concentrating, or walking)?
What accommodations are specifically needed to ensure the student has equal access to the school environment and curriculum and perform at an average level?

These sources often include:

Teacher observations and data on the student's academic and behavioral performance are collected.
Medical information (the doctor's note confirming the diagnosis).
Attendance records, grades, and test scores.
Input from the parents regarding the student's history.

By reviewing these sources, the team ensures that the 504 Plan is an appropriate, functional, and legally compliant document that provides the support your child needs to succeed.

504 Timeline

How is a 504 different from an IEP (Individual Education Plan)?

While both plans serve students with disabilities, they come from different laws:

504 Plan: Comes from the civil rights law (Section 504). It provides accommodations to ensure access to the general curriculum.
IEP (Individualized Education Program): Comes from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It provides specialized instruction (changes to what is taught and how it's taught) when a student's disability significantly impacts their educational performance and requires specialized teaching methods.

The key difference between an Individualized Healthcare Plan (IHP) and a Section 504 Plan in a California school setting lies in their purpose, legal basis, and scope of services

Who do I contact about a 504 for my student?

If you have questions or would like to find out if your student qualifies for a 504 plan, please contact your Site Principal.

Homeless and Foster Care

Homeless students and students residing in foster homes are provided with certain protections to ensure and facilitate school placement, enrollment and checkout from school; to assist when transferring schools with proper transfer of credits, records and grades; and to assist with the provision of all records to the new school. For additional information please contact your school or the Student Services Department.

Homeless Student Enrollment Information & Resources

USD Homeless Liaison Contact

Annie Murphy

Union School District

5175 Union Avenue

San Jose, CA 95124

murphya@unionsd.org

408-558-4233

Suspension/Expulsion

California Education Codes 48900 and 48915 delineate the behaviors under which school administration may suspend or recommend expulsion. Your Parents' Rights Handbook distributed at the beginning of the school year also provides a copy of this information.

Board Policy 5144.1

Board Policy 5144.2

USD 2024-2027 Three Year Expulsion Plan

Parent/Student Notification

Districts are required to notify parents and obtain emergency information no less than on an annual basis. Examples include but are not limited to Emergency Notification Form, Cellular Phone Use Contract, Internet Use Form, Independent Study, Alternative Education options, Vision, Hearing and Scoliosis screening information.

Home to School Transportation

The District provides transportation to pupils with disabilities (as outlined in IEP) and homeless students at no-cost.

View USD Transportation Plan 2024-25

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