504
What is Section 504?
Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act is Congress’s directive to schools receiving any federal funding to eliminate discrimination based on disability
from all aspects of school operation. It states: “No otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall solely by reason of her or his disability, be
excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial
assistance.” Since Mesa County District #51 is a recipient of federal dollars, we are required to provide eligible disabled students with equal access (both
physical and academic) to services, programs, and activities offered by our school.
Section 504 is a civil rights statute and not a special education statute. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the regular education staff and
administration to implement those practices and procedures necessary for a school to fulfill this law’s requirements. It is also important to understand that schools receive no additional funding to implement Section 504 accommodations. At each school, the responsibility for ensuring Section 504
compliance rests with the building principal or principal’s designee.