Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended)

      What is Section 504?

      • What is Section 504?

        Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (commonly referred to as Section 504) is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. Those programs include public school districts, institutions of higher education, and other state and local education agencies. To qualify under Section 504, a student must have a disability and that disability must limit a major life function. The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008 (ADA) broadened the definition of disability in the ADA as well as in Section 504.

        This civil rights legislation prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in schools and other entities receiving Federal monetary assistance. In compliance with this legislation, the Oxford School District does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities in employment practices, educational programs, or activities. Any parent, employee, or student who has knowledge of discrimination due to a disability, or who has experienced discrimination on the basis of a disability, should contact:

        Dr. Kimberly Price
        Section 504 Coordinator
        Oxford School District
        200 Bolt Boulevard
        Oxford, MS 38655
        Phone: (662) 234-3541
        Email: kdprice@oxfordsd.org

        All 504 requests in the Oxford School District are channeled through our Child Find process with the exception of some of our major medical 504 cases. Each school has an intervention coordinator on site to help facilitate this process alongside parents. If you need to complete a 504 request or a Child find request, please contact the intervention coordinator for your child's school:

      Pyramid of Rights

      • Where does Section 504 fall in the Pyramid of Rights?

        Pyramid of RightsSpecial Education Rights are protected by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Eligible students are served with an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

        Civil Rights are protected by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Students with disabilities impacting a “major life activity” receive accommodations and individualized support as part of their IEP (if eligible) or through a Section 504 Plan.

        General Education Rights are protected by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). All children in the United States have the right to access free public education through age 21 or until they earn a high school diploma.

        Learn more with the Access for All Guide.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      • What is the jurisdiction of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), and state departments of education/instruction regarding educational services to students with disabilities?

      • What services are available for students with disabilities under Section 504?

      • Who has ultimate authority to enforce Section 504?

      • What does noncompliance with Section 504 mean?

      • What sanctions can OCR impose on a school district that is out of compliance?

      • What is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity?

      • Once a student is identified as eligible for services under Section 504, is that student always entitled to such services?

      • Are current illegal users of drugs excluded from protection under Section 504?

      • What process should a school district use to identify students eligible for services under Section 504? Is it the same process as that employed in identifying students eligible for services under the IDEA?

      • Can a medical diagnosis suffice as an evaluation for the purpose of providing FAPE?

      • Does a medical diagnosis of an illness automatically mean a student can receive services under Section 504?

      • How should a recipient school district handle an outside independent evaluation? Do all data brought to a multi-disciplinary committee need to be considered and given equal weight?

      • What should a recipient school district do if a parent refuses to consent to an initial evaluation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), but demands a Section 504 plan for a student without further evaluation?

      • Who in the evaluation process makes the ultimate decision regarding a student's eligibility for services under Section 504?

      • Once a student is identified as eligible for services under Section 504, is there an annual or triennial review requirement? If so, what is the appropriate process to be used? Or is it appropriate to keep the same Section 504 plan in place indefinitely after a student has been identified?

      • Is a Section 504 re-evaluation similar to an IDEA re-evaluation? How often should it be done?

      • How should a recipient school district view a temporary impairment?

      • Is an impairment that is episodic or in remission a disability under Section 504?

      • If a student is eligible for services under both the IDEA and Section 504, must a school district develop both an individualized education program (IEP) under the IDEA and a Section 504 plan under Section 504?

      • What is the receiving school district's responsibility under Section 504 toward a student with a Section 504 plan who transfers from another district?

      Last Modified on January 14, 2025