Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, commonly referred to as “Section 504,” is a nondiscrimination statute enacted by the United States Congress. The purpose of Section 504 is to prohibit discrimination and to assure that disabled students have educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to non-disabled students.
An eligible student under Section 504 is a student who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such impairment.
If you have concerns about your child's educational progress or access due to their disability, you may request an evaluation. Getting the process started is easy - simply call or email your child's principal, school counselor, or teacher. You will be asked to sign a consent to evaluation, and a team of teachers and other specialists will be formed to evaluate your child's needs and, if your child is eligible, design appropriate accommodations. An evaluation does not necessarily mean that your child will have to take special tests (although some additional testing may be needed). In most cases, the team will gather academic data, standardized testing results, and the experiences of those who work closely with your child to determine if and how their needs differ from typical students.
Please know that YOU are a valuable member of this team. No one knows your child as well as you do, and your experience and expertise with your child are essential components in creating a plan to meet their needs. If your student qualifies, please also know that you and your student have special rights granted through Section 504 - you can read a copy of those rights here.
Davenport Schools staff will make every effort to take parents' or guardians' requests into account when developing a 504 plan to meet the needs of eligible students. 504 meetings can be reconvened at any time during the year to revise accommodations as needed. However, 504 teams are composed of people, and sometimes people disagree with one another. If you disagree with any decision or action taken by the district concerning your eligible child's 504 plan, you have the right to request a hearing presided over by an impartial mediator. You can learn more about filing a complaint and requesting a hearing by clicking here.
You may learn more about Section 504, including a thorough Parent Guide, at the Iowa Department of Education website here.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the district's 504 Coordinator by calling 563.445.5000 and asking to speak with Martin Schiltz, or by sending an email to 504coordinator@davenportschools.org.
