Education of Students with disabilities Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
The Port Townsend School District will provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to school age children with disabilities in the district's jurisdiction, and will take steps to notify disabled children and their guardians of the district's responsibilities under Section 504.
Students with disabilities will be provided equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from educational services that are provided to non-disabled students. Teachers of disabled students will meet comparable standards for certification. Facilities will be of comparable quality and appropriate material and equipment will be available.
Confidentiality of student records will be maintained throughout the period of time when such records are collected, stored, disclosed or destroyed by the district.
The district will comply with all procedural requirements of Section 504 by doing the following:
1) The district will provide written assurance of non-discrimination whenever required
2) The district will designate a Section 504 coordinator.
3) The district will provide grievance procedures to resolve any complaint of discrimination to student, parent or employee entitled to file grievances. The grievance procedures for the district are set out in policy and procedure 3210 Nondiscrimination.
4) The district will provide notice to guardians, employees, unions, and professional organizations of the district's nondiscrimination policy.
5) The district will undertake to identify and locate all Section 504 qualified disabled children in the districts' jurisdiction who are not receiving a public education.
6) The district will take appropriate steps to notify disabled persons and their guardians of the district's responsibilities under Section 504.
7) The district will establish and implement procedural safeguards to be provided to parents/guardians with respect to actions regarding the identification, evaluation or educational placement of persons who, because of disability, need, or who are believed to need, special instruction or related services.
Procedural safeguards will include:
a. Notice of parental/guardian rights
b. An opportunity for parents/guardians to examine relevant records
c. An impartial hearing, initiated by either the parents/guardians or district with opportunity for participation by the student's parents/guardians and representation by legal counsel; and
d. A review procedure
The Port Townsend School District Section 504 coordinator is Shelby MacMeekin
[email protected]