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Section 504

Information on Section 504

Please note that Section 504, a civil rights law, is different from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”), a funding statute. Both the IDEA and Section 504 guarantee students with disabilities access to a free and appropriate public education. There are, however, significant differences between them, specifically in the criteria used to determine eligibility and the definition of a free and appropriate public education. For a student to receive special education services under the IDEA, the student’s educational performance must be adversely affected by the disability and the child must be in need of special education services (i.e. specially designed instruction). Section 504 is not limited to specific disability categories and does not require evidence that the disability adversely affects the student’s educational performance. Students who are found not to be eligible for services under the IDEA may be eligible for accommodations under Section 504.

While students who are eligible under IDEA are also often considered to be students with disabilities protected from discrimination under Section 504, all accommodations for the student’s disability are made through the IDEA process. Students who qualify for special education programs and services with a disability listed in the IDEA have their educational plan written in an Individualized Education Program or IEP.  Thus, if a student with a disability is eligible under the IDEA, then the student is adequately accommodated for the purposes of Section 504.  For this reason, it is generally not necessary or appropriate to provide an IDEA student with a Section 504 Plan since compliance with the IDEA is compliance with Section 504.  If a student is determined not to be eligible under IDEA, the evaluation team should consider whether the student would, nevertheless, qualify under Section 504.  The Section 504 plan usually outlines the accommodations and services that will allow a child to access the curriculum. A Section 504 plan is less specific than an IEP. 

If you have questions or are interested in a 504 plan for your student, contact your student's campus administrator team.  

Sara Windham

Executive Director of Special Programs
sara.windham@bisd.net

Kitty Corsi

Executive Director of Special Programs
kathleen.corsi@bisd.net

Amy Jourden

Special Programs Coordinator: 504 & Dyslexia
amy.jouden@bisd.net

Belton Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to or treatment or employment in its programs and activities. 

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