Section 504 FAQ

No. School districts must provide parents with notice before making any significant changes to a student's 504 Plan, placement, or eligibility status. Parents are vital members of the 504 team.

While federal Section 504 regulations do not specify a strict day-by-day timeline like the IDEA does for IEPs, they do state that evaluations must be conducted in a "reasonable" timeframe without unnecessary delay.

Yes, students with 504 Plans are expected to follow the school code of conduct. However, if a student faces a disciplinary removal that exceeds 10 consecutive (or cumulative) school days, the team must hold a Manifestation Determination Review (MDR). This meeting determines whether the conduct had a substantial relationship to the student’s disability, or if the behavior was a direct result of the district's failure to implement the 504 Plan.

Yes and no. Section 504 does apply to colleges that receive federal funding, but the K-12 plan itself does not automatically transfer. In college, the responsibility shifts completely to the student to self-identify to the university's disability services office and request accommodations.

Accommodations are tailored entirely to the student's unique needs. Common examples include preferential seating, extended time on tests, frequent breaks, permission to visit the school nurse for medication, or specialized technology. These accommodations must be determined by the data collected in the evaluation process. Accommodations are meant to provide equal access, not to guarantee a certain grade or give the student an unfair advantage over their peers.

The 504 Plan is a legally binding document. Once signed, all of the student's teachers and staff are legally required to provide the listed accommodations. New Albany Plain Local Schools has systems in place—like annual teacher sign-offs or digital tracking—to ensure compliance.