Section 504: What teachers need to know

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is civil rights legislation that is beginning to have a major impact on public schools. Schools have recently begun to pay more attention to this law because parents are beginning to request services for children not eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Schools must ensure that students who are protected under Section 504 have equal access to a free, appropriate public education and to extracurricular activities. To ensure this, schools must take several specific steps. This article presents an overview of the requirements of 504 and provides schools with actions that can be taken to ensure compliance.