Section 504

  • Welcome to Gaston County Schools information website on Section 504. This Section 504 website is intended to provide information regarding the mandates of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and subsequent revision entitled The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act of 2008. As Section 504 covers both students and employees, this site focuses on the students of Gaston County Schools. Please note that Section 504 serves the same purposes of The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act and, as such, will be the focus for public school implementation.

    Gaston County Schools does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities. Gaston County Schools does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices.

    Overview


    Section 504 is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Section 504 provides: "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States . . . shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. . ." ("http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html).

    Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education. Title II prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by state and local governments. The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), also a component of the U.S. Department of Education, administers the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a statute which funds special education programs. Each state educational agency is responsible for administering IDEA within the state and distributing the funds for special education programs. IDEA is a grant statute and attaches many specific conditions to the receipt of Federal IDEA funds. (http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html).

    Section 504 and the ADA/ADAAA are anti-discrimination laws and do not provide any type of funding.

Contact

  • Section 504 legislation mandates that each school district provide a contact who is responsible for system-wide implementation of the 504 guidelines, procedures, databases and oversight of accommodations plans for eligible students with impairments.

    Gaston County Schools Section 504 Coordinator
    Lorie Cox
    704-866-6160
    plcox@gaston.k12.nc.us