Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act is the sister statute to Section 504 which prohibits discrimination based on disability in state and local government, including public school districts and public charter schools.
Disability means, with respect to an individual:
- A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual;
- A record of such an impairment; or
- Being regarded as having such an impairment
Section 504’s prohibitions on disability discrimination cover all parts of a school’s education programs and activities. In addition, Section 504’s implementing regulations require school districts to:
- Locate and identify every qualified student with a disability within its jurisdiction
- Provide a free appropriate public education, also known as a “FAPE,” to each qualified student with a disability. This is often documented by a 504 Plan.
More information about Section 504 can be found by visiting the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights website:*
*Links to external websites are subject to change.
Contact Information
Students, families, or community members who have questions about Section 504 in an Oregon K-12 public school or public charter school should contact
ODE.CivilRightsSupport@ode.oregon.gov.
School districts, public charter schools, education partners, and all other parties who have questions regarding Section 504 in an Oregon K-12 public school or public charter school should contact
ODE.CivilRights@ode.oregon.gov or ODE Civil Rights and Section 504 Specialist Marinda Peters (she/ella) at
Marinda.Peters@ode.oregon.gov or 971-208-0460