Section 504 Overview
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education.
District 229 provides a free and appropriate education for students who are eligible for a 504 plan by individually designing accommodations/modifications and or services to meet their educational needs in the same manner as their non-disabled peers.
Important Note: Students with a Section 504 plan are evaluated and managed completely within the general education framework.
Eligibility Guidelines
In order to be eligible for services under a Section 504 plan, a student must have a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life functions.
An impairment that is episodic or in remission is considered a disability if it would substantially limit a major life activity when active. Eligibility determinations are strictly evaluated without looking at the positive impact of outside mitigating adjustments (like treatments or medications), with the exception of ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Example Impairments Include:
- ADHD
- Anxiety & Depression
- Allergies & Asthma
- Autism Spectrum
- Diabetes & Epilepsy
- Dyslexia & Learning Disabilities
- Cerebral Palsy
- Visual & Hearing Impairments
- Bipolar Disorder
- HIV/AIDS
Major Life Functions Include:
- Caring for self
- Seeing, hearing, & speaking
- Eating & sleeping
- Walking, standing, & lifting
- Bending & breathing
- Learning & reading
- Concentrating & thinking
- Communicating & working
- Major Bodily Functions: Immune, neurological, brain, cell growth, digestive, bladder, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive systems
Identification & Referral Process (Child Find)
Students who are currently enrolled in District 229 and attending Oak Lawn Community High School may be referred for an evaluation by their parents/guardians or the school team at any time.
How to Submit a Referral
To refer a child for a 504 evaluation, a request should be directed to the student's Guidance Counselor. The referral must meet the following criteria:
- Be submitted in writing
- Be dated accurately at the time of submission
- Explicitly outline the detailed reasons for the referral concerns
An evaluation team consisting of school staff members knowledgeable about the student will review submitted documentation, teacher feedback, past medical or academic records, and test results. Parent consent is strictly required before an initial evaluation can begin.
Procedures, Rights & Safeguards
Review the comprehensive dropdown categories below to understand Oak Lawn Community High School District 229's procedural timelines, regular educational placement structures, and structural rights.
Evaluation Requirements & Safeguards
District evaluation procedures ensure full diagnostic safety and non-discrimination. Every evaluation must:
- Accurately determine the true nature and real limits of the suspected disability.
- Utilize valid, certified assessment tools deployed exclusively by trained personnel.
- Be completely free of cultural, language, racial, or sex bias.
- Be appropriate for the student's age and developmental stage.
- Reflect actual learning aptitude rather than measuring the symptoms of the underlying disability.
- Be administered in the child's familiar language or native mode of communication whenever feasible.
No single test score or isolated evaluation metric shall be used as the lone deciding factor for a Section 504 determination.
Eligibility Determination Conferences & Plans
A Section 504 eligibility conference will be scheduled and completed within 60 school days of receiving the initial written referral. The conference requires the presence of knowledgeable school professionals along with the parents or legal guardians.
Parents/guardians will be formally invited via written notice at least ten (10) calendar days in advance of the meeting date.
If the team establishes eligibility, a formal written 504 Plan is mapped out to cover:
- A clear description of the identified disability.
- How the limitation specifically impacts performance inside the educational setting.
- The exact accommodations, structural adaptations, or support services required.
- The designated school personnel directly responsible for implementing each accommodation.
Educational Services & Periodic Re-evaluations
All qualified 504 students will be educated directly alongside their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate. This explicit civil baseline covers regular classroom structures, special education adjustments, related school aids, nonacademic options, and all available school extracurricular programs.
Students will be periodically re-evaluated over time, and must be re-evaluated before executing any significant change in educational placement. Examples of a significant change in placement include:
- Disciplinary exclusions or suspensions spanning more than ten (10) combined school days.
- Transferring a student from one specialized program type to another.
- Terminating or significantly reducing a student’s active related support services.
Parental Safeguards & Grievance Rights
Parents and legal guardians maintain clear procedural legal avenues under Section 504, including the right to:
- Receive advanced notice regarding identification, evaluation, or classroom placement actions.
- Examine and review all of their student's primary educational records.
- File an official administrative grievance under the District’s Uniform Grievance Procedure.
- Request an impartial legal hearing to resolve persistent disputes with the District.
- Seek full court review of any final hearing officer decisions.
- File formal complaints directly with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Impartial Hearing Procedures
If conflicts regarding identification, evaluation, or services cannot be resolved informally with the District's 504 team, parents can petition for an independent hearing officer review.
The hearing request must be submitted in writing directly to the Superintendent within ten (10) calendar days of the specific decision being challenged. Parents retain the right to review relevant records before the session and be represented by independent legal counsel during the proceedings.
The hearing officer will release a final written determination within ten (10) days after the conclusion of the hearing block.
District Contacts & Compliance Information
Please contact your student's assigned School Counselor for additional support information, program questions, and tracking or coordinating immediate evaluation requests.
Federal Civil Rights Contact
Formal external complaints can be directed to the federal oversight center at the following regional address:
U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
Citigroup Center
500 West Madison Street, Suite 1475
Chicago, IL 60661