Section 504

Section 504 is a federal law that safeguards the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education. It ensures that no qualified individual with a disability is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any program or activity that receives federal funding solely due to their disability.

The regulation mandates that school districts provide a "free appropriate public education" (FAPE) to each qualified student with a disability within their jurisdiction, regardless of the

disability's nature or severity. FAPE includes the provision of regular or special education, along with related aids and services, tailored to meet the individual needs of the student.