STUDENT SERVICES: SECTION 504

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal statue which states, in part, "No otherwise qualified individual, shall solely on the basis of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." 

This requirement not to discriminate in educational programs and activities also extends to employment. Each school has a designated Section 504 Coordinator. Initial inquires relating to Section 504 should be directed to the building-based Section 504 Coordinator who can be contacted through the principal’s office. Further information may be requested by contacting the grade level assistant principal.

The following grievance procedure should be used to report discrimination under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Acts of 1973:

To fulfill its obligation under Section 504, the Shrewsbury Public Schools recognizes a responsibility to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding personnel and students. No discrimination against a person with a disability will knowingly be permitted in any of the programs or activities of the Shrewsbury Public Schools.

The school district has a specific requirement under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which includes the responsibility to identify, evaluate and if the child is determined to be eligible under Section 504, to afford access to free and appropriate educational services. Questions about eligibility or services should be first directed to the building-based coordinator.

If a parent or guardian disagrees with the determination made by the professional staff of the school, he/she has a right to a hearing, first with the district’s Section 504 Coordinator, and secondly with an impartial hearing officer. The district’s Section 504 Coordinator can be reached at 15 Parker Road, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 or by phone at (508) 841- 8660.

The Assistant Superintendent of Student Services serves as the district’s Section 504 Coordinator. The Coordinator will hear all grievances in a timely manner and shall provide a written report of the district's findings to the parent or guardian.  If a parent or guardian is unsatisfied with the results of the review they may appeal to the Superintendent of Schools.

For grievances not resolved at the Superintendent’s level, a review by an impartial hearing officer may be scheduled. Individuals with grievances are not required to use the Shrewsbury Public School’s grievance procedure. Written complaints may be filed with the following agencies:

Section 504