Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against persons with a disability in any program receiving federal financial assistance. In order to fulfill obligations under Section 504, the Des Moines Independent Community School District has the responsibility to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel and students. No discrimination against any person with a disability should knowingly be permitted in any of the programs and practices of the school system.

The Des Moines Independent Community School District has the responsibilities under Section 504, which include the obligations to identify, evaluate, and, if the student is determined to be eligible under Section 504, to afford assess to appropriate educational services.

If the parent or guardian disagrees with the determination made by the professional staff of the school district, he/she has a right to a hearing with an impartial hearing officer.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) also specifies rights related to educational records. This Act gives the parent or guardian the right to:

1. inspect and review his/her child’s educational records;

2. make copies of these records;

3. receive a list of the individuals having access to those records;

4. ask for an explanation of any item in the records;

5. ask for an amendment to any report on the grounds that it is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the child’s rights; and

6. a hearing on the issue if the school refuses to make the amendment.

If the parent or guardian disagrees with the determination made by the professional staff of the school district, he/she has a right to a hearing with an impartial hearing officer.

If there are questions, please feel free to contact Mary Lynne Jones, Section 504 Coordinator for the Des Moines Independent Community School District, at 242-7781.