Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Section 504 applies to all agencies that receive federal funds, including public schools.
Specifically, Section 504 requires public schools to provide disabled students with educational services that are designed to meet the individual needs of disabled students to the same extent as the needs of students without disabilities are met. Students with disabilities are protected from discrimination on the basis of disability if they meet the definition of disability under Section 504. This anti-discrimination protection means, in part, that students with disabilities may not be denied participation in or denied benefits from services that are provided to non-disabled students.
In addition, if a student has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, the school system must provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to the student. FAPE includes regular education and other accommodations or supports that are designed to meet the individual educational needs of a student with a disability as adequately as the needs of non-disabled students are met.
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Johnston County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
The Johnston County Public Schools will provide a free appropriate public education to each qualified student with a disability in accordance with federal law and regulations. The non-discrimination policy includes, but is not limited to, benefits of participation in district programs and activities, including extracurricular activities. A student with a disability who seeks to participate in an extracurricular activity may be entitled to an accommodation in trying out for or participating in that activity and the Board’s Section 504 procedures apply to any situations where a request for accommodation is made.
For further information on Section 504, parents can contact the following JCPS District Coordinator or OCR enforcement office, which serves North Carolina:
Amanda H. Allen, Ph.D.
Executive Director of Student Services
Office Phone: 919-934-2016 ext. 1029
Fax: 919-205-9393
Email: amandaallen@johnston.k12.nc.us
Washington DC (Metro)
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-1475 Telephone: 202-453-6020
FAX: 202-453-6021; TDD: 877-521-2172
Email: OCR.DC@ed.gov