Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and assures that students with disabilities have educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to students without disabilities.  A student eligible under Section 504 is a student who (a) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity such as learning, self-care, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working, and performing manual tasks, (b) has a record of having such an impairment, or (c) is regarded as having such an impairment.  The following is a description of the rights granted by federal law under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The intent of this notice is to fully inform parents concerning decisions about their children with disabilities and to inform them of their rights if they disagree with any of these decisions.

Each parent and/or student with a disability has the following rights:

1. The student has a right to take part in, and receive benefits from, public education programs without discrimination because of his/her disability.
2. The student and parent have the right to be advised by the school district of their rights under federal law.
3. The parent has the right to receive notice with respect to identification, evaluation, or placement of the student.
4. The student has the right to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE).
5. The student has the right to receive services and be educated in facilities that are comparable to those provided to non-disabled students.
6. The student has the right to evaluation, education, and placement decisions based on a variety of information sources, and by persons who know the student and who are knowledgeable about the evaluation data and placement options.
7. The student has the right to transportation provided to and from an alternative placement setting if determined necessary to provide FAPE (if the setting is a program not operated by the district) at no greater cost to the parent than would be incurred if the student were placed in a program operated by the district.
8. The student has the right to an equal opportunity to participate in nonacademic and extracurricular activities offered by the district.
9. The parent has the right to examine all relevant records relating to decisions regarding the child's identification, evaluation, and placement.
10. The parent has the right to request mediation or an impartial due process hearing related to decisions or actions regarding the child's identification, evaluation, educational program, or placement.  The parent and the student may take part in the hearing and be represented by counsel.  Hearing requests must be made to the district superintendent.
11. The parent has the right to file a local grievance.

The person in the Northwest R-I School District responsible for assuring that the district complies with Section 504 is the Director of Student Services, who may be reached at (636) 677-3473 or by writing to: Director of Student Services, Northwest R-I School District, 2843 Community Lane, High Ridge, MO 63049.