GILCHRIST COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD Notice to Parent

Rights Afforded by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

If it is determined that your child has a physical or mental condition that substantially limits a major life activity and, as a result, requires instructional or other appropriate accommodations within the school environment, your child is disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In addition, if your child does not have a disability but has a record of a disability or is considered disabled by school personnel, your child is protected from discrimination under Section 504. If your child is disabled or you believe that your child is disabled or has been discriminated against, you are entitled to certain rights. This notice is designed to provide you with information about those rights.

Under Section 504, you have the right to:

1. Have your child participate in all school activities without discrimination solely on the basis of disability;

2. Have your child educated in facilities and receive services that are comparable to those provided to non-disabled students;

3. Have your child receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) which consists of regular or

special education and related services designed to meet the educational needs of your child. If it is determined that your child is eligible for special education, those services will be provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP);

4. With respect to the provision of educational services, you are entitled to:

a. Notice with respect of the identification/eligibility, evaluation or educational placement to your child;

b. Access to all records relevant to decisions concerning identification/eligibility, evaluation or educational placement o1 your child;

c. The right to challenge any decision made concerning the identification/eligibility, evaluation or educational placement of your child by requesting mediation or an impartial hearing or, in the alternative, filing a grievance with the School System's Section 504 Coordinator.

d. The right to attend any hearing requested;

e. The right to be represented by counsel if a hearing is requested; and f. The right to have an decision made at a hearing reviewed.

Any request for a hearing should be make to the School System's Section 504 Coordinator.

5. With respect to complaints of discrimination that do not relate to the identification/eligibility, evaluation or educational placement of your child, you have the right to file a local grievance with the school system in accordance with its grievance procedures.

6. With respect to complaints of discrimination based upon a record of a disability or the fact that school personnel are treating your child as disabled, you have the right to file a local grievance with the school system in accordance with its grievance procedures.