Mrs. Deenia Hocker
Director of Student Services
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
And The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Section 504 prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in any program receiving federal financial assistance. The Act defines a person with a disability as anyone who:
1. Has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities (such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working);
2. Has a record of such impairment; or
3. Is regarded as having such an impairment.
In order to fulfill obligations under Section 504, the Knob Noster 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 school district has responsibilities under Section 504, which include the obligation to identify, evaluate, and if the student is determined to be eligible under Section 504, to afford access 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 all 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 there are any questions, please feel free to contact the Student Services Office at (660) 563-5597 or by mail at Special Programs, 401 E. Wimer St., Knob Noster, MO 65336.
KNOB NOSTER R-VIII SCHOOL DISTRICT
SECTION 504 PARENT/STUDENT RIGHTS IN IDENTIFICATION,
EVALUATION, AND PLACEMENT
(Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973)
The following is a description of the rights granted by federal law to students with disabilities. The intent of the law is to keep you fully informed concerning decisions about your child and to inform you of your rights if you disagree with any of the decisions.
You have the right to:
1. Have your child take part in, and receive benefits from public education programs without discrimination because of his/her disability
2. Have the school district advise you of your rights under federal law
3. Receive notice with respect to identification, evaluation, or placement of your child;
4. Have your child receive a free appropriate public education. This includes the right to be education with nondisabled students to the maximum extent appropriate. It also includes the right to have the school district make reasonable accommodations to allow your child an equal opportunity to participate in school and school-related activities;
5. Have your child educated in facilities and receive services comparable to those provided nondisabled students;
6. Have your child receive special education and related services if he/she is found to be eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act;
7. Have evaluation, educational, and placement decisions made based upon a variety of information sources, and by persons who know the student, the evaluation data, and placement options;
8. Have transportation provided to and from an alternative placement setting at no greater cost to you than would be incurred if the student were placed in a program operated by the district;
9. Have your child be given an equal opportunity to participate in nonacademic and extracurricular activities offered by the district;
10. Examine all relevant records relating to decisions regarding your child's identification, evaluation, educational program, and placement.
11. Obtain copies of educational records at a reasonable cost unless the fee would effectively deny you access to the records;
12. A response from the school district to reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of your child's records
13. Request amendment of your child's educational records if there is reasonable cause to believe that they are inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the privacy rights of your child. If the school district refuses this request for amendment, it shall notify you within a reasonable time, and advise you of the right to a hearing;
14. Request an impartial due process hearing and revise procedure related to decisions or actions regarding your child's identification, evaluation, educational program or placement. You and the student may take part in the hearing and have an attorney represent you;
15. Ask for payment of reasonable fees if you are successful on you claim; and
16. File a local grievance.
The person who is responsible in the Knob Noster R-VIII School District for assuring compliance with Section 504 is the Director of Student Services, who can be reached at (660) 563-5597.