Section 504: A Parent’s Guide to Rights and School Responsibilities
Key Features
- Parent-Friendly Downloadable Course Easy-to-follow PDF presentation.
- Know Your Rights Clear explanation of Section 504 procedures, protections, evaluations, FAPE, and procedural safeguards.
- Understand Eligibility Learn how disability is defined under Section 504 and what it means for supports, accommodations and access
- School Obligations Explained What schools must do to qualify a student under 504, serve a student under 504 as well as their responsibility to prevent discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
- Behavior & Discipline Guidance Learn how 504 applies to maladaptive behaviors, suspensions, removals, and manifestation determinations.
Learn how Section 504 protects students with disabilities in school. This downloadable Project Accelerate course gives parents clear guidance on eligibility, evaluations, FAPE, and discipline protections—so you can confidently and effectively advocate for your child’s rights.
Empower yourself to be your
child’s best advocate.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a cornerstone civil rights law designed to ensure students with disabilities are not excluded, denied services, or discriminated against in public schools. Yet, many parents don’t know what the law requires—or how to hold schools accountable when support isn’t provided This course will assist you in better understanding the school’s responsibilities, your student’s rights, what discrimination is and what it is not, and equitable access.
Our downloadable PDF course, Section 504: A Parent’s Guide, was created by experienced advocates to give you the clarity and confidence you need. This presentation draws directly from the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) guidance and breaks down complex requirements into parent-friendly language.
In this course, you’ll learn:
- What Section 504 guarantees A civil rights law that protects students with disabilities from discrimination in schools.
- How eligibility is determined The definition of disability and why even students with strong grades may still qualify.
- FAPE under Section 504 vs. IDEA The differences in services, supports, and protections between the two laws.
- Evaluation requirements When schools must assess, timelines for completion, and parent rights during the process.
- Discipline protections What schools must do before suspending, expelling, or removing a student with a disability.
- Your procedural safeguards Due process rights, complaint procedures, and how to file with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
- How to request a written 504 Plan Steps to secure documented supports and ensure your child has equitable access to education.
Who is this for?
This course is designed for parents and guardians of children with disabilities who want to better understand:
- What protections Section 504 guarantees
- How to request evaluations or services under 504
- What to do if a school delays, denies, or ignores 504 requirements
- How discipline and removals must be handled for students with disabilities under 504
- How 504 and IDEA intersect, and when an IEP may be more appropriate than a 504 plan
What you’ll get:
- A ready-to-download PDF presentation (easy to read, parent-friendly language)
- Real-world examples and actionable steps you can take today
- Advocacy strategies for IEP/504 meetings and school communications
- Voiceover/Zoom Video walking you through the PDF step-by-step
At Project Accelerate, our mission is to equip parents with the knowledge, tools, and confidence they need, so that every child receives the Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) they deserve.