All public school districts are required to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to qualified handicapped persons, regardless of the nature or severity of the disabiilty. Section 504 is Civil Rights Staute that ensures that schools follow this requirement and provide classroom accomodations and/or modifications to meet handicapped students' needs.

To be eligible for Section 504 services, a student must be determined to have a "physical or mental impairment," such as a physiological disorders, mental or psychological disorder, or visual or hearing impairment, that "substantially limits one or more major life activities."

To evalute a student, a 504 team compares his or her academic progress to the progress of an "average child." The team, which includes parents, evaluates the impact of a student's disability on his or her education and determines if accommodations, if any, are necessary.

For more information, please see our brochure, Section 504: A Guide for Parents.

Other Resources (subhead)

Flexible Learning Opportunities (FLO)
flo.groupcafes.com
Support and information network for RSVD parents.

Matrix, a Parent Network
matrixparents.org
415-884-3535
The Matrix mission is to empower families of children with special needs to successfully understand and access the systems that serve them.

Marin SELPA (Special Education Local Area Plan)
marinschools.org/selpa
The Marin SELPA website includes extensive information on special education, including links to parent resources and a parent handbook, a guide to services, parent and child rights, dispute resolution information, IEP and other forms, information in Spanish news on workshops and events, and more.

English Language Learner services are instructional services for limited and non-English speaking students, funded by the State of California. These students receive special instruction to learn English and are provided support in the core curriculum areas. When parents report that a language other than English is spoken at home, students are assessed to determine english language proficiency. Those students who are not fluent in English receive instruction from staff who have special training in these areas. Depending on the needs of the individual student, support in English may take place in the classroom or outside of the classroom.