Crowley Independent School District

Pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the District has a duty to identify, refer, evaluate and if eligible, provide a free, appropriate public education to disabled students. 

 

The District designates and authorizes the following person as the ADA/Section 504 coordinator to be responsible for coordinating the District’s efforts to comply with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, which incorporates and expands upon the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, for employees:

 

Name: Dr. John Hamlett III

Position: Director of Student Support Programs
Address: 1900 Crowley Pride Drive Fort Worth, TX 76036
Email: Director of Student Support Programs (john.hamlett2@crowley.k12.tx.us)  

 

Crowley Independent School District - Section 504
Notice of Rights - For Disabled Students and their Parents under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, commonly known in the schools as "Section 504" is a federal law passed by the United States Congress with the purpose of prohibiting discrimination against disabled persons who may participate in, or receive benefits from, programs receiving federal financial assistance in the public schools. Specifically, 504 ensure that eligible disabled students are provided with educational benefits and opportunities equal to those provided to non-disabled students. 

Under 504, a student is considered "disabled" if he or she suffers from a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of their major life activities, such as learning, walking, seeing, hearing, breathing, working, and performing manual tasks. Section 504 also applies to students with a record of having a substantially-limited impairment or who are regarded as being disabled even if they are truly not disabled. Students can be considered disabled and can receive serves under 504, even if they do not qualify for, or receive, special education services.

 

The purpose of this Notice is to inform parents and students of the rights granted them under 504. The federal regulations that implement 504 are found at Title 34, Part 104 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and inform parents of eligible students, and the students themselves, to the following rights:

 

• You have a right to be informed about your rights under 504 (34 CFR 104.32). The school district must provide you with written notice of your rights under 504 (this documents represents written notice of rights as required under 504). If you need further explanation or clarification of any of the rights described in this Notice, contact appropriate staff persons at the District's 504 Office, and they will assist you in understanding your rights.

• Under 504, your child has the right to an appropriate education designed to meet his or her educational needs as adequately as the needs of non-disabled students are met. (34 CFR 104.33)

• Your child has the right to free educational services, with the exception or certain costs normally paid by the parents of non-disabled students. Insurance companies and other similar  third parties are not relieved of any existing obligation to provide or pay for services to a student that becomes eligible for services under 504. (34 CFR 104.33)

• To the maximum extent appropriate, your child has the right to be educated with children who are not disabled. Your child will be placed and educated in regular classes, unless the district demonstrated that his or her educational needs cannot be adequately met in the regular classroom, even with the use of supplementary aids and services. (34 CFR 104.34)

• Your child has the right to services, facilities, and activities comparable to those provided to non-disabled students. (34 CFR 104.34)

• The school district must undertake an evaluation of your child prior to determining his or her appropriate educational placement or program of services under 504 and also before every subsequent significant change of placement. (34 CFR 104.35)

• If formal assessment instruments are used as part of an evaluation, procedures used to administer assessments and other instruments must comply with the requirements of 504 regarding test validity, proper method of administration, and appropriate test selection. (34 CFR 104.35) The District will consider information from a variety of sources in making its determinations, including aptitude and achievement tests, teacher recommendations, reports of physical condition, social and cultural background, adaptive behavior, health records, report cards, progress notes, parent observations, and scores on TAKS tests. (34 CFR 104.35) Placement decisions regarding your child must be made by a 504 committee, which is composed of a group of persons knowledgeable about your child, the meaning of the evaluation data, placement options, and the requirement that to the maximum extent appropriate disabled children should be educated with non-disabled children. (34 CFR 104.35)

• If you child is eligible for services under 504, he or she has a right to periodic evaluations to determine if there has been a change in educational need. Generally, an evaluation will take place at least every three years (34 CFR 104.36)

• You have the right to be notified by the District prior to any action regarding the identification, evaluation, or placement of your child. (34 CFR 104.36)

• You have the right to examine relevant documents and records regarding your child (generally documents relating to identification, evaluation, and placement of your child under 504). (34 CFR 104.36)

• You have the right to an impartial due process hearing if you wish to contest any action of the District with regard to your child's identification, evaluation, or placement under 504. (34 CFR 104.36) You have the right to participate personally at the hearing, and to be represented by an attorney, if you wish to hire one. 

• If you wish to contest an action taken by the 504 committee by means of an impartial due process hearing, you must submit a Notice of Appeal or a Request for Hearing to the District 504 Coordinator at the following address: 

Crowley Independent School District 504 Coordinator
512 Peach Street
Crowley, Texas 76036

• If you disagree with the decision of the hearing officer, you have a right to seek a review of that decision before a court of competent jurisdiction (normally your closest federal district court). 

• With respect to other issues surrounding your child's education that do not specifically involve identification, evaluation, or placement, you have a right to present a grievance or complaint to the District 504 Coordinator (or the designee), who will then investigate the situation, taking into account the nature or the complaint and all necessary factors, in an effort to arrive at a fair and speedy resolution 

• You also have a right to file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the Department of Education. The address of the OCR Regional Office that covers Texas is. 

Office for Civil Rights, Region VI
1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620
Dallas, Texas 75201-6810
(214 661-9600