It is the policy of the Board of Education that no otherwise qualified student shall, solely by reason of his/her disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity sponsored by this Board.

As used in this policy and any implementing guidelines, "disabled student" means a student who has, or had, or is regarded or was regarded as having, a disabling condition; "disabling condition" means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of a student's major life activities and includes specific learning disabilities.

Notice of the Board's policy on nondiscrimination in education practices shall be given in the Board policy manual, posted throughout the District, and published in any District statement regarding the availability of special education services.

The educational program of this District shall be equally accessible to all students at each grade level. Barrier-free access to school facilities shall be provided to the extent that no disabled student is denied an opportunity to participate in a district program available to nondisabled students.

The Board directs that all reasonable efforts be made to identify unserved disabled students of this District eligible for special education and/or related services in accordance with law and Board Policy 2463. A free appropriate public education shall be provided for each student determined to be in need of special education and/or related services. Such a program of special education shall be provided in the least restrictive environment and in barrier-free facilities comparable to those provided for non-disabled or less severely disabled students. To the maximum extent appropriate to the student's disability, a disabled student shall be placed in an educational setting with nondisabled or less severely disabled students.

No otherwise qualified student will be denied, because of his/her disability, participation in co-curricular, intramural, or interscholastic activities or any of the services offered or recognitions rendered regularly to the students of this District.

The due process rights of disabled students and their parents will be rigorously enforced.

The Superintendent is designated as Section 504 Compliance Officer. A complaint regarding the identification, evaluation, classification, or educational program of a disabled student shall be governed by the conflict resolution process established by Board Policy 2463.

The Board directs the Superintendent to evaluate District programs and practices of nondiscrimination, in accordance with law, and to report evaluations to the Board. The Board will submit such assurances of compliance as are required by law.

29 U.S.C. 794 (Sec. 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973)
45 C.F.R. Part 84
20 U.S.C. 1401 et seq. (P.L. 94-142)

Revised 11/7/06