Section 504 Compliance

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil rights law that ensures that students with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities, programs, and services. The district’s 504 Compliance Services are designed to identify eligible students and develop individualized accommodation plans that remove barriers to learning, allowing students to participate fully in the general education setting.

Section 504 serves students whose physical or mental impairments substantially limit one or more major life activities but who may not require specialized instruction under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). 504 plans provide accommodations, modifications, and supports to ensure that eligible students receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) as required by law.

The 504 Compliance team works closely with parents, teachers, related service providers, building teams, and outside professionals to ensure that evaluation, eligibility, and accommodation processes are legally compliant, student-centered, and collaborative.

504 Eligibility Determination

• Conducting referral meetings and reviewing medical documentation, educational data, and parent input to determine eligibility
• Ensuring compliance with federal definitions of disability under Section 504
• Supporting the evaluation of both academic and non-academic areas that may be impacted by a student’s disability
• Coordinating with private healthcare providers, mental health professionals, and medical specialists as needed

Development of Individualized 504 Accommodation Plans

• Convening 504 teams to collaboratively develop plans that address each student’s unique needs
• Identifying accommodations that support access to:
  • Instructional materials and curriculum
  • Testing environments and assessment formats
  • Classroom participation and school-sponsored activities
  • School buildings, transportation, and extracurricular programs
  • Health-related services and supports when appropriate
• Documenting accommodations in a legally compliant and parent-approved 504 plan

Ongoing Case Management and Monitoring

• Ensuring that accommodations are consistently implemented across all settings
• Conducting annual reviews of each 504 plan to evaluate student progress and the continued need for accommodations
• Adjusting accommodations as needed based on updated data and team discussion
• Monitoring and documenting implementation fidelity

Parent Communication and Procedural Safeguards

• Providing parents with required written notice of procedural safeguards, eligibility determinations, and plan development
• Ensuring that parents understand their rights under Section 504
• Facilitating collaborative discussions between school personnel and families

Staff Training and Support

• Providing professional development to district staff on 504 legal obligations, eligibility criteria, accommodation implementation, and documentation requirements
• Offering technical assistance to school teams to ensure full compliance with federal law and district policy

Coordination with Other Support Services

• Collaboration with the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework to differentiate between instructional interventions and disability-related accommodations
• Coordination with IDEA services when students may require further evaluation for special education eligibility
• Collaboration with school nurses, counselors, psychologists, and mental health professionals when health or emotional conditions impact access

Legal Compliance and Oversight

• Maintaining full compliance with:
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Office for Civil Rights (OCR) guidance
  • Ohio Department of Education requirements
  • FERPA and student privacy regulations

504 Compliance Services ensure that students with disabilities receive meaningful access to educational programs and services while fostering academic achievement, full participation, and independence.

 

504 Procedural Safeguards

Mike Maglionico - Director of Pupil Services K-12/504 Compliance

Lindsay Ambrosia - Miller Elementary School Counselor/Leighton Elementary School Counselor 

Claudia Schnur - Craddock Elementary School Counselor 

Nicole Wadkins - Leighton Elementary School Counselor 

Candice Meintel - Harmon Middle School Counselor (Last Names A-K) 

Lisa Gealy - Harmon Middle School Counselor (Last Names L-Z)

Kalee Oberlin - Aurora High School Counselor (Last Names A-E)

Jennifer Sferra - Aurora High School Counselor (Last Names F-L)

April Nenadal - Aurora High School Counselor (Last Names M-R)

Ashley Gentile - Aurora High School Counselor (Last Names S-Z)