Parent Rights & Procedural Safeguards

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 NOTICE OF PARENT RIGHTS AND PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS UNDER SECTION 504 This is a notice of your rights regarding the identification, evaluation, and placement of your child under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These rights are designed to keep you fully informed about the District's decisions about your child and to inform you of your rights if you disagree with any of those decisions.

1. Parents/guardians shall receive written notice of all District decisions regarding the identification, evaluation, and/or placement of their child. The parent/guardian has a right to participate in the Section 504 team meeting to determine eligibility, program, placement and discipline-related issues. The parent shall receive advanced notice of team meetings. The parent is not entitled to a postponement of a Section 504 team meeting, but may receive one per request.
    
2. Parents/guardians have a right to examine all relevant records regarding their child. The parents/guardians shall receive copies of all Section 504 team assessments and documents related to the District's Section 504 decisions related to his/her child.
    
3. Parents/guardians have the right to request an administrative review of a District decision concerning the identification, evaluation, and/or placement of their child under Section 504.
    
4. Parents/guardians also have a right to an impartial hearing with the opportunity for participation by the parent/guardian to resolve disagreements with the District relating to the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of their child, including assessment needs, eligibility, program, placement, related service needs and issues related to discipline. A request for a hearing must be filed in writing with the District Section 504 Coordinator:
   
   Amanda Boyce
   Director of Student Services
   Palo Alto Unified School District
   25 Churchill Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306
   
   or
   
   Dawn Yoshinaga
   Director of Mental Health & Wellness
   Palo Alto Unified School District
   25 Churchill Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306
   
   Upon such a request, an impartial hearing officer shall be retained by the District. Additional information regarding these rights and the process for impartial Section 504 hearings are set forth in District regulations at Administrative Regulation (AR) 6164.6: Identification and Education under Section 504. Copies of these regulations are available from the District Section 504 Coordinator at Palo Alto Unified School District, 25 Churchill Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306.
    
5. Parents have the right to file a complaint based on disability harassment, pursuant to the Uniform Complaint Procedure or the district's site-level complaint process (UCP-BP 1312.4, AR 1312.4; Bullying-AR 5131.2)
    
6. Parents/guardians have the right to file a complaint regarding an alleged violation of Section 504 with the Office for Civil Rights ("OCR"). Additional information regarding OCR's complaint process.
    
7. Should a parent/guardian have any concerns or questions concerning their rights, the Section 504 process or any other related issue, the parent/guardian is encouraged to contact that school site 504 Lead as listed in 504 Leads or Secondary School Counselor.
   
   If an issue cannot be resolved at the site and the parent/guardian wishes to discuss the matter further, file a grievance, or if the parents/guardians wish to file a request for an impartial hearing, the parent may contact Palo Alto Unified School District, 25 Churchill Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306, (650) 329-3769.

District Policies

• Administrative Regulation 6164.6 - Identification and Education Under Section 504
• Board Policy 6164.6 - Identification and Education Under Section 504