JCS-Inc. Policies
	

5011.1 Identification, Evaluation and Education Under Section 504 Policy


	Effective Date: June 9, 2017
	Approved by: Board of Directors
	

	

Policy:


Julian Charter School (JCS-Inc.) evaluates students with disabilities in order to provide them with a free, appropriate public education and its legal responsibility to ensure that "no qualified person with a disability shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discriminiation under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." This policy and the related administrative regulation has been developed to ensure implementation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ("Section 504"), and its implementing regulations as amended, which pertains to public schools. the intent is to ensure that all students with disabilities, who are eligible under Section 504, are identified and evaluated and have access to free, appropriate public education ("FAPE").


The Board of Directors of the Julian Charter School (“JCS” or “School”) recognizes the need to identify and under Section 504, individuals with physical or mental impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities, including learning, are entitled to receive regular or special education and/or related aids and services designed to meet their individual needs as adequately as the needs of nondisabled students are met. Major Life Activities include functions such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working, as well as the operation of a major bodily functions, including functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions. Students may be disabled and entitled to services under Section 504 even though they are not eligible for services pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act Improvement Act of 2004 (“IDEIA”).


The School’s Executive Director or designee shall ensure that this policy and set of procedures is implemented and followed. Whenever there is reason to believe that, because of a disability, a student needs regular or special education and/or related aids and services (and the student has not been found eligible under IDEIA) that student will be evaluated under this policy’s Section 504 procedures.


A Section 504 Team will be convened to determine the student’s need for regular or special education and/or related aids and services. The 504 Team will include persons knowledgeable about the Section 504 standards, the student’s individual needs and school history, the meaning of evaluation data, and placement options. The student’s parent/guardian shall be invited to participate in this 504 Team and shall receive notice of procedural safeguards guaranteed by law. If JCS does not assess a student after a parent has requested an assessment, the School shall provide notice of the parent’s/guardian’s procedural safeguards.


If the student, due to disability, is found to require regular or special education and/or related aids and services under Section 504, the Section 504 Team shall develop a 504 plan for the provision of such services to the student. The student shall be educated with nondisabled students to the maximum extent appropriate to the student’s individual needs. The student’s parent/guardian shall be provided a copy of the 504 Plan and shall receive notice of procedural safeguards guaranteed by law. JCS shall periodically review the student’s progress and placement.




Original Policy: 6/9/2017
5011.1 JCS-Inc. Identification, Evaluation and Education Under Section 504 Policy                                Page  of 1