1. Special Education and Section 504 What I need to know

2. The Beginning Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs run by federal agencies; programs that receive federal financial assistance; in federal employment; and in the employment practices of federal contractors Section 504 and the Department of Education Public Law 94-142 Public Law 94-142 guaranteed a free, appropriate public education to each child with a disability in every state and locality across the country. The four purposes of the law articulated a compelling national mission to improve access to education for children with disabilities. (See side bar: Four Purposes of PL 94- 142.) Changes implicit in the law included efforts to improve how children with disabilities were identified and educated, to evaluate the success of these efforts, and to provide due process protections for children and families. In addition, the law authorized financial incentives to enable states and localities to comply with Public Law 94-142. Education for All Handicapped Children’s Act of 1975

3. Where we are Today  Education for ALL 1975~(PL 94-142) --IDEIA 2008  Section 504 of the Rehabilitation ACT of 1975~The first U.S. federal civil rights protection for people with disabilities~ Americans with Disabilities ACT 1990 (ADA)

4. IDEA and Section 504 Needs Why is There A Need For IDEA & Section 504 Statutes Addressing Educational Rights of Students with Disabilities?  IDEA is the funding statute that helps provide resources for the education of the more seriously disabled students. It focuses its resources fairly specifically to a subset of disabled persons. Section 504, however, is a broader, unfunded, nondiscrimination civil rights law emphasizing equal opportunity in any program receiving federal funding. While IDEA students enjoy the extensive IDEA protections and services, they also are entitled to the non-discrimination protection extended by Section 504. http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html

5. IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act) Ages 3-21 Early Childhood Intervention AGE 3-5 IFSP School Age Students Development of the IEP required annually Individualized Transition Plan required Personal Graduation Plan required Special Education Section 504 School age Students Plan Required General Education

6. Services and Supports through Special Education (IDEA)  The IEP sets learning goals for a child and describes the services the school will give her. It’s a written document.  Here are some of the most important things the IEP must include: --The child’s present levels of academic and functional performance—how student is currently doing in school --Annual education goals for the child and how the school will track progress

7. Support cont’d  The services the child will get—this may include special education, related, supplementary and extended school year services  The timing of services—when they start, how often they occur and how long they last  Any accommodations—changes to the child’s learning environment  Any modifications—changes to what the child is expected to learn or know  How the child will participate in standardized tests  How the child will be included in general education classes and school activities

8. Eligibility Categories under IDEA  Autism,  Deaf-blindness,  Deafness,  Emotional disturbance,  A hearing impairment,  Intellectual Disability,  An orthopedic impairment,  Other health impairment,  A specific learning disability,  A speech or language impairment,  Traumatic brain injury,  A visual impairment including blindness,  Multiple disabilities.

9. Section 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973 This is a federal civil rights law to stop discrimination against people with disabilities. The Section 504 regulations require school districts to draw upon a variety of sources in interpreting evaluation data and making placement decisions

10. Services and Supports through Section 504  A 504 plan generally includes the following: --Specific accommodations, supports or services for the child --Names of who will provide each service --Name of the person responsible for ensuring the plan is implemented

11. Section 504 Qualifications An eligible Section 504 student is one with  physical or mental impairment  that substantially limits learning or another major life activity

12. State testing Accommodations TEA Triangle

13. STAAR Testing Critical Information Test Options and Eligibility Requirements STAAR STAAR A STAAR ALT http://tea.texas.gov/Student_Testing_and_A ccountability/Testing/Student_Assessment_O verview/Accommodation_Resources/2016_Ac commodations_for_Students_with_Disabilities _Taking_State_Assessments/ http://tea.texas.gov/Student_Testing_and_A ccountability/Testing/Student_Assessment_O verview/Accommodation_Resources/2016_Ac commodations_for_Students_with_Disabilities _Taking_State_Assessments/

14. Citations and References  http://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/idea/history.html http://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/idea/history.html  https://www.disability.gov/rehabilitation-act-1973/ https://www.disability.gov/rehabilitation-act-1973/  http://www4.esc13.net/section504/faqs-section504/ http://www4.esc13.net/section504/faqs-section504/  http://school.familyeducation.com/special-education/ada/38439.html http://school.familyeducation.com/special-education/ada/38439.html  https://tea.texas.gov/Student_Testing_and_Accountability/ https://tea.texas.gov/Student_Testing_and_Accountability/  https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/special-services/504- plan/the-difference-between-ieps-and-504-plans https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/special-services/504- plan/the-difference-between-ieps-and-504-plans