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Grievance Procedures – Section 504 Plans

Parents/guardians and students have a right to seek resolution of issues if they disagree with the decisions regarding a student’s identification, evaluation, and educational placement/program related to Section 504. The following grievance procedures have been established to apply to Section 504 for students. Section 504 Reviews and Impartial Hearings are limited to alleged actions that have occurred within one year which in the absence of federal guidance aligns to the Maryland Department of Education’s limitation on special education complaints.

HCPSS Section 504 Review

A parent/guardian or student may request a Section 504 Review. If a parent/guardian, student, or employee is:

  • disagrees with the decisions of the Section 504 team regarding the identification, evaluation, and educational placement/program for a student; educational placement/program for a student,
  • alleges the 504 Plan has not been implemented; or

then the parent /guardian or student may request a Section 504 review by the HCPSS Section 504 Coordinator or designee. Review requests must be made to the 504 Coordinator at 410-313-0782. The HCPSS 504 Coordinator is the Coordinator for Section 504 and Student Services Implementation.

Section 504 Hearing

If a complainant wishes to contest an action or failure to act on the part of the school system with regard to the identification, evaluation, or placement of a disabled student under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the complainant may initiate a Section 504 Hearing before an impartial Hearing Officer.

The complainant must submit a written request for a hearing before an impartial Hearing Officer, who is not an employee of the Howard County Public School System. Impartial Hearing requests must be made to the 504 Coordinator at 410-313-0782. The HCPSS 504 Coordinator is the Coordinator for Section 504 and Student Services Implementation.

Office for Civil Rights

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces Section 504 and it handles Section 504 complaints. If a parent believes that the school system has committed a violation that falls under the jurisdiction of the OCR, the parent may file a complaint to the OCR.

U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg
400 Maryland Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1100

Contact

  • Find your child’s school and ask for their Section 504 Administrative Building Coordinator
  • HCPSS 504 Coordinator at 410-313-0782