Section 504 - Overview

Section 504 is an anti-discrimination statute of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This civil rights statute protects people with disabilities from discrimination and allows a "level playing field" for public school students who qualify. To qualify under Section 504, a student must have a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as eating, breathing, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, concentrating, interacting with others, learning, etc.  To determine whether an impairment is "substantially limiting," a student is measured against same age, non-disabled peers in the general population. 

Students identified as Section 504 eligible may have a service plan. The services and/or accommodations outlined in a student's plan are meant to provide equal footing to that of the student's peers so that each student has similar opportunities to access learning.

In Waco ISD, each campus counselor serves as the Campus Section 504 Coordinator. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to refer your child for a Section 504 evaluation, please contact your campus counselor.