A Must See for 504 Coordinators
Foundation for 504 Operation Procedures Manual
There is no specific requirement for districts to establish Section 504 Operating Procedures at this time. However, 504 procedures are mentioned in the statutes listed below:
- IDEA states that “the District, in providing for the education of children with disabilities within its jurisdiction, must have in effect policies, procedures, and programs that are consistent with the State policies and procedures established under §300.101 through 300.163 and §§300.165 through 300.174.
- The Texas Education Agency requires districts to submit special education Operating Procedures to comply with 34 CFR 300.201 (2020) in providing for the education of children with disabilities.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, AS AMENDED with the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, mentions procedures thirty-six times.
- Parent and Educator Resource Guide to Section 504 in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools mentions procedures twenty-eight times.
- Texas Education Agency Technical Assistance: Section 504 (texas.gov) mentions procedures thirty-two times.
TxSP's 504 Operating Procedures
TxSP has recently completed a 15-page protocol for 60+ operating procedures to assist our subscribing districts in having a comprehensive overview of all systems, including vocabulary to evaluate and serve students with impairments that limit one or more major life activities. The topics are listed in alphabetical order and include hyperlinks to easily locate them and the supporting material on the TxSP website. The document is a great resource for any staff member, but a must-have for district and campus designees responsible for coordinating Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Announcing Twenty-Four New Individual Accommodation Plans
Section 504 covers an array of possible conditions or impairments that can cause a student to be eligible for accommodations and/or services. TxSP has developed 20+ individual accommodation plans for students with uncommon impairments such as Tourette’s Syndrome, Trauma/PTSD, Anxiety, Drugs and Alcohol, Encopresis-Enuresis, etc., and more common impairments such as food allergies, hearing or visual impairments, attention/impulsive behaviors, and others.
One of TxSP’s most used sections is our 30+ individual behavior plans containing some of the most common behavior problems seen in schools.
Additionally, TxSP has s section to help a 504 committee to develop individual health and safety plans.