ParentStudentHandbook2017-18 AUG.17

In order to fulfill its obligation under Section 504, the Berlin Borough School District recognizes a responsibility to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel and students. No discrimination against any person with a handicap will knowingly be permitted in any of the programs and practices in the school system.

School District Responsibilities The School District has specific responsibilities under the Act, which include the responsibilities to: identify, evaluate, and if the child is determined to be eligible under Section 504, to afford access to appropriate educational services. The Berlin Borough School District has a grievance procedure that asks that initial notice of any discrepancies be directed to the building’s Compliance Officer. If the parent or guardian disagrees with the determination made by the professional staff of the School District, he/she has a right to a hearing with an impartial hearing officer.

Parental Rights Parents have the right under Section 504 to:

● Have their child take part in, and receive benefits from, public education programs without discrimination because of his or her disabling condition. ● Have the school district advise them of their rights under federal law. ● Receive notice with respect to identification or evaluation of, or service to, their child. ● Have their child with a disability receive free appropriate public education. This includes the right to be educated with students without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate. It also includes the right to have the school district make reasonable accommodations to allow the child an equal opportunity to participate in school and school–related activities. ● Have their child with a disability educated in facilities and receive services comparable to those provided students without disabilities. ● Have their child receive special education and related services if the child is found to be eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. ● Have evaluation, educational and service decisions made based upon a variety of information sources and by persons who know the student, the evaluation data and service options. ● Have transportation provided for their child to and from a program not operated by the district if the district places their child in the program. ● Have their child be given an equal opportunity to participate in nonacademic and extracurricular activities offered by the district. ● Examine all relevant records relating to decisions regarding their child’s identification, evaluation, educational program and services. ● Obtain copies of educational records at reasonable cost unless the fee would effectively deny them access to the records. ● Receive a response from the school district to reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of their child’s records. ● Request amendment of their child’s educational records if there is reasonable cause to believe that they are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of their child’s privacy rights. If the school district refuses this request for amendment, it shall notify the parents in writing in a reasonable time and advise them of their right to a hearing. ● Request mediation or an impartial due process hearing related to decisions or actions regarding their chil d’s identification, evaluation, educational program services. The parents and the student may take part in the hearing and have an attorney represent them. Hearing or mediation requests must be made to the District 504 Compliance Officer. ● Ask for payment of reasonable attorney fees if they are successful on their claim. ● File a local grievance or citizen complaint with the school district, the state board of education, and/or the Office for Civil Rights.

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