Section 504 of the Rehabilitation ActAccountability Programs :

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil rights statute that assures individuals will not be discriminated against based on their disability. All school districts that receive federal funding are responsible for implementation of this law. Any learner with a disability that significantly impacts a major life activity, whether or not (s)he receives special education services, is protected by this law.

The Minnesota Department of Education has no enforcement authority for Section 504. Section 504 is administered by the U. S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The information on this page is provided as a service to the public. If you need information about Section 504 issues, please contact the Office for Civil Rights:

Office for Civil Rights, Chicago Office (Region V)
U. S. Department of Education
500 W. Madison Street Suite 1475
Chicago, Illinois 60661
(312) 730-1560
FAX: (312) 730-1576
TDD: (312) 730-1609
Email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov

Phone: US Central office, Washington, DC: 1-800-421-3481
WEBSITE: *http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html

In addition to complaints of discrimination based on disability, OCR also handles complaints about discrimination based on race, sex, age, or national origin in educational institutions. Complaints on these issues may be filed with that office. A complaint must be filed within 180 days of the date the discrimination occurred. You do not have to file a complaint with the school district before filing a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, and you may file complaints with both the school district and the Office for Civil Rights if you wish to do so. To file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, go to their website and click the button on the right marked *How to File a Complaint.

(* Links to third-party sites are provided as a service to Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Website visitors. See our disclaimer regarding these sites in our copyright information linked at the bottom of this page. Links will open in a new browser window.)

Special Education Complaints

If you have a complaint about the special educational needs of a child, you may wish to file a special education complaint. 

Below is a manual to assist districts in implementing Section 504.

If there are any questions, please email Adele Ciriacy or call her at 651/582-8249