Section 504 regulations require a school district to provide a "free appropriate public education" (FAPE) to each qualified student with a disability who is in the school district's jurisdiction. Section 504 requires districts to provide to students with disabilities appropriate educational services designed to meet the individual needs of such students to the same extent as the needs of students without disabilities are met. Section 504 is meant to equalize educational opportunities for students with disabilities, not maximize those opportunities.
Section 504 covers qualified students with disabilities who attend schools receiving Federal financial assistance. To be protected under Section 504, a student must be determined to: (1) have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; or (2) have a record of such an impairment; or (3) be regarded as having such an impairment. Section 504 requires that school districts provide FAPE to qualified students in their jurisdictions.
At TMISD, Section 504 is overseen by the Director of Special Education. Section 504 meetings are facilitated by the campus counselors.
Section 504 Counselors
High School Lindsey Bowers lbowers@tmisd.us 361-903-6787
Middle School Annette Hinojosa ahinojosa@tmisd.us 361-903-6609
The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) enforces Section 504 in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance from the Department of Education.