Section 504
Section 504 is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Section 504 provides: "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States . . . shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance…" (1)
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, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability. Under Section 504, FAPE consists of the provision of regular or special education and related aids and services designed to meet the student's individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of nondisabled students are met. (1)
St. Francis Area Schools is committed to identifying and serving all students that qualify for the provisions available under section 504. Below are documents outlining 504 procedures specific to St. Francis Area Schools. Additional resources for parents and students are also included below. (1)
Source (1): US Department of Education
Section 504 Important Forms & Resources
- Section 504 Notice of Student and Parent/Guardian Rights (Procedural Safeguards)
- Parent Referral for Section 504 Evaluation
- Section 504 Evaluation Procedures
- Section 504 Plan Procedures
- Student Disability Discrimination Grievance Report Form
- School Board Policy 421: Student Disability Nondiscrimination Policy
Additional Section 504 Resources
- United States Department of Education: Protecting Students with Disabilities
- United States Department of Education: Disability Discrimination
- PACER Center: Students with Disabilities and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Minnesota Department of Education: Section 504 Plans
- A Parent’s Guide to Section 504 in Public Schools
- School Board Policy 421: Student Disability Nondiscrimination Policy
School Contact Information
Early Childhood Family Center
Jennifer Dupre
Phone: 763-753-7171
Email: jennifer.dupre@isd15.org
Cedar Creek Elementary School
Shelly Gilmore
Phone: 763-213-8781
Email: shelly.gilmore@isd15.org
East Bethel Elementary School
Melissa Kivi
Phone: 763-213-8901
Email: melissa.kivi@isd15.org
St. Francis Elementary School
Ryan Johnson
Phone: 763-213-8671
Email: ryan.johnson@isd15.org
St. Francis Middle School
Lyndsay Rynda
Phone: 763-213-8535
Email: lindsay.rynda@isd15.org
St. Francis High School
Tammy Sworsky
Phone: 763-213-1571
Email: tammy.sworsky@isd15.org
Saints Academy, Saints Online, Guided Studies
Erica Campbell
Phone: 763-753-7148
Email: erica.campbell@isd15.org
Crossroads School - Bar None
Amanda Heywood
Phone: 763-753-7132
Email: amanda.heywoood@isd15.org
Districtwide 504 Supervisor
Sonni Buerskin
Phone: 763-753-7013
Email: sonni.buerskin@isd15.org
Districtwide 504 Coordinator
Tim Finn, Director of Special Services
Phone: 763-753-7046
Email: tim.finn@isd15.org