If you disagree with the district on any matter relating to identification, evaluation, provision of FAPE, or placement, you may request a Section 504 hearing. The regulations require that the hearing be impartial, and that parents/guardians/other education rights holders have the opportunity to participate and be represented by counsel.[1] Each school district establishes its own Section 504 hearing procedures. The school district chooses a hearing officer to make a decision on the disagreement. OCR has stated that employees and board members of your district may not serve as hearing officers. If another district shares a contract with your district to provide services to students with disabilities, its employees are also prohibited from serving as hearing officers.[2]
However, if you believe your child has not been afforded their rights under Section 504 (i.e. the district has not followed Section 504 requirements and procedures), you may file a complaint with OCR. OCR administers and enforces Section 504 protections in education. You have 180 days from the date of alleged violation to file your complaint with OCR.
If you wish to file a complaint with OCR, you can access the form online at https://ocrcas.ed.gov/office-for-civil-rights-discrimination-complaint-form or you can write or call OCR at one of the addresses below and ask for a copy of the complaint form and instruction sheet for filing a complaint:
The OCR National Headquarters is located at:
U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1100
Telephone: 800-421-3481
FAX: 202-453-6012; TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: OCR@ed.gov
As of August 2025, the OCR office for California is located at:
Seattle Office
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
915 Second Avenue Room 3310
Seattle, WA 98174-1099
Telephone: 206-607-1600
FAX: 206-607-1601; TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: OCR.Seattle@ed.gov
As of August 2025, California’s OCR office in San Francisco is currently closed:
Office for Civil Rights,
San Francisco Office
U.S. Department of Education
50 United Nations Plaza
San Francisco, CA 94102
Telephone: (415) 486-5555
Facsimile: (415) 486-5570
Email: OCR.SanFrancisco@ed.gov
See Chapter 6, Information on Due Process/Compliance Procedures.