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(2.40) If I request an assessment for Section 504 eligibility, does the school district have to assess my child to determine their eligibility for accommodations and/or services?

(2.40) If I request an assessment for Section 504 eligibility, does the school district have to assess my child to determine their eligibility for accommodations and/or services?

No. If the school district believes that your child does not have a “physical or mental impairment which substantially limits a major life activity,” the district may refuse to evaluate them. If you disagree with the district, you would have to file for a Section 504 hearing to require the district to evaluate your child for eligibility.[1]

However, if a district does agree that a child has or may have such an impairment, a delay of four months to conduct the evaluation was found to be a violation of Section 504.[2]

  1. U.S. Dep’t of Educ., Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Memorandum (April 29, 1993), 19 IDELR 876.[]
  2. Tracy (CA) Unified Sch. Dist., 115 LRP 17619 (OCR Feb. 11, 2015)[]