Chapter 5: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Test Questions
True or False
1. All students with disabilities who attend public schools, whether or not they are protected by
the IDEA, are protected under section 504.
2. Federal funds are available under Section 504 to help school districts meet the requirements
of the law.
3. Students with temporary disabilities are never covered under Section 504.
4. The placement of students with disabilities in portable units that are designated solely for use
by students with disabilities would be a violation of Section 504.
5. Section 504 identifies the specific individuals who must be on the Section 504 team.
6. Section 504 protects only children and students from age 3 to 21 from discrimination.
However, states may choose to extend protection to students for birth to age 2.
7. A student with disabilities who needs related services or accommodations but not a special
education is not considered disabled under Section 504.
8. A student with disabilities who is guaranteed a free appropriate education under the IDEA is
automatically considered disabled under Section 504.
9. A student with disabilities guaranteed a free appropriate education under Section 504 is
automatically considered disabled under the IDEA.
10. Under Section 504 the definition of a person with a disability protects an individual with a
contagious disease; however, administrators may remove a student from a classroom if the
student poses a risk to others or is to ill to participate.
Multiple Choice
1. With regards to discrimination in postsecondary education, Section 504 claims are most
likely to arise in the area(s) of
a. Admissions
b. Access to nonacademic programs or activities
c. Placement
d. Both a & b
e. Both b & c
2. An important distinction between the Section 504 responsibilities of elementary and
secondary schools and those of postsecondary schools is that in elementary and secondary
schools ____________, while in postsecondary schools_____________.
a. the schools have an affirmative duty to locate and serve must find students with
disabilities; students must self-identify.
b. parents that must identify their children; students must to self-identify.
c. students must self-identify; the schools have an affirmative duty to locate and
serve must find students with disabilities
d. the schools must conduct a mandatory standardized screening tests for all
students; the school have use affirmative measures to find students with
disabilities
3. The Section 504 requirement that educational services designed to meet the needs of students
with disabilities must do so as adequately as services designed to meet the needs of students
without disabilities is referred to as
a. Non-discriminatory education.
b. Equivalency.
c. Free appropriate public education.
d. Least restrictive environment.
4. According to Zirkel, the matter of ______________ has been the subject of more Office of
Civil Rights investigations than any other requirement of Section 504.
a. Placement
b. Discrimination
c. Evaluation
d. Curriculum appropriateness
5. The multidisciplinary team which convenes to interpret evaluation data and make
programming and placement decisions is to be composed of persons who are
a. knowledgeable about the student.
b. knowledgeable about the meaning of the evaluation data.
c. knowledgeable about the placement options.
d. All of the above.
6.
Which of the following has been determined not to be a disability under Section 504?
a. Emotional Disturbances
b. Specific Learning Disabilities.
c. Orthopedic Impairments
d. Communicable Diseases
e. All of the above have been determined to be disabilities
7. An area of similarity between Section 504 and the IDEA is that both emphasize
a. an equivalency definition of an appropriate education.
b. a set of comprehensive rules for school districts to follow in writing IEPs.
c. a functional approach to defining a handicap.
d. Placement in the least restrictive environment.
8. Which of the following persons are protected under Section 504? (May be more than one
answer)
a. Children with ADHD
b. School employees with disabilities
c. Parents with disabilities
d. Aged persons with disabilities
e. Students in private schools.
f. Students in special education.
9. In which of the following ways does Section 504 differ from the IDEA? (May be more than
one answer)
a. Section 504 protects all people with disabilities (regardless of age); the IDEA
only benefits students with disabilities.
b. The Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Education enforces section 504;
the Office of Special Education Programs of the Department of Education
enforces the IDEA.
c. Section 504 protects persons with disabilities from discrimination but provides no
federal money; the IDEA affords educational programming to students with
disabilities as well as providing federal money.
d. Section does not require that students be evaluated prior to receiving services; the
IDEA does require an evaluation.
e. Section 504 does not allow school personnel to take the needs of a student’s
classroom peers into account when moving a disruptive student with disabilities
into a regular classroom; the IDEA does allow the IEP team to take the needs of a
student’s classroom peers into account when moving a disruptive student with
disabilities into a regular classroom.
f. Section 504 does not require that schools develop an IEP for a student with a
disability; the IDEA does require that a team of persons develop an IEP for a
student with a disability.
10.
Which of the following problems should trigger a referral under Section 504? (May be more
than one answer)
a. A student was referred to special education but a decision was made not to
evaluate him or her.
b. A student is referred by his or her parents for evaluation under Section 504.
c. A student is referred by his or her teacher for evaluation under Section 504.
d. A student exhibits a chronic health condition.
e. A student may be abusing drugs.
f. A student returns to school after a serious illness or injury.
g. A student was referred to special education but was determined not to be eligible
for services under the IDEA.
Short Answer
1. Briefly describe the purpose of Section 504.
2. What are “major life activities” as defined by Section 504?
3. To determine if the limitations of a disability are substantial, what three factors might be
taken into consideration?
4. Is the IDEA or Section 504 more specific about defining disabilities? Support your answer.
5. What constitute “otherwise qualified” for an elementary or secondary student.
6. If a student has a physics class on the third floor, and the school does not have an elevator,
what is the school responsible for? How could they legally carry out their responsibility?
7. How do the “otherwise qualified” requirements of Section 504 apply to extracurricular
activities?
8. Describe examples of accommodations that teachers may make in classroom for students
protected under Section 504.
9. Why is it not advisable to use IEP plans for students who are not IDEA eligible?
10. Describe and discuss actions that parents may take under the Section 504 grievance
procedures when they believe their child has been discriminated against.
Essay
1. How can school districts ensure that they do not discriminate against students with
disabilities?
2. List and explain at least 4 administrative responsibilities under Section 504 that school
districts must fulfill.
3. List and explain at least 4 educational obligations under Section 504 that school districts
must fulfill.
4. Briefly trace the development of Section 504.
Chapter 5: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
True or False
Multiple Choice