Section 504 Services

  • Section 504 is a federal civil rights law that focuses on the non-discrimination of students with disabilities. The law says that a public school, or any other federally funded public facility, cannot discriminate against a student because of a disability and must be given the same opportunities to participate in academic and extracurricular activities.

    Under Section 504, students with disabilities may receive accommodation and services to ensure that their individual educational needs are met as adequately as those of non-disabled students.

    Our Purpose

    ACCEPT referrals from individuals who suspect a student has a disability.
    GUIDE individuals who suspect a student has a disability through the process to determine a student's eligibility and needed services.
    EDUCATE teachers, campuses, parents, and the community on Section 504 laws and procedures.
    ASSIST campuses in following laws that mandate the referred, eligibility, and provided services for students identified under Section 504.
    CREATE individual accommodation plans to ensure student success in all academic and extracurricular areas.

    Definition
    Section 504 defines a person with a disability as any person who:

    1. has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities without considering the effects of mitigating factors,
    2. has a record of such impairment; or
    3. is regarded as having such impairment.

    Process

    Section 504 referrals are initiated through the campus 504 Specialist on each campus which can be found below. Please contact your campus 504 Specialist with any questions you may have regarding evaluation, accommodations or other support.

    Campus 504 Specialist Contact Information
    Paul Laurence Dunbar Early Education Center Amanda Magness 903.794.8112 ext. 4130
    Highland Park Elementary School Amanda Magness 903.793.8001 ext. 1661
    Spring Lake Park Elementary School Amanda Magness 903.794.7525 ext. 1532
    Theron Jones Early Literacy Center Amanda Magness 903.793.4871 ext. 5504
    Martha and Josh Morriss
      Mathematics & Engineering Elementary School
    Claire Wilson 903.791.2262 ext. 49049
    Nash Elementary School Claire Wilson 903.838.4321 ext. 86403
    Waggoner Creek Elementary School Claire Wilson 903.255.3301 ext. 70170
    Wake Village Elementary School Ashley Sims 903.838.4261 ext. 8518
    Westlawn Elementary School Melinda Hornbeck 903.223.4252 ext. 6507
    Texas Middle School - 6th Grade Center Ashley Sims 903. 793.5631 ext.75144
    Texas Middle School – 7th and 8th Grade Susan Burris 903. 793.5631 ext.76544
    Texas High School Jamie Friday 903.793.3891 ext. 2535
    OPTIONS Early Graduation High School Deborah Mayfield 903.793.5632 ext. 1736


    Christy Tidwell
    Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction
    3413 Summerhill Road
    Texarkana, Texas 75503
    Phone:903.793.7561 ext. 1305
    Fax: 903.255.3280


    §504 CHILD FIND NOTICE 
    Pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the District has a duty to identify, refer, evaluate and if eligible, provide a free, appropriate public education to disabled students. For additional information about the rights of parents of eligible children, or for answers to any questions you might have about identification, evaluation and placement into Section 504 programs, please contact the District’s Section 504 Coordinator, Sherry Nelson, at 903.793.7561 ext. 1305 or sherry.nelson@txkisd.net.