Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act reflects Congress’ intent that schools receiving federal funding provide protections and services to students with disabilities. Palo Alto Unified School District has two important responsibilities to students with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. All such students are entitled to an equal opportunity to participate in the services, programs, and activities offered in public schools, without discrimination. In addition, all such students are provided with a free appropriate education, which may include special education, related services, appropriate accommodations, and other supports to allow them to access a school’s educational services through the creation and implementation of a Section 504 service plan.

As a recipient of federal funds and a school district dedicated to ensuring that all students access excellent teaching and learning, the Palo Alto Unified School District is committed to ensuring that all students eligible under Section 504 are protected from discrimination and receive necessary educational services, accommodations and supports at school. More information about Parent Rights and Procedural Safeguards are available below:

If you believe that your child would meet the criteria for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, please contact the school secondary counselor or Site 504 Leads. The site 504 Lead can discuss your child's needs and provide you with information on how to initiate the process as appropriate.   

If you have questions about 504 Plans or would like to request a review for assessment, please contact Wellness & Support Services at (650) 833-4208. 

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504 Leads

SchoolLead NameTitlePhone numberE-mail
Gunn HSMichalis GordonAssistant Principal650-354-8200mgordon@pausd.org
Palo Alto High SchoolClarisse HaxtonAssistant Principal650-329-3701chaxton@pausd.org
Greene Middle SchoolAidee RodriguezSchool Psychologist650-494-8120airodriguez@pausd.org
JLS Middle SchoolMegan WarterSchool Psychologist650-856-5188mwarter@pausd.org
Fletcher Middle SchoolTodd DalySchool Psychologist650-856-9810tdaly@pausd.org
AddisonRita RodriguezSchool Psychologist650-322-5935rrodriguez@pausd.org
Barron ParkHector MoraSchool Psychologist650-858-0508hmora@pausd.org
DuveneckErika GardinerSchool Psychologist650-322-5946egardiner@pausd.org
El Carmelo  Marci HakemanSchool Psychologist 650-856-0960mhakeman@pausd.org
HooverTBDSchool PsychologistTBDTBD
EscondidoSheri HeiseSchool Psychologist650-856-1337sheise@pausd.org
FairmeadowAndrea SaxrudSchool Psychologist650-856-0845asaxrud@pausd.org
Juana BrionesBradford MartinSchool Psychologist650-856-0877bmartin@pausd.org
Walter HayesLondy ReidySchool Psychologist650-322-5956yreidy@pausd.org
NixonSamira RastegarSchool Psychologist650-856-1622srastegar@pausd.org
OhloneScott YarbroughSchool Psychologist650-856-1726syarbrough@pausd.org
Palo VerdeLaura Clark-PostSchool Psychologist650-856-1672lclark@pausd.org
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Notice of Parent Rights and Procedural Safeguards Under Section 504

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 NOTICE OF PARENT RIGHTS AND PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS UNDER SECTION 504 This is a notice of your rights regarding the identification, evaluation, and placement of your child under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These rights are designed to keep you fully informed about the District’s decisions about your child and to inform you of your rights if you disagree with any of those decisions.

  1. Parents/guardians shall receive written notice of all District decisions regarding the identification, evaluation, and/or placement of their child. The parent/guardian has a right to participate in the Section 504 team meeting to determine eligibility, program, placement and discipline-related issues. The parent shall receive advanced notice of team meetings. The parent is not entitled to a postponement of a Section 504 team meeting, but may receive one per request.
  2. Parents/guardians have a right to examine all relevant records regarding their child. The parents/guardians shall receive copies of all Section 504 team assessments and documents related to the District’s Section 504 decisions related to his/her child.
  3. Parents/guardians have the right to request an administrative review of a District decision concerning the identification, evaluation, and/or placement of their child under Section 504.
  4. Parents/guardians also have a right to an impartial hearing with the opportunity for participation by the parent/guardian to resolve disagreements with the District relating to the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of their child, including assessment needs, eligibility, program, placement, related service needs and issues related to discipline. A request for a hearing must be filed in writing with the District Section 504 Coordinator:

    Student Services Coordinator
    Palo Alto Unified School District
    25 Churchill Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306

    Upon such a request, an impartial hearing officer shall be retained by the District. Additional information regarding these rights and the process for impartial Section 504 hearings are set forth in District regulations at Administrative Regulation (AR) 6164.6: Identification and Education under Section 504. Copies of these regulations are available from the District Section 504 Coordinator at Palo Alto Unified School District, 25 Churchill Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306.
     
  5. Parents have the right to file a complaint based on disability harassment, pursuant to the Uniform Complaint Procedure or the district’s site-level complaint process (UCP-BP 1312.4, AR 1312.4; Bullying-AR 5131.2)
  6. Parents/guardians have the right to file a complaint regarding an alleged violation of Section 504 with the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”). Additional information regarding OCR’s complaint process is available at: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html
  7.  Should a parent/guardian have any concerns or questions concerning their rights, the Section 504 process or any other related issue, the parent/guardian is encouraged to contact that school site 504 Lead as listed in 504 Leads or Secondary School Counselor.  If an issue cannot be resolved at the site and the parent/guardian wishes to discuss the matter further, file a grievance, or if the parents/guardians wish to file a request for an impartial hearing, the parent may contact Palo Alto Unified School District, 25 Churchill Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306, (650) 329-3769.