Does Attending Private School Mean No 504?
Wednesday October 8, 2008
Jschwech on the forum has a problem. Their daughter, who is apparently hard of hearing, attends a private school. Her parents want to know how their daughter can get 504 support even while attending a private school when the private school does not get any federal funding.
Does anyone know the answer for Jschwech? All the research I have done so far indicates that only private schools that get any form of federal funding, must comply with section 504. I answered Jschwech, but perhaps you have a better answer. If so, hop over to the forum and help Jschwech. (no registration required to post)
Comments
Jschwech’s daughter still has the right for accommodation. Instead of me explaining why, I will just send you the link from the DOJ which can be used as a template letter to the school.
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/foia/tal690.txt
The school must make reasonable modifications and that includes reasonable accommodations such as interpreters or whatever the daughter requests.
Best of luck and please email me if you have any further inquiries. I will be happy to help.
D
I had this issue last year. Contact your local special ed department (county office). Sometimes the Special Ed consultant can work with the private school to come up with a 504 (never an IEP, though). Also, perhaps you could talk to the head master of the school and see if you can come up with your own plan. After all, a 504 is simply a paper that outlines what accommodations should be made. A 504 plan is not the same as an IEP. 504 does not necessarily have the same bite as an IEP.
I read the letter posted in the previous comment.
It states the following:
“Their [the school’s] Legal Counsel has stated that the referenced Federal Statutes are not applicable because the school receives no Federal Funds.
It is my contention that as not-for-profit institutions, private schools receive funding from the United States Government in the form of exemptions from corporate income taxes and, therefore, the referenced Federal Statutes are applicable.”
So, according to that document, the exemption of taxes constitutes a way of receiving funds. It is very important to consult this with a lawyer, an advocate agency or someone that knows if exemptions qualify just as receiving the funds.
I’m hard of hearing, went to private school, but never got any type of services as my parents never requested them. Also my sister, my mom, my aunts, cousins, and my grandfather went to school withot any services. I guess that because of that, at my family we are expected to not receive such services. However, my nephew, which became hard of hearing earlier than anyone in my family, I believe he should receive assistance as he doesn’t communicate well. But my sister doesn’t want it because she feels it will make him more “disabled”, when I believe it will make him more successful at school and will learn both languages easily (Spanish and English, as they both are required in Puerto Rico). My father told me he has an higher IQ, but still, no matter how much IQ someone has, if he/she doesn’t understand well will never overcome some milestones.
:))