# SECTION I - FEDERAL RULES & REGULATIONS # SPECIAL EDUCATION (SECTION 504) (4.49) In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Arkansas Statutes, the district shall provide a free appropriate public education and necessary related services to all children with disabilities who reside: - Within the district boundaries; or - Outside of the District boundaries but are enrolled in the District. It is the intent of the district to ensure that students who are disabled within the definition of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are identified, evaluated and provided with appropriate educational services. Students may be disabled within the meaning of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act even though they do not require services pursuant to the IDEA. For students eligible for services under IDEA, the District shall follow procedures for identification, evaluation, placement, and delivery of services to children with disabilities provided in the state and federal statutes governing special education. Implementation of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in accordance with the IDEA satisfies the district's obligation to provide a free and appropriate education under Section 504. The Board directs the superintendent to ensure procedures are in place for the implementation of special education services and that programs are developed to conform to the requirements of state and federal legislation. The superintendent is responsible for appointing a district coordinator for overseeing district fulfillment of its responsibilities regarding students with disabilities. Among the coordinator’s responsibilities shall be ensuring district enforcement of the due process rights of students with disabilities and their parents. # NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY The West Fork School District 141 agrees that it will comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (20 U.S.C. 794), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.); to the effect that, no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age or handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or otherwise be subject to discrimination under any program or activity for which the program applicant received Federal financial assistance; and hereby, gives assurance that it will immediately take measures necessary to effectuate this agreement. # CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED PRAYER - SECTION 9524 of ESEA Section 9524 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, requires that as a condition of receiving ESEA funds, a local educational agency (LEA) must certify in writing yearly to the State education agency (SEA) that it has no policy that prevents, or otherwise denies participation in, constitutionally protected prayer in public elementary and secondary schools. # TITLE IX In June 1972, Congress passed Title IX of the Education Amendments, a law that affects virtually every educational institution in the country. The law prohibits discrimination by sex in educational programs that receive federal funds. 1. The law states in part that "no person in the United States shall on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal assistance". 2. Male and female students must be eligible for benefits, services and financial aid without discrimination on the basis of sex. # 4.11—EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY No student in the West Fork School District shall be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity sponsored by the District on the basis of any protected classification under the law. The District has a limited open forum granting equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other youth groups. Inquiries on non-discrimination may be directed to the District’s Equity (Title IX) Coordinator: Mr. Carl Clements. West Fork School District 359 School Avenue West Fork, AR 72774 479-839-2231, ext. 4032 Any person may report sex discrimination, including sex-based harassment, to the Title IX Coordinator in person or by using the mailing address, telephone number, or email address provided above. A report may be made at any time, including during non-business hours, and may be on the individual’s own behalf or on behalf of another individual who is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sex-based harassment. For further information on notice of non-discrimination or to file a complaint, visit; [https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.html](https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.html) for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481. # FERPA The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-380) states in part that “all academic and personal records pertaining to individual students are confidential and can only be inspected by parents and school officials.” Laws and regulations require West Fork Public Schools to: 1. Provide parents and eligible students the opportunity to inspect education records. 2. Provide parents and eligible students the opportunity to challenge the contents of the record when they believe it contains information that is inaccurate, misleading or an invasion of the student’s right to privacy. 3. Limit disclosure of information from a student’s record to those who have written consent of the parent or eligible student or to officials specifically permitted by law to those of other schools, in which the student seeks to enroll, and (under certain conditions and for specific purposes) to local, state and Federal officials. 4. The law also requires the school system to define “directory information” and to inform parents and eligible students what it is and to explain how this can prevent any or all parts of directory information from being released. Parents and eligible students may refuse to allow the release of any of the above items. They must notify the principals of the student’s school in writing and identify the specific information to be withheld. When any student has reached the age of 18 or is attending an institution of post-secondary education, the law states that “the rights accorded to and the consent required of the parent of the student shall thereafter only be accorded to and required of the eligible student.”