Section 504 is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education (ED).  Specifically, Section 504 indicates that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall, solely because of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal funds.

The Section 504 regulation requires a school district to provide a "free appropriate public education" (FAPE) to each qualified student with a disability who is in the school district's jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability.  FAPE consists of the provision of regular or special education and related aids and services designed to meet the student's individual needs.