Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (34 C.F.R. Part 104) is a federal civil rights statute that assures individuals will not be discriminated against based on their disability. All school districts that receive federal funding are responsible for the implementation of this law.

Section 504 protects a student with an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, whether the student receives special education services or not.

• Examples of physical or mental impairments that may be covered under Section 504 include: epilepsy, AIDS, allergies, vision impairment, broken limbs, cancer, diabetes, asthma, temporary condition due to accidents or illness, ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, depression, intellectual disability, traumatic brain injury, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

• Examples of major life activities that can be affected by the student’s disability include: learning, thinking, concentrating, reading, speaking, walking, breathing, sleeping, caring for oneself, as well as major bodily functions, including brain function, immune system function, or digestive functions. This is not an exhaustive list.

What can I do if I think my child has Autism?

Acting early and getting the right supports while your child is young will help them, and your family, in the long run.

• Talk to your child's doctor: Share any questions or concerns about how your child is playing, learning, speaking, or acting. It may be helpful to write some notes about you are observing and bring those to your appointment. Ask the doctor about developmental screening.

• Ask about referrals: If you or your doctor has remaining questions about your child's development, ask for a referral to see a developmental pediatrician, child psychologist, or other specialist who can do a more in-depth evaluation.

• Contact your school district: If your child is under age five, contact Minnesota's early intervention system, also known as Help Me Grow 1-866-693-4769 through the school district to discuss any services that may help your child and family. If your child is five years or older, contact your local school district's special education services. You can call the district even if your child isn't enrolled in school.

MN Statute 125A.01

“Dyslexia” means a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate or fluent recognition of words and by poor spelling and decoding abilities.

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) programs provide supports and services to infants, toddlers, and preschool children with disabilities and their families. 

A bill was passed during the spring 2023 legislative session granting all students one free breakfast and one free lunch per day beginning with the 2023/24 school year. Even with this change, it is very important to complete the Application for Educational Benefits. How will this benefit you? Qualifying families receive reduced rates for co-curricular activity fees and chromebook insurance. In addition, the Application for Educational Benefits program also provides additional financial help to our schools.

The Fergus Falls Public Schools receives extra revenue based on the percentage of our students who qualify for free/reduced meals and that funding is directly tied to programs that help our students. Both our families and the school district benefit when you complete the application.

If you feel your family may qualify, please take a couple of minutes to complete the application. The program continues to benefit you and the additional funding is extremely important in enabling us to meet the needs of our students.

What are transition services?

Transition services are a coordinated set of activities to help youth with disabilities move from school toward their best life in adulthood. Services are outcome-oriented and based on a youth's educational needs and preferences for their future.

Transition services may include instruction, community experiences, employment and other postschool adult-living objectives — all based on a youth's individual needs.