Board amends civil‑rights policy to require annual review of students' 504 plans

The Stamford Board of Education on a motion amended and then adopted a revised policy on civil and legal rights that adds a requirement for annual review of students' Section 504 accommodation plans.

Dr. Hammond proposed the amendment, saying the draft language that required reevaluation "no less than every 3 years" could allow plans to lapse during school transitions and leave parents unaware of who to contact. "Students 504 will be reviewed annually and evaluated periodically," Dr. Hammond read as the amendment language he asked the board to add.

Amy, a district administrator who answered board questions, said each school has a designated 504 coordinator, principals are ultimately accountable for ensuring reviews occur, and the district houses 504 records in CT‑SEDS so administrators can run reports on timeliness. She said the three‑year requirement refers to formal documentation (for example, updated medical documentation), while teams still meet and update accommodations annually as needed.

The amendment to require annual reviews was seconded (noted in the record as by Prasad) and passed on a recorded hand vote (7 in favor, 2 opposed, 0 abstentions). The board then voted to adopt the civil and legal rights policy as amended; the chair reported that vote as unanimous.

Board members framed the change as clarifying implementation: several members urged that the board adopt policy while the administration develop companion regulations describing the detailed steps, timelines and responsibilities that will ensure the annual reviews occur. Michelle Urbina and other members emphasized the distinction between board policy (what the board adopts) and administrative regulations (how the superintendent implements it), and asked the administration to circulate proposed regulations in board packets when they are ready.

The policy was identified in the discussion with working reference 6171 and a resolution reference of 01‑28‑25:02; the board indicated the policy number will be finalized before publication. The policy adoption followed the board's policy‑committee first reading and subsequent amendment and vote.

The board did not list individual vote names in the public record during this portion of the meeting; counts were shown by hands during the roll call for the amendment and the chair announced the final policy vote as unanimous.

The board asked the superintendent and administrators to prepare and publish regulations or guidelines to accompany the policy so the public and staff can see which administrators and coordinators are responsible and how compliance will be tracked.