How are qualified students disciplined under Section 504?

A student may be removed for less than 10 days (short-term removal) due to misconduct in the same manner as nondisabled students. A 504 team must conduct a Manifestation Determination Review (MDR) following a decision to remove a student from school for more than ten (10) consecutive school days or for a series of short-term removals that constitute a pattern in a school year. If the misconduct was caused by the student's disability, the student may not be removed. If the misconduct was not related to the student's disability, the school may impose the same discipline it would impose on a nondisabled student under the same circumstance. If the student is engaging in the illegal use of drugs or alcohol and is being disciplined for the use or possession of illegal drugs or alcohol, an MDR is not required.