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Policy IHBAL

Grievance Procedure For Persons With Disabilities

The South Portland School Department has adopted this grievance procedure to provide a  local avenue for persons with disabilities to raise concerns about whether the South  Portland School Department is fully meeting its obligations under state and federal laws  to protect persons with disabilities. This procedure is intended to meet the requirements  of the federal Rehabilitation Act (34 CFR § 104.7(b)) and the federal Americans with  Disabilities Act (28 CFR § 35.107(b)).  


Questions about this grievance procedure should be directed to the ADA/504 compliance  coordinator, the Director of Special Education.  


  1. Step One  

    • A person with an identifiable disability, or someone acting on that person’s behalf, may  file a written grievance regarding compliance with state or federal disabilities laws with  the building principal where the grievance arose, or with the ADA/504 compliance  coordinator. If filed with the ADA/504 compliance coordinator, that person shall forward  it to the appropriate building principal. No grievance will be heard if it involves actions  that occurred more than 60 days prior to the filing of the grievance.  

    • The building principal, after consultation with the ADA/504 compliance coordinator,  shall respond in writing to the grievance within 15 working days of its receipt.  Extensions of 15 working days may be allowed if necessary to address fully the issues in  the grievance. The principal’s written response shall be forwarded to the grievant and to  the ADA/504 compliance coordinator.  

  1. Step Two  

    • If dissatisfied with the response, the grievant may obtain a review by the Superintendent  of the principal’s decision.  

    • The grievant must request that review within 15 working days of the decision by the  principal. The Superintendent, after consultation with the ADA/504 compliance  coordinator, shall respond in writing to the grievance within 15 working days.  Extensions of 15 working days may be allowed when necessary to address fully the  issues in the grievance. The Superintendent’s written response shall be forwarded to the  grievant and to the ADA/504 compliance coordinator.  

Adopted: July 8, 2002 

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