Which department oversees Section 504?

• A. The Department of Justice
• B. The National Education Association
• C. The Office for Civil Rights
• D. The Department of Health and Human Services

Answer: (C)

Section 504 is a civil rights provision that prohibits disability-based discrimination in programs receiving federal financial assistance, including most schools. The department that oversees this in educational settings is the Office for Civil Rights, which is part of the U.S. Department of Education. OCR enforces Section 504, investigates complaints, and provides guidance on accommodations and accessibility to ensure students with disabilities have equal access to education. While the Department of Justice handles broader civil rights and ADA enforcement in other contexts, the specific oversight for Section 504 in schools comes from OCR in the Department of Education. This matters for school social workers when advocating for students, as OCR is the agency to engage with about 504 rights and the appropriate accommodations under a 504 plan.