The Effect of Section 504 Plans on Elementary Student Attendance

The purpose of this causal-comparative, quantitative study was to compare the attendance of students with a Section 504 plan to their non-disabled peers, in School District A, located in central Virginia. A study of this nature is important, as attendance is a key indicator for student success and academic progress. Additionally, the Virginia Department of Education has recently established standards for accreditation based on school attendance. Students with disabilities are at an increased risk of being truant from school. Section 504 plans are federal mandates set in place under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973/1974 that ensure students with disabilities receive educational opportunities that are equal to their non-disabled peers. The researcher used archival data from School District A. The sample included students from 11 elementary schools. Students with a Section 504 plan was the independent variable, and their attendance rate was the dependent variable. The researcher used a Mann-Whitney U test to compare the attendance rates of students with Section 504 plans and the attendance rates of their non-disabled peers. The researcher found there was not a significant difference in the attendance rates of students with a 504 plan as compared to their non-disabled peers. Further research might include behavior and academic data for students with 504 plans as compared to their non-disabled peers