Office for Civil Rights Requires Livonia Public Schools (MI) to Address 504 Plan, Recess, and Placement Concerns
OCR identifies concerns the district inconsistently implemented 504 accommodations, restricted recess because of disability-related behavior, and handled behavior supports outside the 504 process.
April 27, 2026, U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a letter to Livonia Public Schools (LPS) in Michigan, after investigating a complaint filed by a parent on behalf of a student who has a 504 plan.
OCR investigated three allegations:
“The District failed to provide certain accommodations documented in the Student’s Section 504 plan, including a) books for home use; b) breaks; and c) positioning at the front of the line and front of the school bus;
“The District did not allow the Student to play with his peers during recess because of his disability-related behaviors; and
“The District retaliated against the Student by not providing suspension document and homework after the April 27, 2023, suspension because of a prior OCR complaint.”
OCR found insufficient evidence to support the retaliation allegation but did identify concerns with the first two allegations.
Before OCR completed its investigation into those issues, LPS expressed interest in resolving the complaint. April 24, 2026, LPS entered into a resolution agreement with OCR after OCR determined its investigation had identified issues that could be addressed through a resolution agreement.
