Final answer:
Section 504 mandates that students with disabilities must be placed in the least restrictive environment, ensuring inclusivity and participation alongside non-disabled peers to the greatest extent possible.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct option : b
Section 504's policy regarding placement decisions emphasizes that students must be placed in the least restrictive environment. This principle aims to ensure that students with disabilities receive their education alongside their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate. Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, schools are obligated to provide eligible students with reasonable accommodations that allow for their participation in educational programs and activities.
These accommodations must be tailored to each individual's needs without unnecessarily segregating them from their peers. Therefore, placement decisions are not solely at the school's discretion nor are they to categorize students into special education programs by default. The law's intent is to integrate students with disabilities into the general education setting as much as possible, provided that the nature of the disability does not require a more specialized setting. Thus, Section 504's policy is clear about seeking inclusivity and ensuring that educational settings do not isolate or discriminate against students based on their disabilities.