Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that repeals previous restrictions prohibiting students with disabilities from attending universities of higher education

Highlights:

• Prohibits individuals with severe intellectual disabilities, severe autism spectrum disorders, or other severe developmental disabilities from being required to do any of the following in order to participate in undergraduate academic courses, internships and work-based trainings, extracurricular activities, and all other aspects of campus life (Sec. 8):

• Take any standardized college entrance aptitude test;

• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent;

• Meet minimum academic course requirements;

• Meet minimum grade point average requirements; or

• Obtain a passing score on the statewide assessment tests.

• Authorizes public institutions of higher education to create guidelines including, but not limited to determining campus capacity, course selection guidance, and the selection of students with relevant local, state, or other public agencies serving students with severe intellectual disabilities, severe autism spectrum disorders, or other severe developmental disabilities (Sec. 8).

• Requires participating individuals to be permitted to take a credit-bearing, undergraduate academic course for credit if they have met the course prerequisites or audit a credit-bearing, undergraduate academic course, for audit participation if they have not met the course prerequisites (Sec. 8).

• Requires participating individuals to have access to and be included in all academic and nonacademic opportunities including, but not limited to employment and civic engagement (Sec. 8).

• Requires individual supports and services to be made available to support the inclusion  of participating individuals (Sec. 8).

• Specifies that public institutions of higher education are not required to bear the costs of individual supports and services that exceed those generally provided and that these may be an approved expense as a special education service under section 5 of chapter 71B which may be subject to the availability of federal funding and appropriation under section 74 of chapter 6, subject to appropriation under chapter 19B, or covered by any other public or private sources available to the student (Sec. 8). 

• Authorizes students who are 18 to 21 years old, have severe intellectual disabilities, severe autism spectrum disorders, or other severe developmental disabilities, and are receiving special education services to also have program options including, but not limited to (Sec. 9):

• Continuing education;

• Participation in credit and noncredit courses that include students without disabilities;

• Development of independent living skills;

• Development of skills necessary for employment; and

• Development of skills to access community services.

• Requires the Department of Higher Education to develop and administer a discretionary grant program to provide funding to school committees and public institutions of higher education partnering to offer inclusive concurrent enrollment initiative options for 18 to 21 year old students with severe intellectual disabilities, severe autism spectrum disorders, or other severe developmental disabilities, and support partnerships that provide (Sec. 10):

• Participation in credit and non-credit courses that include students without disabilities; 

• Participation in on-campus student life activities;

• Preparation for competitive employment;

• The waiver of tuition for courses;

• The provision of supports and services necessary to facilitate student participation and support inclusion in academic courses, extracurricular activities, internships, and work experiences; 

• Education, training, and technical assistance for teachers, faculty, and personnel regarding strategy and teaching methodology for individuals with severe disabilities; 

• Full inclusion in all aspects of higher education; and 

• The utilization of person-centered planning in the development of the course of study for each participating student.

• Requires an annual report regarding the grant program to be filed, including but not limited to (Sec. 10):

• Enrollment and employment data for participating students;

• A list of full-time and part-time employment positions supported by the grant program and their average salaries;

• A summary of strategies and practices implemented at each institution;

• A list of all courses taken by participating students; and

• The total funding received for the program.

• Requires the secretary of education and secretary of health and human services to, as necessary, develop inter-agency agreements, policies, and practices to maximize federal financial participation through Medicaid, maximize federal financial aid, support institutions of higher education offering opportunities to include individuals with disabilities, and address any other issues necessary for successful inclusion (Sec. 11).

Full Bill Text