Supporting postsecondary faculty, staff, and administrators in providing accessible education

(a) Grants Section 762 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1140b) is amended to read as follows: 762. Grants authorized (a) Competitive grants authorized To support postsecondary faculty, staff, and administrators in providing an accessible education (1) In general From amounts appropriated under section 765C, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher education to enable the institutions to carry out the activities under subsection (b). (2) Awards for professional development and technical assistance Not less than 5 grants shall be awarded to institutions of higher education that provide professional development and technical assistance in order to improve access to, and completion of, postsecondary education for students, including students with disabilities. (b) Duration; activities (1) Duration A grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of 5 years. (2) Authorized activities A grant awarded under this section shall be used to carry out one or more of the following activities: (A) Teaching methods and strategies The development and implementation of training to provide innovative, effective, and evidence-based teaching methods and strategies, consistent with the principles of universal design for learning, to provide postsecondary faculty, staff, and administrators with the skills and supports necessary to teach and meet the academic and programmatic needs of students (including students with disabilities) in order to improve the retention of such students in, and the completion by such students of, postsecondary education. Such methods and strategies may include in-service training, professional development, customized and general technical assistance, workshops, summer institutes, distance learning, and training in the use of assistive and educational technology. (B) Implementing accommodations The development and implementation of training to provide postsecondary faculty, staff, and administrators methods and strategies of providing appropriate accommodations consistent with the principles of universal design (as defined in section 103) for learning for students with disabilities, including descriptions of legal obligations of the institution of higher education to provide such accommodations. (C) Effective transition practices The development and implementation of innovative, effective, and evidence-based teaching methods and strategies to provide postsecondary faculty, staff, and administrators with the skills and supports necessary to ensure the successful and smooth transition of students with disabilities from secondary school to postsecondary education. The teaching methods and strategies may include supporting students in the development of self-advocacy skills to improve transition to, and completion of, postsecondary education. (D) Distance learning The development and implementation of training to provide innovative, effective, and evidence-based teaching methods and strategies to enable postsecondary faculty, staff, and administrators to provide accessible distance education programs or classes that would enhance the access of students (including students with disabilities) to postsecondary education, including the use of accessible curricula and electronic communication for instruction and advising that meet the requirements of section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d). (E) Career pathway guidance The development and implementation of effective and evidence-based teaching methods and strategies to provide postsecondary faculty, staff, and administrators with the ability to advise students with disabilities with respect to their chosen career pathway, which shall include at least one of the following: (i) Supporting internships, apprenticeships registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the National Apprenticeship Act; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), or work-based learning opportunities. (ii) Counseling on coursework to meet the degree, certificate, or recognized postsecondary credential appropriate for the field chosen. (iii) Developing self-advocacy skills to advocate for appropriate accommodations once in the workplace. (iv) Support with selecting a career pathway that leads to competitive, integrated employment. (3) Mandatory evaluation and dissemination An institution of higher education awarded a grant under this section shall evaluate and disseminate to other institutions of higher education the information obtained through the activities described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (2). (c) Considerations in making awards In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall consider the following: (1) Geographic distribution Providing an equitable geographic distribution of such awards. (2) Rural and urban areas Distributing such awards to urban and rural areas. (3) Range and type of institution Ensuring that the activities to be assisted are developed for a range of types and sizes of institutions of higher education. (d) Reports (1) Initial report Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the authorizing committees, and make available to the public, a report on all projects awarded grants under this part, including a review of the activities and program performance of such projects based on existing information as of the date of the report. (2) Subsequent report Not later than five years after the date of the first award of a grant under this section after the date of the Improving Access to Higher Education Act, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the authorizing committees, and make available to the public, a report that— (A) reviews the activities and program performance of the projects authorized under subsection (b); and (B) provides guidance and recommendations on how effective projects can be replicated.. (b) Applications Section 763 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1140c) is amended to read as follows: 763. Applications Each institution of higher education desiring to receive a grant under section 762 shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. Each application shall include— (1) a description of the activities authorized under section 762(b) that the institution proposes to carry out, and how such institution plans to conduct such activities in order to further the purposes of this subpart; (2) a description of how the institution consulted with a broad range of people, including individuals with expertise in disability supports or special education, within the institution to develop activities for which assistance is sought; (3) a description of how the institution will coordinate and collaborate with the office of accessibility; and (4) a description of the extent to which the institution will work to replicate the research-based and best practices of institutions of higher education with demonstrated effectiveness in serving students with disabilities..