Postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities

(a) Purpose Section 766 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1140f) is amended to read as follows: 766. Purpose It is the purpose of this subpart to support inclusive programs that promote the successful transition of students with intellectual disabilities into higher education and the earning of a degree, certificate, or recognized postsecondary credential issued by the institution of higher education.. (b) Programs for students with intellectual disabilities Section 767 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1140g) is amended to read as follows: 767. Inclusive higher education programs for students with intellectual disabilities (a) Grants authorized (1) In general From amounts appropriated under section 769(a), the Secretary shall annually award grants, on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher education (or consortia of three or more institutions of higher education), to enable such institutions or consortia to create or expand a comprehensive transition and postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities. (2) Eligibility and appropriations limits (A) Relation to other grants An institution of higher education that received a grant under this section before the date of the enactment of the Improving Access to Higher Education Act may not receive an additional grant under this section unless— (i) the institution receives a grant as part of a consortium of three or more institutions of higher education; or (ii) the grant term of such preceding grant has ended. (B) Limitation on amounts (i) Institution of higher education A grant under this section made to an institution of higher education may not be in an amount greater than $300,000. (ii) Consortium A grant under this section made to a consortia of institutions of higher education may not be in an amount greater than $500,000. (3) Administration The program under this section shall be administered by the office in the Department that administers other postsecondary education programs in consultation with the Office of Postsecondary Education and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services of the Department of Education. (4) Duration of grants A grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of 5 years. (b) Application An institution of higher education or a consortium desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (c) Award basis In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall— (1) provide for an equitable geographic distribution of such grants; (2) to the extent possible, provide for an equitable distribution of such grants between 4-year institutions of higher education and 2-year institutions of higher education, including community colleges; (3) provide grant funds for high-quality, inclusive higher education programs for students with intellectual disabilities, hereinafter referred to as inclusive higher education programs, that will serve areas that are underserved by programs of this type; (4) in the case of an institution of higher education that provides institutionally owned or operated housing for students attending the institution, award grants only to such institutions that integrate students with intellectual disabilities into the housing offered to students without disabilities or to institutions that provide such integrated housing through providing supports to students directly or through partnerships with other organizations; (5) provide grant funds to encourage involvement of students attending institutions of higher education in the fields of special education, general education, vocational rehabilitation, assistive technology, or related fields in the program; (6) select applications that— (A) demonstrate an existing comprehensive transition and postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities that is title IV eligible; or (B) agree to establish such a program; and (7) give preference to applications submitted under subsection (b) that agree to incorporate into the inclusive higher education program for students with intellectual disabilities carried out under the grant one or more of the following elements: (A) The formation of a partnership with any relevant agency serving students with intellectual disabilities, such as a vocational rehabilitation agency. (B) Applications that represent geographically underserved States. (d) Use of funds; requirements An institution of higher education or consortium receiving a grant under this section shall— (1) use the grant funds to establish an inclusive higher education program for students with intellectual disabilities that— (A) serves students with intellectual disabilities; (B) provides individual supports and services for the academic and social inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities in academic courses, extracurricular activities, and other aspects of the regular postsecondary program; (C) with respect to the students with intellectual disabilities participating in the program, provides a focus on— (i) academic and career development; (ii) socialization and inclusion with the general student population; (iii) independent living skills, including self-advocacy skills; and (iv) integrated work experiences and career skills that lead to competitive integrated employment; (D) integrates person-centered planning in the development of the course of study for each student with an intellectual disability participating in the program; (E) plans for the sustainability of the program after the end of the grant period, with a written business plan for revenue and expenditures to be provided to the Department by the end of year 3; and (F) awards a degree, certificate, or recognized postsecondary credential for students with intellectual disabilities upon the completion of the program; (2) in the case of an institution of higher education that provides institutionally owned or operated housing for students attending the institution or integrated housing through providing supports to students directly or through partnerships with other organizations, provide for the integration of students with intellectual disabilities into housing offered to students without disabilities; (3) participate with the coordinating center established under section 777(b) in the evaluation of the program, including by regularly submitting data on experiences and outcomes of individual students participating in the program; and (4) partner with one or more local educational agencies to support students with intellectual disabilities participating in the program who are eligible for special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), including the use of funds available under part B of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1411 et seq.) to support the participation of such students in the program. (e) Matching requirement An institution of higher education (or consortium) that receives a grant under this section shall provide matching funds toward the cost of the inclusive higher education program for students with intellectual disabilities carried out under the grant. Such matching funds may be provided in cash or in-kind, and shall be in an amount of not less than 25 percent of the amount of such costs. (f) Data Collection and Transmission (1) In general An institution or consortium receiving a grant under this section shall collect and transmit to the coordinating center established under section 777(b) on an annual basis for each student who is enrolled in the program, student-level information related to the experiences and outcomes of students who participate in the inclusive higher education program for students with intellectual disabilities. (2) Longitudinal data Each grantee shall collect longitudinal outcome data from each student participating in the program and transmit such data to the coordinating center established under section 777(b). Such longitudinal data shall be collected for every student each year for 5 years after the student graduates from, or otherwise exits, the program. (3) Data to be collected The program-level information and data and student-level information and data to be collected under this subsection shall include— (A) the number and type of postsecondary education courses taken and completed by the student; (B) academic outcomes; (C) competitive, integrated employment outcomes; (D) independent living outcomes; and (E) social outcomes. (g) Report Not later than 5 years after the date of the first grant awarded under this section, the Secretary shall prepare and disseminate a report to the authorizing committees and to the public that— (1) reviews the activities of the inclusive higher education programs for students with intellectual disabilities funded under this section; and (2) provides guidance and recommendations on how effective programs can be replicated.. (c) Authorization of appropriations Section 769(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1140i) is amended by striking 2009 and inserting 2027.