To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to promote the matriculation, and increase in the graduation rates, of individuals with disabilities within higher education.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · May 21, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
This bill expands support for students with disabilities pursuing higher education, particularly those who are low-income or first-generation college students. The legislation amends federal TRIO programs—which provide college preparation and support services—to include dedicated funding and resources specifically for students with disabilities. It authorizes $50 million annually from 2025 through 2029 to help eligible TRIO programs serve students with disabilities, requiring that at least two-thirds of these students be low-income and first-generation college students. The bill also creates a $10 million annual grant program for institutions without existing disability services offices to establish Offices of Accessibility, with preference given to two-year colleges and minority-serving institutions, particularly those that hire staff with disabilities. Additionally, the legislation mandates improved data collection and reporting on how students with disabilities perform in federal education programs, requires the Government Accountability Office to review services for students with disabilities, and supports professional development for faculty on disability rights and accommodations. The bill aims to address significant gaps in college completion rates, noting that only about half of students with disabilities who attend college graduate compared to 72 percent of students without disabilities.
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