Date Introduced: 1/16/24
Status: CARRIED OVER to any special session of the 131st Legislature.
This bill aims to establish a grant program to increase postsecondary educational opportunities for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities, or with autism spectrum disorder.
The grant would fall under the Maine Department of Education to help students with intellectual or developmental disabilities, as well as those with autism, access college. The grants will be given to colleges to develop pilot programs for these students. These programs should aim to give students with disabilities the same opportunities and experiences as those without disabilities. To get funding, programs must meet the requirements of a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program under the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act so that students enrolled in the pilot program may be eligible for certain federal grants and work-study programs. Colleges must use a portion of the grant money to offer scholarships to students in these programs. The bill also asks colleges to regularly report on how well their programs are working. It requires the Department of Education to report to the Legislature each year about how effective the grant program is overall.