Budget Amendment ID: FY2018-S3-197

EDU 197

Higher Education Opportunities for Students with Disabilities I

Ms. L'Italien, Messrs. McGee, Brady, Eldridge and Lesser, Ms. Lovely and Mr. O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item XXXX-XXXX, by striking item 7009-9600 and inserting in place thereof the following new item:-

"7066-9600  For a discretionary grant program to provide funds to school districts and public institutions of higher education that are partnering together to offer inclusive concurrent enrollment programs for students with disabilities as defined in section 1 of chapter 71B of the General Laws who are between 18 and 22 years of age, inclusive; provided, that the grant program shall be limited to students who are considered to have severe disabilities and, in the case of students age 18 or 19, shall be limited to students with severe disabilities who have been unable to achieve the competency determination necessary to pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam; provided further, that those students with disabilities shall be offered enrollment in credit and noncredit courses that include nondisabled students, including enrollment in noncredit and credit-bearing courses in audit status for students who may not meet course prerequisites and requirements; provided further, that the partnering school districts shall provide supports, services and accommodations necessary to facilitate a student’s enrollment; provided further, that the department of higher education, in collaboration with the department of elementary and secondary education shall develop guidelines to ensure that the grant program promotes civic engagement and mentoring of faculty in public institutions of higher education and supports college success, work success, participation in the student life of the college community and the provision of a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment; provided further, that the department of higher education shall develop strategies and procedures to help sustain and replicate the existing inclusive concurrent enrollment programs initiated through the grant program including, but not limited to: (i) providing funds to retain employment specialists; (ii) assisting students in meeting integrated competitive employment and other transition-related goals; (iii) adopting procedures and funding mechanisms to ensure that new partnerships of public institutions of higher education and school districts providing inclusive concurrent enrollment programs fully utilize the models and expertise developed in existing partnerships; and (iv) conducting evaluations and research to further identify student outcomes and best practices; provided further, that the department of higher education shall develop a mechanism to encourage existing and new partnerships to expand the capacity to respond to individual parents and school districts in underserved areas that request an opportunity for their children to participate in the inclusive concurrent enrollment initiative; provided further, that tuition for courses shall be waived by the public institutions of higher education for students enrolled through the grant program; provided further, that the department of higher education shall maintain the position of inclusive concurrent enrollment coordinator who shall be responsible for administering the grant program, coordinating the advisory committee, developing new partnerships, assisting existing partnerships in creating self-sustaining models and overseeing the development of videos and informational materials as well as evaluation and research through the institute for community inclusion to assist new colleges and school districts; provided further, that the department of higher education in conjunction with the department of elementary and secondary education, shall select grant recipients not later than July 14, 2017 and shall distribute a request for grant proposals subject to future appropriation not later than May 31, 2018; provided further, that the department of higher education, in consultation with the department of elementary and secondary education, shall report on student outcomes to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on education and the joint committee on higher education on the discretionary grant program not later than January 31, 2018; and provided further, that for the purpose of this item, appropriated funds may be expended for programs or activities during the summer months.............................................. $1,143,979"