I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4577 

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. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 

Ms. WILD (for herself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. LIPINSKI, Ms. DEAN, Mr. 

TRONE, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York, Mr. HARDER of 

California, Mr. FOSTER, and Mrs. HAYES) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 

A BILL 

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. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Expanding Disability 

5 Access to Higher Education Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) Students who are low income attend institu2 tions of higher education at a rate significantly 

3 lower than middle- and high-income students. 

4 (2) Similarly, students who are first-generation 

5 college students or are from minority backgrounds 

6 attend institutions of higher education at lower rates 

7 than the general public. 

8 (3) Many students who are low income, first 

9 generation, or minorities also have a disability. 

10 (4) In the last decade, both high school and 

11 postsecondary graduation rates for students with 

12 disabilities were significantly lower than for students 

13 without disabilities. 

14 (5) In 2015, approximately 65 percent of the 

15 total population of adults 25 to 34 years old had 

16 completed some postsecondary education compared 

17 with approximately 44 percent of adults with disabil18 ities in the same age range. 

19 (6) For students with disabilities who do attend 

20 an institution of higher education, only half will re21 ceive a diploma compared to 72 percent of students 

22 without disabilities. 

23 (7) Many researchers cite lack of support, such 

24 as in-class accommodations, accessible housing, and 

25 accessible technology, as a significant challenge as 


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1 students with disabilities transition from high school 

2 to postsecondary education. 

3 (8) As with their peers without disabilities who 

4 are first-generation students or come from low-in5 come backgrounds, students who are first-generation 

6 or low-income students with disabilities who receive 

7 mentoring and support services can successfully pre8 pare for, enroll in, and graduate from postsecondary 

9 education programs and gain greater economic con10 trol of their lives. 

11 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con12 gress that individuals with disabilities, particularly those 

13 who are low income or first generation, should be able to 

14 attend institutions of higher education at the same rate 

15 as their peers in the general population. 

16 (c) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are the fol17 lowing: 

18 (1) To provide first-generation or low-income 

19 students with disabilities with information, support, 

20 and resources to matriculate and complete a course 

21 of study at an institution of higher education. 

22 (2) To encourage and support first-generation 

23 or low-income students with disabilities to achieve 

24 postsecondary credentials that benefit them and 

25 their communities both socially and economically. 


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1 (3) To increase the number of faculty with dis2 abilities in institutions of higher education. 

3 (4) To provide programs authorized under 

4 chapter 1 of subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the 

5 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a– 

6 11) with the resources necessary to support first7 generation or low-income students with disabilities 

8 to prepare for, enroll in, and graduate from institu9 tions of higher education. 

10 SEC. 3. PREPARING AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH 

11 DISABILITIES FOR POSTSECONDARY EDU12 CATION. 

13 Section 402A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 

14 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–11) is amended— 

15 (1) in subsection (c)(4)(A), by striking ‘‘, and 

16 Native American Pacific Islanders (including Native 

17 Hawaiians),’’ and inserting ‘‘, Native American Pa18 cific Islanders (including Native Hawaiians), and in19 dividuals with a disability (as defined in section 3 of 

20 the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 

21 U.S.C. 12102)),’’; and 

22 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

23 ‘‘(i) PREPARING AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH

24 DISABILITIES FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.— 

25 ‘‘(1) FUNDS FOR FEDERAL TRIO PROGRAMS.— 


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1 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.— 

2 ‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary 

3 shall award funds under this paragraph, 

4 on a competitive basis, to an eligible entity 

5 that applies for a grant or contract for a 

6 program under this chapter (except section 

7 402E) and also applies for such funds 

8 under this paragraph in order to serve eli9 gible students, as described in clause (ii). 

10 The period for such award of funds under 

11 this paragraph shall be the same period for 

12 the associated grant or contract for a pro13 gram under this chapter (except section 

14 402E) (referred to in this paragraph as 

15 the ‘associated program’). 

16 ‘‘(ii) ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.—An eligi17 ble student is described in this clause if the 

18 student— 

19 ‘‘(I) is eligible to receive assist20 ance under a program authorized 

21 under this chapter (except section 

22 402E); and 

23 ‘‘(II) has an individualized edu24 cation program, as defined in section 

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1 ities Education Act, is covered under 

2 section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 

3 of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), or has other 

4 documentation establishing the stu5 dent’s disability (as such term is de6 fined in section 3 of the Americans 

7 with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 

8 U.S.C. 12102)), such as— 

9 ‘‘(aa) a sensory disability; 

10 ‘‘(bb) a physical disability; 

11 ‘‘(cc) a mental disability; or 

12 ‘‘(dd) a self-care disability. 

13 ‘‘(B) APPLICATION.— 

14 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as pro15 vided in clause (ii), an applicant for a 

16 grant or contract for a program under this 

17 chapter (except section 402E) that desires 

18 to receive funds under this paragraph shall 

19 submit an application for such funds to the 

20 Secretary at the same time such applicant 

21 submits an application for the grant or 

22 contract for a program under this chapter 

23 (except section 402E) (referred to in this 

24 paragraph as the ‘associated application’). 


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1 ‘‘(ii) APPLICATION MID-CYCLE.—An 

2 applicant that desires to receive funds 

3 under this paragraph that, at the time 

4 such applicant desires to apply for such 

5 funds, has a grant or contract for a pro6 gram under this chapter (except section 

7 402E) that is in existence may submit an 

8 application for such funds to the Secretary 

9 independent of an associated application. 

10 ‘‘(iii) CONTENT OF APPLICATION.—An 

11 application for funds under this paragraph 

12 shall include the following: 

13 ‘‘(I) A description of any pro14 grams being carried out under this 

15 chapter by the applicant on the date 

16 of the application, including the num17 ber of existing students served. 

18 ‘‘(II) The number of eligible stu19 dents proposed to be served with 

20 funds received under this paragraph. 

21 ‘‘(III) The cost of serving such 

22 students proposed to be served, in23 cluding a description of expenditures. 


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1 ‘‘(IV) An explanation of how 

2 funds received under this paragraph 

3 will be used for such students. 

4 ‘‘(V) An explanation of how such 

5 students proposed to be served will be 

6 identified and enrolled. 

7 ‘‘(C) AWARDING OF FUNDS.— 

8 ‘‘(i) PRIORITY.—In awarding funds 

9 under this paragraph, the Secretary shall 

10 give priority to applicants that— 

11 ‘‘(I) have established programs 

12 funded under this chapter; and 

13 ‘‘(II) describe how eligible stu14 dents proposed to be served will be in15 cluded in the established associated 

16 program. 

17 ‘‘(ii) AMOUNT.—The Secretary shall 

18 award funds under this paragraph to an 

19 applicant in an amount that maximizes the 

20 number of eligible students served in a 

21 manner that meets such students’ needs 

22 for successful programmatic outcomes. 

23 ‘‘(iii) DISTRIBUTION.—The Secretary 

24 shall award funds under this paragraph— 


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1 ‘‘(I) to not less than 10 percent 

2 of all the eligible entities that, on the 

3 date of enactment of the Expanding 

4 Disability Access to Higher Education 

5 Act, have a grant or contract awarded 

6 under this chapter (except section 

7 402E); and 

8 ‘‘(II) across— 

9 ‘‘(aa) geographic regions; 

10 and 

11 ‘‘(bb) sizes of programs. 

12 ‘‘(iv) REQUIREMENTS.—In awarding 

13 funds under this paragraph, the Secretary 

14 shall— 

15 ‘‘(I) require an assurance that— 

16 ‘‘(aa) in the case in which 

17 the associated program is under 

18 section 402B, not less than two19 thirds of the eligible students 

20 who are served with the funds 

21 under this paragraph be low-in22 come individuals who are first23 generation college students; 


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1 ‘‘(bb) in the case in which 

2 the associated program is under 

3 section 402C— 

4 ‘‘(AA) not less than 

5 two-thirds of the eligible stu6 dents who are served with 

7 the funds under this para8 graph be low-income individ9 uals who are first-generation 

10 college students; and 

11 ‘‘(BB) the remaining 

12 eligible students who are 

13 served with the funds under 

14 this paragraph be low-in15 come individuals or first16 generation college students; 

17 ‘‘(cc) in the case in which 

18 the associated program is under 

19 section 402D— 

20 ‘‘(AA) not less than 

21 two-thirds of the eligible stu22 dents who are served with 

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1 uals who are first-generation 

2 college students; and 

3 ‘‘(BB) the remaining 

4 eligible students who are 

5 served with the funds under 

6 this paragraph be low-in7 come individuals or first8 generation college students; 

9 and 

10 ‘‘(dd) in the case in which 

11 the associated program is under 

12 section 402F— 

13 ‘‘(AA) not less than 

14 two-thirds of the eligible stu15 dents who are served with 

16 the funds under this para17 graph be low-income individ18 uals who are first-generation 

19 college students; and 

20 ‘‘(BB) the eligible stu21 dents who are served with 

22 the funds under this para23 graph are at least nineteen 

24 years of age, unless the im25 position of such limitation 


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1 with respect to any person 

2 would defeat the purposes of 

3 this paragraph; 

4 ‘‘(II) require an assurance that 

5 such eligible students who are served 

6 do not have access to services from 

7 another program funded under this 

8 chapter; 

9 ‘‘(III) require an assurance that 

10 the program funded under this para11 graph and the associated program 

12 will— 

13 ‘‘(aa) be accessible to the el14 igible students proposed to be 

15 served by the program; 

16 ‘‘(bb) serve all students, in17 cluding eligible students; 

18 ‘‘(cc) incorporate universal 

19 design for learning; and 

20 ‘‘(dd) ensure that accom21 modations are provided as needed 

22 for eligible students and address 

23 how the program plans to enroll 

24 such students; 


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1 ‘‘(IV) require the program fund2 ed under this paragraph— 

3 ‘‘(aa) to comply with all pro4 gram requirements of the associ5 ated program; and 

6 ‘‘(bb) to include educational 

7 assistance as determined nec8 essary for eligible students to 

9 transition to postsecondary edu10 cation, such as— 

11 ‘‘(AA) academic and so12 cial supports; 

13 ‘‘(BB) student advising 

14 and family engagement; 

15 ‘‘(CC) college search 

16 and application processes; 

17 ‘‘(DD) financial plan18 ning; and 

19 ‘‘(EE) targeted learn20 ing programs; 

21 ‘‘(V) require an assurance that 

22 the applicant will serve a number of 

23 eligible students with the funds under 

24 this paragraph that is not less than 


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1 the number determined under sub2 paragraph (D); and 

3 ‘‘(VI) require an assurance 

4 that— 

5 ‘‘(aa) the funds under this 

6 paragraph and funds provided 

7 under the associated program 

8 will be used to incorporate eligi9 ble students into the associated 

10 program; and 

11 ‘‘(bb) such eligible students 

12 have access to all the program 

13 services of the associated pro14 gram, as well as any additional 

15 services they require to be full 

16 participants in the associated 

17 program. 

18 ‘‘(D) NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS TO

19 BE SERVED.— 

20 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—An applicant that 

21 receives funds under this paragraph shall 

22 use such funds to serve eligible students 

23 who are in addition to the students served 

24 through the associated program. 


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1 ‘‘(ii) NUMBER OF STUDENTS TO BE

2 SERVED.—The number of eligible students 

3 to be served with funds under this para4 graph shall be the number that maximizes 

5 the number of eligible students served in a 

6 manner that meets such students’ needs 

7 for successful programmatic outcomes. 

8 ‘‘(2) POSTBACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT PRO9 GRAM.— 

10 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 

11 award funds under this paragraph, on a com12 petitive basis, to an eligible entity that applies 

13 for assistance for a project under section 402E 

14 and also applies for such funds under this para15 graph in order to serve eligible students, as de16 scribed in subparagraph (B). 

17 ‘‘(B) ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.—An eligible 

18 student is described in this subparagraph if the 

19 student— 

20 ‘‘(i) is eligible to receive assistance 

21 under a project assisted under section 

22 402E; 

23 ‘‘(ii) has an individualized education 

24 program, as defined in section 602 of the 

25 Individuals with Disabilities Education 


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1 Act, is covered under section 504 of the 

2 Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 

3 794), or has other documentation estab4 lishing the student’s disability (as such 

5 term is defined in section 3 of the Ameri6 cans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 

7 U.S.C. 12102)), such as— 

8 ‘‘(I) a sensory disability; 

9 ‘‘(II) a physical disability; 

10 ‘‘(III) a mental disability; or 

11 ‘‘(IV) a self-care disability; and 

12 ‘‘(iii) is registered as full time in six 

13 or more credits. 

14 ‘‘(C) APPLICATION.— 

15 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as pro16 vided in clause (ii), an applicant for assist17 ance for a project under section 402E that 

18 desires to receive funds under this para19 graph shall submit an application for such 

20 funds to the Secretary at the same time 

21 such applicant submits an application 

22 under section 402E (referred to in this 

23 paragraph as the ‘associated application’). 

24 ‘‘(ii) APPLICATION MID-CYCLE.—An 

25 applicant that desires to receive funds 


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1 under this paragraph that, at the time 

2 such applicant desires to apply for such 

3 funds, is receiving assistance for a project 

4 under section 402E may submit an appli5 cation for such funds to the Secretary 

6 independent of an associated application. 

7 ‘‘(iii) CONTENT OF APPLICATION.—An 

8 application for funds under this paragraph 

9 shall— 

10 ‘‘(I) describe identification, re11 cruitment, and implementation strate12 gies as well as programmatic elements 

13 specifically for eligible students; and 

14 ‘‘(II) indicate whether this is a 

15 new project or will fund a project ex16 isting on the date of the application. 

17 ‘‘(D) AWARDING OF FUNDS.— 

18 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary 

19 shall award funds under this paragraph to 

20 an applicant in an amount that maximizes 

21 the number of eligible students served in a 

22 manner that meets such students’ needs 

23 for successful programmatic outcomes. 


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1 ‘‘(ii) REQUIREMENTS.—In awarding 

2 funds under this paragraph, the Secretary 

3 shall require an assurance that— 

4 ‘‘(I) not less than two-thirds of 

5 the eligible students who are served 

6 with the funds under this paragraph 

7 be low-income individuals who are 

8 first-generation college students; and 

9 ‘‘(II) the remaining eligible stu10 dents who are served with the funds 

11 under this paragraph be from a group 

12 that is underrepresented in graduate 

13 education, including— 

14 ‘‘(aa) Alaska Natives, as de15 fined in section 6306 of the Ele16 mentary and Secondary Edu17 cation Act of 1965; 

18 ‘‘(bb) Native Hawaiians, as 

19 defined in section 6207 of such 

20 Act; and 

21 ‘‘(cc) Native American Pa22 cific Islanders, as defined in sec23 tion 320. 

24 ‘‘(E) NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS TO

25 BE SERVED.— 


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1 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—An applicant that 

2 receives funds under this paragraph shall 

3 use such funds to serve eligible students 

4 who are in addition to the students served 

5 through the associated program. 

6 ‘‘(ii) NUMBER OF STUDENTS TO BE

7 SERVED.—The number of eligible students 

8 to be served with funds under this para9 graph shall be the number that maximizes 

10 the number of eligible students served in a 

11 manner that meets such students’ needs 

12 for successful programmatic outcomes. 

13 ‘‘(3) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—Funds 

14 awarded under this subsection shall be used to sup15 plement, and not supplant, other funds available to 

16 carry out the activities described in this subsection. 

17 ‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

18 There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 

19 this subsection $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 

20 2020 through 2024.’’. 

21 SEC. 4. STAFF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. 

22 Subpart 1 of part D of title VII of the Higher Edu23 cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1140a et seq.) is amend24 ed— 


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1 (1) in section 761, by striking ‘‘model dem2 onstration’’; and 

3 (2) in section 762— 

4 (A) in subsection (b)(2)— 

5 (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 

6 ‘‘and application’’ after ‘‘The develop7 ment’’; and 

8 (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 

9 ‘‘and application’’ after ‘‘The develop10 ment’’; and 

11 (B) by striking subsection (d) and insert12 ing the following: 

13 ‘‘(d) REPORTS.— 

14 ‘‘(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 1 year 

15 after the date of enactment of the Expanding Dis16 ability Access to Higher Education Act, the Sec17 retary shall prepare and submit to the authorizing 

18 committees, and make available to the public, a re19 port on all projects awarded grants under this part 

20 for any of fiscal years 2021 through 2026, including 

21 a review of the activities and program performance 

22 of such projects based on existing information as of 

23 the date of the report. 

24 ‘‘(2) SUBSEQUENT REPORT.—Not later than 3 

25 years after the date of the first award of a grant 


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1 under this subpart after the date of enactment of 

2 the Expanding Disability Access to Higher Edu3 cation Act, the Secretary shall prepare and submit 

4 to the authorizing committees, and make available to 

5 the public, a report that— 

6 ‘‘(A) reviews the activities and program 

7 performance of the projects authorized under 

8 this subpart; and 

9 ‘‘(B) provides guidance and recommenda10 tions on how effective projects can be rep11 licated.’’. 

12 SEC. 5. OFFICES OF TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, 

13 AND ACCOMMODATIONS GRANT PROGRAM. 

14 (a) AUTHORIZATION OF GRANT PROGRAM.—The 

15 Secretary of Education shall award grants, on a competi16 tive basis, to institutions of higher education to enable the 

17 institutions to establish an Office of Accessibility at the 

18 institution. 

19 (b) DURATION AND AMOUNT.—A grant under this 

20 section shall be 5 years in duration and in an amount 

21 equal to not less than $30,000 and not more than $80,000 

22 for each year. 

23 (c) APPLICATION.—An institution of higher edu24 cation that desires to receive a grant under this section 

25 shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, 


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1 in such manner, and containing such information as the 

2 Secretary may require, including an explanation of how 

3 the institution will sustain the Office of Accessibility after 

4 the grant period ends. 

5 (d) AWARDING OF GRANTS.— 

6 (1) PREFERENCE.—In awarding grants under 

7 this section, the Secretary shall give preference to— 

8 (A) 2-year institutions of higher education 

9 (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher 

10 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))); 

11 and 

12 (B) institutions of higher education (as de13 fined in section 101 of the Higher Education 

14 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that intend to 

15 hire individuals with disabilities as staff at the 

16 Office of Accessibility. 

17 (2) DIVERSITY.—In awarding grants under this 

18 section, the Secretary shall ensure geographic, insti19 tutional, and urban or rural award distribution di20 versity. 

21 (e) USE OF FUNDS.—An institution of higher edu22 cation that receives a grant under this section shall estab23 lish an Office of Accessibility at the institution, which Of24 fice— 

25 (1) shall— 


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1 (A) serve as a site for confidential requests 

2 for accommodations for faculty members with 

3 disabilities; 

4 (B) include an accommodations officer who 

5 has demonstrated expertise in addressing the 

6 needs of individuals with disabilities and who is 

7 trained to serve, and provide outreach to, fac8 ulty members with disabilities, staff with dis9 abilities, and students with disabilities; and 

10 (C) provide training and technical assist11 ance for faculty and staff on rights and accom12 modations for individuals with disabilities, in13 cluding protecting the civil rights of individuals 

14 with disabilities on campus and in classrooms; 

15 and 

16 (2) may— 

17 (A) develop professional development ac18 tivities for faculty and staff about rights and 

19 accommodations for individuals with disabilities; 

20 (B) create a website, that is accessible to 

21 individuals with disabilities, to serve as a clear22 inghouse of information for individuals with dis23 abilities; and 

24 (C) carry out other activities that the insti25 tution determines appropriate. 


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1 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

2 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

3 $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 and each of the 4 suc4 ceeding fiscal years. 

5 SEC. 6. DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING. 

6 (a) DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING.— 

7 (1) OUTCOME CRITERIA.—Section 402A(f) of 

8 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

9 1070a–11(f)) is amended— 

10 (A) by striking paragraph (2) and insert11 ing the following: 

12 ‘‘(2) DISAGGREGATION OF RELEVANT DATA.— 

13 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

14 subparagraph (B), the outcome criteria under 

15 this subsection shall be disaggregated by low-in16 come students, first-generation college students, 

17 individuals with disabilities (including for each 

18 of the categories described in items (aa) 

19 through (dd) of subsection (i)(1)(A)(ii)(II)), 

20 gender, race and ethnicity, language status, and 

21 delayed enrollment in postsecondary education 

22 after high school, in the schools and institutions 

23 of higher education served by the program to be 

24 evaluated. 


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1 ‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—Disaggregation under 

2 subparagraph (A) shall not be required in a 

3 case in which the number of students in a cat4 egory is insufficient to yield statistically reliable 

5 information or the results would reveal person6 ally identifiable information about an individual 

7 student.’’; 

8 (B) in paragraph (3)— 

9 (i) in subparagraph (C)(iii), by insert10 ing ‘‘(and, if the entity received funds 

11 under subsection (i), to a total number of 

12 eligible students as described in such sub13 section)’’ after ‘‘students,’’; 

14 (ii) in subparagraph (D)(i), by insert15 ing ‘‘(and, if the entity received funds 

16 under subsection (i), to a total number of 

17 eligible students as described in such sub18 section)’’ after ‘‘program,’’; and 

19 (iii) by adding at the end the fol20 lowing: 

21 ‘‘(F) For— 

22 ‘‘(i) programs authorized under this 

23 chapter for which funds are awarded under 

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1 dents (as defined in subsection 

2 (i)(2)(A)(ii)) served with such funds; and 

3 ‘‘(ii) each of subparagraphs (A) 

4 through (E), the extent to which the pro5 grams described in each of such subpara6 graphs served individuals with disabilities 

7 (as defined in section 3 of the Americans 

8 with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 

9 12102)).’’. 

10 (2) REPORTS.—Section 402H of the Higher 

11 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–18) is 

12 amended— 

13 (A) in subsection (a)— 

14 (i) in the subsection heading, by strik15 ing ‘‘TO THE AUTHORIZING COMMITTEES’’; 

16 (ii) in paragraph (1)(E), by inserting 

17 ‘‘(including for each of the categories of 

18 such students described in items (aa) 

19 through (dd) of section 

20 402A(i)(1)(A)(ii)(II))’’ after ‘‘disabilities’’; 

21 and 

22 (iii) by adding at the end the fol23 lowing: 

24 ‘‘(3) ANNUAL REPORT.— 


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1 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each entity that re2 ceives a grant or contract under this chapter 

3 shall submit an annual report to the Secretary 

4 on activities assisted and students served under 

5 the program funded under this chapter, includ6 ing information on— 

7 ‘‘(i) student persistence in the pro8 gram; 

9 ‘‘(ii) student enrollment in challenging 

10 courses; 

11 ‘‘(iii) graduation rates; 

12 ‘‘(iv) postsecondary enrollment rates; 

13 ‘‘(v) the types of services and sup14 ports provided to enrolled students; and 

15 ‘‘(vi) any other information requested 

16 by the Secretary. 

17 ‘‘(B) DISAGGREGATION.— 

18 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as pro19 vided in clause (ii), the information pro20 vided under subparagraph (A) shall be 

21 disaggregated by low-income student sta22 tus, first-generation college student status, 

23 disability status (including for each of the 

24 categories described in items (aa) through 

25 (dd) of section 402A(i)(1)(A)(ii)(II)), genVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:30 Oct 05, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4577.IH H4577

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1 der, race and ethnicity, language status, 

2 and delayed enrollment in postsecondary 

3 education after high school. 

4 ‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION.—Disaggregation 

5 under clause (i) shall not be required in a 

6 case in which the number of students in a 

7 category is insufficient to yield statistically 

8 reliable information or the results would 

9 reveal personally identifiable information 

10 about an individual student.’’; and 

11 (B) in subsection (b)(2)(A)(i), by striking 

12 ‘‘and first-generation college students’’ and in13 serting ‘‘, first-generation college students, and 

14 students with disabilities’’. 

15 (3) GEAR UP.—Section 404G of the Higher 

16 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–27) is 

17 amended by adding at the end the following: 

18 ‘‘(e) DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING.— 

19 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible entity receiv20 ing a grant under this chapter shall submit an an21 nual report to the Secretary on activities assisted 

22 and students served under the program funded 

23 under this chapter, including information on— 

24 ‘‘(A) student persistence in the program; 


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1 ‘‘(B) student enrollment in challenging 

2 courses; 

3 ‘‘(C) graduation rates; 

4 ‘‘(D) postsecondary enrollment rates; 

5 ‘‘(E) the types of services and supports 

6 provided to enrolled students; and 

7 ‘‘(F) any other information requested by 

8 the Secretary. 

9 ‘‘(2) DISAGGREGATION AND AVAILABILITY.— 

10 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Information contained 

11 in the annual report described in paragraph (1) 

12 shall be— 

13 ‘‘(i) except as provided in subpara14 graph (B), disaggregated by low-income 

15 student status, first-generation college stu16 dent status, disability status (including for 

17 each of the categories described in items 

18 (aa) through (dd) of section 

19 402A(i)(1)(A)(ii)(II)), gender, race and 

20 ethnicity, language status, and delayed en21 rollment in postsecondary education after 

22 high school; 

23 ‘‘(ii) cross-tabulated; and 

24 ‘‘(iii) made publicly available without 

25 personally identifiable information. 


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1 ‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—Disaggregation under 

2 subparagraph (A)(i) shall not be required in a 

3 case in which the number of students in a cat4 egory is insufficient to yield statistically reliable 

5 information or the results would reveal person6 ally identifiable information about an individual 

7 student. 

8 ‘‘(3) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary 

9 shall make such report publicly available online.’’. 

10 (b) GAO REPORT.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

12 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comp13 troller General of the United States shall begin a re14 view that examines— 

15 (A) what is known about the population of 

16 students with disabilities, including by subcat17 egories of disability, who attend institutions of 

18 higher education; 

19 (B) how students with disabilities are iden20 tified and supported by the Department of Edu21 cation and grantee agencies through all Federal 

22 TRIO programs under chapter 1 of subpart 2 

23 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education 

24 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–11 et seq.), in25 cluding— 


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1 (i) any information related to whether 

2 and how students disclose if they have a 

3 disability; 

4 (ii) what, if any, transition services 

5 are provided to students with disabilities 

6 between high school and postsecondary 

7 education; and 

8 (iii) how such Federal TRIO pro9 grams work with other campus and non10 campus based services that support stu11 dents with disabilities; and 

12 (C) what information is reported by the 

13 Department of Education about services for 

14 students with disabilities through such Federal 

15 TRIO programs. 

16 (2) REPORT.—The Comptroller General of the 

17 United States shall submit to the appropriate con18 gressional committees a report on the review con19 ducted under paragraph (1). 

Æ 


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