RISE Act of 2016

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide students with disabilities and their families with access to critical information needed to select the right college and succeed once enrolled. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act of 2016 RISE Act of 2016 2. Perfecting amendment to the definition of disability Section 103(6) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1003(6) section 3(2) section 3 3. Supporting students with disabilities to succeed once enrolled in college Section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1094(a) (30) The institution will carry out the following: (A) Adopt policies that, at a minimum, make the following documentation submitted by an individual sufficient to establish that such individual is an individual with a disability: (i) Documentation that the individual has had an individualized education program (IEP) in accordance with section 614(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, including an IEP that may not be current or up-to-date on the date of the determination. The institution may ask for additional documentation from an individual who had an IEP who was found ineligible for services or exited from eligibility under such Act during elementary school. (ii) Documentation that the individual has had a plan prepared under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 794 (iii) A plan or record of service for the individual from a private school, a local educational agency, a State educational agency, or an institution of higher education provided in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. (iv) A record or evaluation from a relevant licensed professional finding that the individual has a disability. (v) A plan or record of disability from another institution of higher education. (vi) Documentation of a disability due to service in the uniformed services, as defined in section 484C(a). (B) Adopt policies that are transparent and explicit regarding information about the process by which the institution determines eligibility for accommodations. (C) Disseminate such information to students, parents, and faculty in an accessible format, including during any student orientation and making such information readily available on a public website of the institution. . 4. Authorization of funds for the national center for information and technical support for postsecondary students with disabilities Section 777(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1140q(a) (1) in paragraph (1), by striking From amounts appropriated under section 778, From amounts appropriated under paragraph (5), (2) by adding at the end the following: (5) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000. . 5. Inclusion of information on students with disabilities Section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1094(a) (31) The institution will submit, for inclusion in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) or any other Federal postsecondary institution data collection effort, key data related to undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who are formally registered as students with disabilities with the institution’s office of disability services (or the equivalent office), including graduation rates for students with disabilities and the number and percentage of students with disabilities accessing or receiving accommodations at the institution. An institution shall not be required to submit the information described in the preceding sentence if the number of such students is equal to or less than 10, so as not to reveal personally identifiable information about an individual student. . 6. Rule of construction None of the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to affect the meaning of the terms reasonable accommodation record of impairment 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.

Summary: Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act of 2016 or the RISE Act of 2016 This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to set forth requirements about data collection related to students with disabilities. Specifically, the bill requires institutions of higher learning to outline which documents disabled students need to submit in order to ensure they are eligible for student disability support services. Institutions must submit key data related to their undergraduate students with disabilities for inclusion in federal postsecondary institution data collection efforts.