I
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3596
To authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to institutions
of higher education for demonstration projects to ensure equal edu-
cational opportunity in postsecondary education for individuals with
learning disabilities.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 30, 1998
Mrs. MEEK of Florida (for herself and Mrs. NORTHUP) introduced the follow-
ing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the
Workforce
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants
to institutions of higher education for demonstration
projects to ensure equal educational opportunity in post-
secondary education for individuals with learning disabil-
ities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Learning Differences
Act of 1998’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) Disability is a natural part of the human
experience and encompasses physical, mental, and
cognitive impairments. The term ‘‘learning disabil-
ity’’ refers to a number of specific learning disabil-
ities, such as dyslexia. These disorders may manifest
themselves in an imperfect ability to listen, think,
speak, read, write, spell, reason, or perform mathe-
matical calculations. Learning disabilities tend to en-
dure from childhood into adulthood.
(2) 2,600,000 of the 5,100,000 children with
disabilities served under the Individuals with Dis-
abilities Education Act in elementary and secondary
education are children with learning disabilities.
(3) About 2 percent of all undergraduate stu-
dents nationwide report having a learning disability.
Different teaching strategies are needed to enable
them to develop their talents and perform up to
their capacity.
(4) A greater number of individuals with learn-
ing disabilities can benefit from postsecondary edu-
cation, and contribute more fully to society and the
economy, with adequate and appropriate programs,
services, adaptations, and accommodations.
(5) Civil rights laws protect individuals with
disabilities, including individuals with learning dis-
abilities, in postsecondary education, and institutions
of higher education require assistance to comply
with these laws.
(6) Exemplary institutions of higher education
dedicated to meeting the needs of individuals with
learning disabilities exist and can serve as a national
resource for other institutions in educating these
students.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are as fol-
lows:
(1) To assist model institutions of higher edu-
cation with demonstrated prior experience in serving
individuals with learning disabilities.
(2) To demonstrate and disseminate programs,
services, adaptations, accommodations, strategies,
and approaches to teaching individuals with disabil-
ities in postsecondary education.
SEC. 3. PROGRAM AUTHORITY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Education may
award grants to, and enter into contracts and cooperative
agreements with, not more than 5 institutions of higher
education that are described in section 4 for demonstra-
tion projects to develop, test, and disseminate, in accord-
ance with section 5, methods, techniques, and procedures
for ensuring equal educational opportunity for individuals
with learning disabilities in postsecondary education.
(b) AWARD BASIS.—Grants, contracts, and coopera-
tive agreements shall be awarded on a competitive basis.
(c) AWARD PERIOD.—Grants, contracts, and cooper-
ative agreements shall be awarded for a period of 3 years.
SEC. 4. ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.
Entities eligible to apply for a grant, contract, or co-
operative agreement under this Act are institutions of
higher education (as defined in section 1201 of the Higher
Education Act of 1956) with demonstrated prior experi-
ence with meeting the postsecondary educational needs of
individuals with learning disabilities.
SEC. 5. REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.
A recipient of a grant, contract, or cooperative agree-
ment under this Act shall use the funds received under
this Act to carry out each of the following activities:
(1) Developing or identifying innovative, effec-
tive, and efficient approaches, strategies, supports,
modifications, adaptations, and accommodations that
enable individuals with learning disabilities to fully
participate in postsecondary education.
(2) Synthesizing research and other information
related to the provision of services to individuals
with learning disabilities in postsecondary education.