Bill > S0176

This bill establishes the Higher Education Opportunities for Students with Disabilities Act, which creates a comprehensive framework for enabling students with disabilities, including those with severe intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, or other developmental disabilities, to attend state colleges and universities in Rhode Island. The legislation allows students aged 18 to 21 (and in some cases up to 22) to audit or take courses, participate in extracurricular activities, and engage in campus life without traditional admission requirements like standardized test scores or high school diplomas. Students can take courses for credit or audit them based on their individual strengths and needs, with their foundation education aid following them to the institution. The bill mandates that participating students receive support services and be included in academic and non-academic opportunities, while ensuring that institutions are not required to bear extraordinary costs beyond standard supports. Each state college and university must provide annual reports detailing student participation, course enrollment, extracurricular involvement, and outcomes. Importantly, the bill emphasizes inclusive educational opportunities aimed at developing academic, career, technical, and independent living skills to prepare students with disabilities for adult life, while also providing an option for students to return to their public high school if the college experience is not beneficial.

Education

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