S. 3589 — RISE Act

This section requires institutions of higher education participating in federal student aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to enter into program participation agreements that include new disability accommodation policies (sec. 487(a)(30)). Specifically, the institution must (1) deem any of the following sufficient to establish a student as an individual with a disability—(i) a high school individualized education program (IEP) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, (ii) a high school Section 504 plan under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, (iii) a plan or record of services under the Americans with Disabilities Act from a private high school, local or state educational agency, or institution of higher education, (iv) a record or evaluation from a licensed professional, (v) a plan or record from another institution of higher education, or (vi) documentation of a service-related disability under sec. 484C(a); (2) adopt transparent policies on the eligibility determination process for accommodations; and (3) disseminate such information accessibly to students, parents, and faculty, including at orientation and on the institution's public website. (Institutions may establish less burdensome criteria.)

This section authorizes appropriations of a total of $10 million for FY2027 through FY2031 for the National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities—which provides information and technical assistance to such students and their families on postsecondary planning, transition from secondary school, available supports and accommodations, and mentoring—and revises the center's funding source to these new appropriations (from amounts appropriated under section 778 of the Higher Education Act of 1965).

This section requires institutions participating in federal student aid programs to submit specified data on undergraduate students formally registered as students with disabilities with the institution's office of disability services for inclusion in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) or other federal postsecondary data collections. The data includes (1) the total number of such registered students, (2) the number accessing or receiving accommodations as voluntarily reported, (3) the percentage of undergraduate students enrolled who are registered, and (4) the total undergraduate certificates or degrees awarded to such students, except where submission would reveal personally identifiable information about an individual student.

This section provides that none of the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to affect the meaning of the terms "reasonable accommodation" or "record of impairment" under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or the rights or remedies provided under that Act.