What's happening
This bill allows students with intellectual disabilities in approved transition programs to receive New York State tuition assistance awards.
Why it matters
Expands access to higher education funding for students with intellectual disabilities. , enabling them to pursue postsecondary transition programs that focus on academic, social, and career development, not just traditional degree paths.
Sets clear standards for eligible programs. , requiring them to be federally approved, offer individualized supports, foster academic and social inclusion, teach independent living and self-advocacy skills, and provide meaningful credentials upon completion.
Promotes person-centered planning. , mandating that transition programs develop individualized courses of study tailored to each student's strengths and goals, which may lead to greater success and satisfaction for students with intellectual disabilities.
Aligns tuition assistance eligibility for these students with that of degree-seeking peers. , ensuring equity in financial support and potentially leading to increased enrollment, improved outcomes, and more inclusive campus environments.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Tuition Aid Access
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7236
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 18, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to allowing for students in postsecondary education experience or transition program to receive awards from the tuition assistance program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 602 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations allowing for students enrolled in an approved postsecondary education experience or transition program to receive financial assistance from the tuition assistance program.
§ 2. Section 667 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. Postsecondary education experience or transition programs. a. Notwithstanding subdivisions one, two and three of this section, the president shall make awards to students with intellectual disabilities in approved postsecondary education experience or transition programs in the same manner as students enrolled in an approved program at a degree-granting institution including the same income limits and awards for each year.
b. An approved postsecondary education experience or transition program shall:
(i) serve students with intellectual disabilities;
(ii) provide individual supports and services for the academic and social inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities in academic courses, extracurricular activities, and other aspects of the institution of higher education's regular postsecondary program;
(iii) provide a focus on:
(A) academic enrichment;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10697-03-9
A. 7236 2
(B) socialization;
(C) independent living skills, including self-advocacy skills; and
(D) integrated work experiences and career skills that lead to gainful employment;
(iv) integrate person-centered planning in the development of the course of study for each student with an intellectual disability;
(v) create and offer a meaningful credential for students with intellectual disabilities upon the completion of the postsecondary education experience or transition program; and
(vi) be a federally approved comprehensive training program.
c. For the purposes of this subdivision, "students with intellectual disabilities" shall mean a student with an impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior which constitutes a substantial handicap to the student's ability to function normally in society and which has originated at any point in the student's life.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.