7066-9600 Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment

For a discretionary grant program to provide funds to school districts and public institutions of higher education partnering together to offer inclusive concurrent enrollment programs for school-age children with a disability, as defined in section 1 of chapter 71B of the General Laws, between the ages of 18 and 22; provided, that the grant program shall be limited to students who are considered to have severe disabilities and, in the case of students who are age 18 or 19, shall be limited to students with severe disabilities who have been unable to achieve the competency determination necessary to pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam; provided further, that said students with disabilities shall be offered enrollment in credit and noncredit courses that include nondisabled students, including enrollment in credit and noncredit courses in audit status for students who may not meet course prerequisites and requirements, and that the partnering school districts shall provide support, services and accommodations necessary to facilitate a student's enrollment; provided further, that the department of higher education, in consultation with the department of elementary and secondary education, shall develop guidelines to ensure that the grant program promotes civic engagement and mentoring of faculty in public institutions of higher education and supports college success, work success, participation in student life of the college community and provision of a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment; provided further, that the department of higher education, in consultation with the department of elementary and secondary education, shall develop strategies and procedures to help sustain and replicate the existing inclusive concurrent enrollment programs initiated through this grant program including, but not limited to: (a) provision of funds to retain employment specialists; (b) assistance of students in meeting integrated competitive employment and other transition-related goals; and (c) adoption of procedures and funding mechanisms to ensure that new partnerships of public institutions of higher education and school districts providing inclusive concurrent enrollment programs fully utilize the models and expertise developed in existing partnerships; provided further, that the department of higher education, in consultation with the department of elementary and secondary education, shall develop a mechanism to encourage existing and new partnerships to expand the capacity to respond to individual parents and school districts in underserved areas that request an opportunity for their children to participate in the inclusive concurrent enrollment initiative; provided further, that tuition for courses shall be waived by the state institutions of higher education for students enrolled through this grant program; provided further, that the department of higher education shall create the position of inclusive concurrent enrollment coordinator who will be responsible for administering the grant program, coordinating the advisory committee, developing new partnerships, assisting existing partnerships in creating self-sustaining models and overseeing the development of videos and informational materials through the institute for community inclusion to assist new colleges and school districts; provided further, that funding from this item may be transferred to the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative Trust Fund established in section 2VVVVV of chapter 29 of the General Laws to advance these goals; and provided further, that appropriated funds may be expended for programs or activities during the summer months