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 disabilities, as defined in
section 1 of chapter 71B of the General Laws, who are between the ages 18 and 22, inclusive; provided, that the grant program shall be limited to students who are considered to have severe disabilities and, in the case of students 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 on a discretionary basis, public institutions of higher education may choose to additionally include students with severe developmental disabilities over 21 years of age through said grant program; provided further, that such students with disabilities shall be offered enrollment in credit and noncredit courses that include students without disabilities, including enrollment in credit and noncredit courses in audit status for students who may not meet course prerequisites and requirements; provided further, that the partnering school districts shall provide supports, services and accommodations necessary to facilitate a student's enrollment; provided further, that the department of higher 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 shall develop strategies and procedures to help sustain and replicate the existing inclusive concurrent enrollment programs initiated through the grant program including, but not limited to: (i) providing funds to retain employment specialists; (ii) assisting students in meeting integrated competitive employment and other transition-related goals; (iii) adopting 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; and (iv) conducting evaluations and research to further identify student outcomes and best practices; provided further, that the department shall develop a mechanism to encourage existing and new partnerships to expand the capacity to respond to individual parents and schools 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 shall maintain the position of inclusive concurrent enrollment coordinator who shall 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 as well as evaluation and research through the institute for community inclusion to assist new colleges and school districts; provided further, that not later than July 15, 2024, the department shall select grant recipients and shall distribute a request for grant proposals subject to future appropriation not later than May 30, 2025; provided further, that not later than January 31, 2025, the department of higher education, in consultation with the department of elementary and secondary education, shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on education and the joint committee on higher education on (i) student outcomes in programs funded under this item; and (ii) progress report on efforts to implement the higher education access law in accordance with sections 12, 35, 36, 165 and 168 of
chapter 126 of the acts of 2022; provided further, that funds may be expended for programs or activities during the summer months; and provided further, that not less than $2,000,000 shall be transferred to the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative Trust Fund established in
section 2VVVVV of chapter 29 of the General Laws
