RISE Act

The Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower Act, or RISE Act, aims to improve access and support for students with disabilities in higher education by amending the Higher Education Act of 1965. A key provision requires institutions to adopt policies that accept various forms of documentation to establish a student's disability status, including Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Section 504 plans, and records from licensed professionals or other institutions. This legislation also mandates that colleges establish transparent and explicit policies regarding eligibility for accommodations and disseminate this information widely to students, parents, and faculty, including on public websites. Furthermore, it authorizes an appropriation of $10,000,000 for the National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities to bolster resources. To enhance understanding and accountability, the bill requires institutions to submit key data on formally registered undergraduate students with disabilities to federal data systems like IPEDS. This data will include the total number of students with disabilities enrolled, those accessing accommodations, and the degrees awarded, while protecting personally identifiable information.