REPRESENTATIVES MORELLE, FITZPATRICK INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO MAKE COLLEGE DEGREES MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE
Pell Grant Flexibility legislation would ease financial restrictions for students with disabilities
Legislation introduced on the 33rd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act
(Washington, D.C.) — Today, Congressmen Joe Morelle (D, NY-25) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R, PA-1) introduced legislation to make higher education more accessible to students with disabilities. The Pell Grant Flexibility Act would provide increased Pell Grant flexibility to ensure students receive critical financial support while taking the recommended number of credits.
“Nearly 20 percent of undergraduate students in colleges and universities have a disability, and unfortunately, too many of these students do not go on to complete their degrees,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “On the 33rd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, I’m proud to introduce legislation to help eliminate the roadblocks these students face and put college graduation within reach for students of all abilities. In doing so, we can help more students stay in school, graduate, and pursue meaningful employment—all while building a more inclusive and equitable higher education system.”
“As co-chair of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Pell Grant Flexibility Act with Congressman Morelle,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “Our bill will break down barriers to entry for disabled college students seeking financial support, and encourage these individuals to finish their degrees. As we celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act this year, I will continue fighting for individuals with disabilities and their pursuit of opportunities to flourish.”
Stephan Smith, Executive Director of the Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD), said: "As the leading professional membership association for individuals committed to equity for persons with disabilities in higher education, AHEAD has always been a champion of the Pell Grant program in helping students achieve their educational goals. But for some students with disabilities, course load requirements and semester limits with the Pell Grant program result in challenges to college completion. That is why AHEAD is so excited to see Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) reintroduce the Pell Grant Flexibility Act. By instituting a commonsense flexibility that would allow students with disabilities to attend college at a pace with the greatest chances for success without having to see a reduction or even loss of Pell Grant funding will make a world of difference. It is this small change that will amount to life changing opportunities for college students with disabilities."
Pell Grants are the largest pool of financial resources available to college students. To be eligible to receive a full Pell Grant award, a college student must take a full course load; however, many students take fewer credits in order to reasonably accommodate for their disability. And in some cases, students need longer than the traditional four years to complete their required course work for graduation. Currently, students who take under a full course load or who take longer than four years to complete their required courses receive reduced Pell Grant awards in line with their reduced course load. Their actual college expenses, however, are not proportionately reduced. This is one reason why a staggering 25% of students with disabilities left after one year of college compared to an attrition rate of 14% among students without a disability.
Allowing students to reduce their workload to manage their disability, while still being able to secure full financial aid, is an important step to tearing down the systemic barriers preventing them from educational success. The Pell Grant Flexibility Act will lower the amount of credit hours required for Pell Grants for students with disabilities and allow for adjustments to award calculations and waivers for semester limits for those students, giving them the support necessary to earn their degree at the pace that works for them.
To learn more about this legislation, read the full text of the bill here.
###