Written by Eric Sampson, Founder, Special Needs Care Network. Educational guide for U.S. families - not legal advice. Confirm documentation rules with your college disability services office.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved the RISE Act in September 2026 without opposition. The bill is S. 1319 in the Senate and H.R. 2999 in the House. Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana introduced it. Representative Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon and Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington sponsored the companion bill in the House.
The bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965. It covers two-year and four-year colleges that receive federal student aid. If signed into law, those colleges must accept a student's high school IEP or 504 plan as proof of a disability.
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Why High School IEPs End at Graduation
Under current law, an IEP ends when a student graduates from high school. Section 300.102 of Title 34 in the Code of Federal Regulations states that the right to a free appropriate public education ends with a regular high school diploma. Colleges operate under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (34 CFR Part 104, Subpart E) and the Americans with Disabilities Act. They do not have to provide special education. They only have to provide reasonable accommodations.
Parents lose direct access to school records when a student turns 18 or starts college. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act controls those records. College disability coordinators cannot discuss accommodation letters or grades with parents. Professors cannot talk to parents about missed classes or tests. If a student wants a parent involved, the student must sign a privacy waiver with the college registrar.
The Documentation Problem and the $3,000 Re-Evaluation Cost
Because federal rules do not specify what papers a college must accept, campus disability offices set their own standards. Many refuse to accept high school paperwork. They ask for an evaluation from a psychologist completed within the last three years. A private neuropsychological evaluation costs between $2,000 and $5,000. Commercial health insurance plans usually refuse to cover educational testing.
Transition data published by the National Center for Learning Disabilities shows that while 94 percent of high school students with learning differences receive school-based supports, only 35 percent receive accommodations in college. Restrictive documentation rules contribute directly to that drop-off.
What the RISE Act Requires Colleges to Accept
The RISE Act (S. 1319 / H.R. 2999) lists five types of documentation a college must accept: an IEP under Section 614 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; a Section 504 plan; an accommodation plan from another college; an evaluation from a licensed physician or psychologist; or a disability determination from a government agency. The bill prohibits colleges from requiring students to pay for new psychological testing when their school records confirm their condition. The bill also authorizes $10 million for the National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities.
Accommodations Compared to High School Modifications
Colleges provide accommodations, but they do not modify academic courses. A college may give a student extra time on tests, typically time and a half or double time. The college may provide a quiet room in a proctored testing center, note-taking assistance, or permission to record lectures. A college will not change test questions, shorten papers, or lower graduation requirements. The college also will not provide personal aides for daily tasks. Our guide on special education compliance versus real impact outlines how to assess accommodation utility.
Steps for High School Families
High school districts must conduct three-year re-evaluations under IDEA. A family can request comprehensive cognitive and achievement testing in eleventh grade. The school district pays for the evaluation. That testing gives the student an updated psychological file before graduation without private clinic costs. At graduation, the district must also provide a Summary of Performance under 34 CFR § 300.305(e)(3). That document lists the accommodations used in high school and student test scores.
When searching for specialized high schools, our special needs school directory lists private day schools and preparatory programs. Our guide on questions to ask when choosing a specialized school outlines questions for administrators. Families who need personalized assistance can contact our family concierge service. The text of S. 1319 is on Congress.gov, and federal postsecondary rights are published on the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights page.
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