United StatesGrant calculations would count approved reduced loads as full time for students with disabilities
Three federal education grant calculations would use full-time treatment for students with disabilities who have approved reduced course loads.
What it does
For Pell, Supplemental Educational Opportunity, and TEACH grants, an approved reduced course load or 5 credits, whichever is greater, would count as full-time enrollment when grant amounts are calculated.
Argument forFull-time treatment could keep approved reduced course loads from lowering grant amounts for students with disabilities.
Argument againstThe rules could add administrative work because officials would need to confirm each disability accommodation and apply the special credit-counting rule.
More detail
Calculations would treat the approved reduced load or 5 credits, whichever is greater, as full-time enrollment. This would apply to Pell, Supplemental Educational Opportunity, and TEACH grants for students or teacher candidates with disabilities. The reduced load must be an approved disability accommodation. For Pell Grants, this treatment would not be used to calculate semester eligibility. A separate cost-of-attendance rule identified as section 472(b) would not apply. The bill ties these amendments to the effective date set through referenced FAFSA Simplification Act provisions.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Introduced in SenateLatest
- Sep 30Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.Introduced
EducationDisability RightsConsumer Protection