ME LD46

Establishes the Inclusive Higher Education Grant Program within the Department of Education to award competitive grants to Maine colleges and universities for developing postsecondary programs serving students with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, or autism spectrum disorder

Requires funded programs to provide students with disabilities access to the same academic courses, campus life, social activities, and institutional resources as non-disabled students, along with employment preparation and peer mentoring

Prohibits participating institutions from requiring a high school diploma or standardized college entrance exams for admission to these programs

Mandates that 25% of grant funds be used for scholarships for participating students with disabilities

Requires grant recipients to submit semi-annual progress reports to the department beginning January 1, 2026, and requires the department to report annually to the Legislature on program effectiveness starting March 1, 2026