VA HJR49

Directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to study inclusive postsecondary education programs for students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) at public institutions of higher education.

Currently, only 2% of approximately 420,000 students with IDD nationwide enroll in postsecondary education, and existing Virginia programs at 3 universities and 5 community colleges face staffing and budgetary constraints limiting enrollment.

SCHEV must identify barriers to expanding programs, evaluate methods for consistent statewide data collection on enrollment and employment outcomes, and recommend enhancements and new programming.

Federal TPSID funding has served nearly 5,000 students nationally since 2010, with 74% of graduates securing employment within a year, but recent federal budget cuts threaten program availability.

Report with findings and recommendations due to the House Committee on Education and Senate Committee on Education and Health by December 1, 2026.