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119-hr-2733119th CongressWALLET

Pell Grant Flexibility Act

Sponsored By: Representative Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]

Introduced

Summary

Treats reduced course loads as full-time for Pell Grant amount calculations for students with disabilities. This bill would let an eligible student's approved reduced course load, or 5 credits whichever is greater, be counted as full-time when calculating their Pell Grant award.

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  • Students with disabilities: Aligns Pell award amounts with ADA-based accommodations so students who need a lighter schedule can receive grant amounts tied to that reduced enrollment.
  • Colleges and financial aid offices: Institutions must determine that a reduced course load is appropriate under the Americans with Disabilities Act definition of disability to apply the full-time treatment.
  • Pell program rules: The change affects how award amounts are calculated but does not change how Pell Grant semester eligibility is counted under existing rules.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Full-time Pell for disabled students

If enacted, some students with disabilities would be treated as full-time for Pell Grant amounts. The school would first need to approve a reduced course load under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Full-time would mean the approved reduced load or 5 credits, whichever is more. This could increase a student’s Pell award compared with part-time status. It would not change how many semesters of Pell eligibility are counted.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]

NY • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

  • Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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