Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73not60

§15113 Reaching up Scholarship Program

Title 42 › Chapter 144— DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ASSISTANCE AND BILL OF RIGHTS › Subchapter III— PROGRAM FOR DIRECT SUPPORT WORKERS WHO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES › § 15113

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can give competitive grants to certain groups to run scholarship programs that give vouchers for college to direct support workers who help people with developmental disabilities in different living settings. Eligible groups are colleges or universities, State agencies, or partnerships of those. Grants pay the federal portion of the voucher costs. To apply, a group must explain how it will award vouchers, how many people will get them, and how much the group will pay as the non-federal share. Applications get priority if they target direct support workers who verify they worked 250 hours in the past 90 days, limit vouchers to no more than $2,000 per year, promise that the applicant (or another organization that will not get vouchers) will provide the non-federal share, and meet any other conditions the Secretary sets. The federal share can be up to 80 percent of the cost.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §15113

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary may award grants to eligible entities, on a competitive basis, to enable the entities to carry out scholarship programs by providing vouchers for postsecondary education to direct support workers who assist individuals with developmental disabilities residing in diverse settings. The Secretary shall award the grants to pay for the Federal share of the cost of providing the vouchers.

(b)To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall be—

(1)an institution of higher education;

(2)a State agency; or

(3)a consortium of such institutions or agencies.

(c)To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a description of—

(1)the basis for awarding the vouchers;

(2)the number of individuals to receive the vouchers; and

(3)the amount of funds that will be made available by the eligible entity to pay for the non-Federal share of the cost of providing the vouchers.

(d)In awarding a grant under this section for a scholarship program, the Secretary shall give priority to an entity submitting an application that—

(1)specifies that individuals who receive vouchers through the program will be individuals—

(A)who are direct support workers who assist individuals with developmental disabilities residing in diverse settings, while pursuing postsecondary education; and

(B)each of whom verifies, prior to receiving the voucher, that the worker has completed 250 hours as a direct support worker in the past 90 days;

(2)states that the vouchers that will be provided through the program will be in amounts of not more than $2,000 per year;

(3)provides an assurance that the eligible entity (or another specified entity that is not a voucher recipient) will contribute the non-Federal share of the cost of providing the vouchers; and

(4)meets such other conditions as the Secretary may specify.

(e)The Federal share of the cost of providing the vouchers shall be not more than 80 percent.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 15113

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60