May We Introduce You To: The RISE Act of Minnesota

by Lee Gehrls, R&D Coordinator (Volunteer)
Thanks to Adam Gehrls, Vice President, for editing & research assistance
Read Time: 3 Minutes

If you have a high school graduate who is planning on attending college, you may want to check out the RISE Act to see if your graduate qualifies for extra support services. This Act “amends the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) to ensure that students with disabilities thrive in college”. The HEOA was enacted on August 14, 2008, and reauthorized the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965.

College students with ADHD face unique challenges when it comes to being successful in college, even when they receive accommodations through 12th grade. Minnesota law requires every public college to have a policy devoted to helping students with disabilities, but such policies are rarely consistent across institutions, nor is the documentation required by students to access services. Cost can also be a factor. According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, new evaluations for college students with disabilities range from $500 to $2,500.

College students studying with books and a laptop.

This changed with the passage of the Minnesota Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act, also known as HF 4565. The Minnesota Legislature passed its own version of the RISE Act on June 11, 2024, and it went into effect at the start of 2025. Under the Act, college institutions must provide students with more information about accessibility services and go into greater detail about the documentation requirements they need.

According to the National Center of Learning Disabilities, the US House of Representatives version of the RISE ACT covers three critical issues:

1. Accommodation:

  •  Requires colleges to accept an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan, as well as other records such as a psychologist’s evaluation as documentation of their disability.
  • Mandates that colleges create transparent & explicit policies covering the information about the college’s eligibility process for accommodations and ensure that students, parents and faculty have access to that information.

2. Information:

  • Colleges must submit key data on undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who are formally registered with Student Accessibility Services as students with disabilities. This data is included in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) or other Federal college data collection efforts.

3. Training & Support:

Some facts regarding college students with ADHD or other learning disabilities:

  • 19% of undergrad students reported having a disability.
  • 94% of students with LD receive accommodations in high school, which drops to 17% when they enter college.
  • 43% of students report they didn’t receive accommodations in college but wish they had.
  • 72% of the parents with high school children find it difficult to track down information about disability services in college.

Since its passage, the RISE Act has provided long-overdue assistance to college students struggling with disabilities and their efforts to get help.

Additional Information Links:

I encourage you to take some time to become familiar with the RISE Act to see if it might be another resource for your high school graduate. For more information or questions, you can contact Student Accessibility Services at any Minnesota college or university. They will also be able to tell you how you can apply to receive services through the RISE Act.

Making the right connections can make all the difference.sm

Disclaimer: This document is for information purposes only. A-D-A-M℠ does not receive compensation from the above stated apps or any other organization. If you are considering applications or other products be sure to do your research, as there are alternatives that could be better suited for your needs. Always consult your primary healthcare and/or mental healthcare provider on the treatment of ADHD and related conditions.

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