Virginia HB 996: Postsecondary Education Rehabilitation Transition Program; plan for expansion of Program.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26104810D

HOUSE BILL NO. 996

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 13, 2026

A BILL to direct the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, in collaboration with the Department of Education, to expand the Postsecondary Education Rehabilitation Transition Program.

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Patrons—Seibold, Cohen, Laufer and Mehta

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Referred to Committee on Education

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. The Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, in collaboration with the Department of Education, shall develop and implement a plan to expand the Postsecondary Education Rehabilitation Transition (PERT) Program. In developing such plan, the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services shall consult with the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards, representatives from public schools and postsecondary school programs, students transitioning from high school into postsecondary programs and their guardians, and other relevant stakeholders. The purpose of the plan shall be to increase the number of students assisted in the transition from high school to postsecondary programs by providing clear guidelines on the transition process and helping connect students and their guardians to postsecondary programs, including work-based programs, day programs, and independence and life skills-based programs. In furtherance of the PERT Program's expansion, the plan shall identify and implement methods to (i) equip local community services boards with the resources to assist an increased number of students; (ii) publish public online resources to inform and assist those students seeking to transition from high school to postsecondary programs, including resources about the transition process such as guidelines, requirements, and points of contact for assistance; and (iii) develop an online dashboard to provide information about possible postsecondary education programs, with relevant data about the level of support provided to students, expectations of the incoming students, skills taught or received, and other standards to identify the best fit for the individual transitioning from high school to secondary programs.