Federal grant programs / Department of Education

Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities into Higher Education (84.407)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$68.0 million
• Grant awards53
• Typical award$534,872
• Awarded in FY 2025$13.7 million
• Size rank929 of 1824
• Type of assistanceProject grants (discretionary)

Key findings

• Annual funding was roughly flat, $13.8 million in fiscal 2021 and $13.7 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 929th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 83% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 23 states and territories.

What the program funds

Funding under this program supports competitive grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) (as defined under section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)), or consortia of IHEs, to create or expand high-quality, inclusive model comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities. Under section 767(d)(6) of the HEA all grant recipients must partner with one or more local educational agencies (LEAs) to support students with intellectual disabilities who are still eligible for special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Funds from this program also support a national Coordinating Center (Coordinating Center), which develops evaluation standards for TPSID grantees and provides technical assistance, information, and opportunities for communication among institutions with postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities. The Center assists in supporting continuous improvement activities for the model transition programs. The Coordinating Center will: (A) provide a research and evaluation protocol for TPSID programs; (B) administer a mentoring program matching current and new TPSID grantees based on areas of expertise; (C) coordinate longitudinal follow-up data collection and technical assistance to TPSID grantees on programmatic components and evidence-based practices; (D) make recommendations related to the development of standards for such programs; (E) provide technical assistance and evaluations for such programs.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

Institutions of higher education (IHEs) (as defined under section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended) and consortia of IHEs are eligible to receive grants under the TPSID program. All grant recipients must partner with one or more local educational agencies to support students with intellectual disabilities who are still eligible for special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Proprietary schools (for-profit entities) are not eligible to apply for a grant under this program.

What the money can and cannot pay for

An institution of higher education (IHE) shall use grant funds to establish a model comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities that 1) serves students with intellectual disabilities, 2) provides individual supports and services for the academic and social inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities in academic courses, extracurricular activities, and other aspects of the IHE’s regular postsecondary program, 3) provides a focus on academic enrichment, socialization, independent living skills, including self-advocacy, and integrated work experiences and career skills that lead to gainful employment, 4) integrates person-centered planning in the development of the course of study for each student with an intellectual disability participating in the model program, 5) participates with the coordinating center established under section 777(b) of the Higher Education Act, as amended, in the evaluation of the model program, 6) partners with one or more local education agencies to support students with intellectual disabilities participating in the model program who are still eligible for special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 7) plans for the sustainability of the model program after the end of the grant period, and 8) creates and offers a meaningful credential for student with intellectual disabilities upon the completion of the model program.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Grantees must provide matching funds for model transition programs, in cash or in kind, of at least 25 percent of the cost of the grant. The Coordinating Center is not required to provide matching funds. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines

Award range and average, in the agency's words

Varies by competition.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Colleges and universities received 96% of the money, nonprofits 4.3%.

By state

17 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.