Executive Summary - Annual Report of the Cohort 3 TPSID Model Demonstration Projects (Year 4, 2023-2024)

Oct 15, 2026

Executive summary of the NCC’s Annual Report on Cohort 3 TPSID model demonstration projects covering Year 4 (2023–2024). Summarizes program rollout across 22 grantees and 41 programs at 39 colleges in 16 states, including student enrollment patterns, academic participation in inclusive versus specialized coursework, and the role of disability services and advising. Reports credential outcomes across 40 active programs, with 127 credentials offered, major shares in certificates and culminating credentials. Also details residential options and student housing participation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Background on Higher Education for People with Intellectual Disability

Current Status of TPSID Characteristics

Program Characteristics

Student Characteristics

Academics

Academic Supports

Credentials

Residential Options

The Ultimate Internship

Think College REPORTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COHORT 3 TPSID MODEL DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS (YEAR 4, 2023–2024) Meg Grigal, Clare Papay, Caitlyn Bukaty, Belkis Choiseul-Praslin, Cate Weir, and Rebecca Lazo BACKGROUND ON HIGHER EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY In 2020, the Office of Postsecondary Education in the U.S. Department of Education funded 22 model demonstration projects called Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSIDs) . These grantees are charged with creating or expanding inclusive higher education programs for students with intellectual disability. The Think College National Coordinating Center (NCC) is required to conduct an evaluation of the TPSID projects each year. This is a summary of the complete findings shared in the NCC’s Annual Report of the Cohort 3 TPSID Model Demonstration Projects (Year 4, 2023–2024) . CURRENT STATUS OF TPSID CHARACTERISTICS PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS In 2023–2024, 22 TPSID grantees implemented 41 programs at 39 colleges and university campuses in 16 states. Of the 41 programs, 11 were located at a 2-year college and 30 were located at a 4-year college/university. Forty programs enrolled students, and one program was in a planning year. Twenty-one TPSID programs (51%) were approved as Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) programs, meaning they were able to offer eligible students access to certain forms of federal student aid. STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS On average, programs enrolled 14 students per site (N = 557 total students) . Ninety-nine percent of enrolled students had intellectual disability and/or autism. Seventy-four students were highschool students receiving college-based transition services (13% of enrolled students) . Most students (92%) were between the ages of 18 and 25, with the majority of students (63%) identifying as male. ACADEMICS Students enrolled in both academically inclusive college courses (typical college courses attended by students with intellectual disability and other college students without intellectual disability) and specialized courses designed for and offered only to students with intellectual disability. In 2023–2024, students enrolled in 4,583 college or university courses, for an average of eight courses (inclusive or specialized) per student per year. Sixty-three percent of all enrollments were in academically inclusive courses. Eighty-eight percent of programs enrolling students (n = 35) had at least 50% of their course enrollments in inclusive courses, and 23 programs (58%) enrolled students only in inclusive courses. Forty-five percent of enrollments were in courses offering credits that could only be used toward a TPSID credential, 32% were for standard college/university credit, 21% of enrollments were students auditing courses, and 1% were in not-forcredit or non-credit courses. ACADEMIC SUPPORTS Seventy-nine percent of students received support or accommodations from the disability services office (DSO) on their campus. In 78% 88% 23 of programs had at least 50% of their course enrollments in inclusive courses programs had 100% of their course enrollmentsin inclusive courses 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY of programs, students had access to typical advising from the college/university either with or without specialized advising from TPSID staff. CREDENTIALS Students were able to earn a credential at 38 of the 40 active programs (95%) . Two programs reported their credentials were under development at the time of data collection. TPSID programs offered 127 credentials. At 15 programs (39% of programs where students were able to earn a credential), a single credential was available to students. At 23 TPSID programs (61%), more than one credential was available. The majority of credentials available to students were certificates (n = 80; 63% of credentials), but additional types included industry certifications (

FAQs

How many TPSID grantees and programs were implemented in 2023–2024, and where were they located?

In 2023–2024, 22 TPSID grantees implemented 41 programs at 39 colleges and university campuses in 16 states.

What share of student course enrollments were in academically inclusive courses?

Sixty-three percent of all enrollments were in academically inclusive courses. Programs enrolling students also showed that many had at least half of enrollments in inclusive courses.

What kinds of credentials did TPSID programs offer in Year 4, and what proportion were culminating credentials?

TPSID programs offered 127 credentials, with certificates making up the majority. Across those credentials, 80 (63%) were reported as culminating credentials.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Maya Linwood