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Inclusive Postsecondary Education
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Inclusive Postsecondary Education is also referred to as Inclusive Higher Education. These are programs that provide access to people with intellectual disabilities to postsecondary education.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008 opened doors to a college experience for students with intellectual disabilities. Model Demonstration Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, often referred to as TPSID grants, are funded under the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA). These discretionary funds were specifically earmarked to provide grants to institutions of higher education or universities, state, and career and technical colleges, to facilitate the creation and expansion of high quality, inclusive postsecondary education for students with intellectual disability. In 2015, the second iteration of TPSID grants and Think College, National Coordinating Center, were funded through 2020. In 2020, the third iteration of TPSID grants were awarded and the complete list may be found on the U.S. DOE’s Office of Postsecondary Education TPSID Awards page.
Comphrehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs (CTPs) are defined in HEOA as a degree, certificate or non-degree program that is:
The Florida Center for Students
with Unique Abilities (FCSUA)
Signed into law by Florida’s governor on January 23, 2016, the Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Program Act (the Act) (FS 1004.6495) established the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities at the University of Central Florida (the Center) and charged the Center with managing the Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Program (FPCTP) application and approval process. The Act also established criteria for FPCTP approval, scholarship awards for eligible students to attend approved programs, grant awards to promote new program development and existing program enhancements, and accountability requirements associated with these opportunities.
The
FCSUA, located at the University of Central Florida, was created by the Florida
Legislature in 2016. The purpose of the center is to increase independent
living, inclusive and experiential postsecondary education and employment
opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities. Funding is available
to help colleges set up new programs and
also for
student scholarships to attend these programs.
There
are several important distinctions between TPSID and FCSUA funding
opportunities. FCSUA policies require the following:
The FCSUA website provides a listing and map of postsecondary education programs that serve students with intellectual disbilities in Florida, which includes the approved Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Programs (FCTPs), as well as those not approved as such.
For more information, visit www.FCSUA.org.
Credential Guidance Briefs
The Florida IPSE Credential Guidance Brief Series was developed in 2019 by the Florida Consortium on Inclusive Higher Education (FCIHE) (TPSID model demonstration project from 2015-2020) in collaboration with Community and State Agencies through an FCIHE Work Group and the FCIHE Credential Steering Committee. This series is the result of 4 years of work, research, and experience in developing and helping other institutions develop inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs, programs of study, and the pursuant credentials. The series is directed specifically to secondary educators; transition specialists, ESE directors, and postsecondary educators; faculty, student disability office personnel, and IPSE program staff. Additionally, briefs #1 through #4 provide information that students and families should find very useful.
Increasing Postsecondary Opportunities and Success for Students
and Youth with Disabilities
This document was released September 17, 2019 by the US
Education Department, as a question/answer format, to clarify 4 target areas of
postsecondary education for this population:
