Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Model Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities Program (TPSID-CC)

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education is accepting applications for the FY 2025 Coordinating Center under the Model Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID–CC) Program. The primary goal of this grant is to establish a national coordinating center that provides technical assistance, evaluation, and dissemination of best practices for inclusive higher education programs supporting students with intellectual disabilities. This initiative operates under Assistance Listing Number 84.407B and is authorized through section 777(b) of the Higher Education Act. The Coordinating Center established under this program will be responsible for supporting both institutions already participating in TPSID programs and others that aim to develop or enhance inclusive postsecondary education offerings. Activities include developing evaluation protocols for program effectiveness, assisting grantees in awarding meaningful credentials, and researching funding mechanisms. The Center will also create model agreements among institutions and agencies, facilitate communication across stakeholders, and promote standards development that may inform future accreditation of such programs. The grant includes one absolute priority requiring the successful applicant to establish and maintain the Coordinating Center. In addition, there is an invitational priority encouraging applicants to extend technical assistance to institutions that do not currently offer Comprehensive Transition Programs. This focus builds on efforts initiated under the separate PPSID–NTAD grant awarded in 2021, which emphasized support for non-TPSID grantees. The TPSID–CC is expected to incorporate this broader technical assistance framework within its mandate, ultimately supporting more institutions and enhancing educational opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities. Eligibility is limited to entities or partnerships with expertise in higher education, the education of students with intellectual disabilities, and program development, evaluation, and technical assistance. Only one award is anticipated, with a project period of up to five years and a maximum award of $2,000,000 per 12-month budget period. Matching funds are not required. The awarded entity may not provide subgrants for project implementation, and administrative costs must adhere to standard federal cost principles. Applications will be reviewed based on demonstrated need, project significance, quality of design, resource adequacy, management plan, and evaluation strategy. The Department reserves the right to consider past performance and may impose conditions based on risk assessments. Grant recipients will be required to collect and report on specific performance indicators, including student outcomes, program standards alignment, and the effectiveness of technical assistance activities. Applications open on July 14, 2025, and must be submitted by August 13, 2025. The intergovernmental review period ends on September 12, 2025. For questions, applicants should contact Shedita Alston at the U.S. Department of Education by email at Shedita.Alston@ed.gov or by phone at (202) 453–7090. Individuals with disabilities may access telecommunications relay services by dialing 7-1-1.