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Technical Assistance Workshop 

July 12, 2010 

Slide I 

MODEL COMPREHENSIVE TRANSITION AND 

POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS FOR 

STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL 

DISABILITIES 

TPSID PROGRAM 

Technical Assistance Workshop Orientation 

2010 

Slide 2 

Program Overview: The TPSID Program awards grants to institutions of higher education 

(IHEs) or consortia of (IHEs) to enable them to create or expand high quality, inclusive model 

comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities. 

Slide 3 

Program Authorization: Title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended (HEA) 

20 U.S.C. 114OG 

• Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) In 34 CFR parts 

74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. 

Slide 4 

Program Description: Five-year Project Performance Period 

• Each Project will be funded up to $500,000 annually 

• Expect to award approximately 20-25 model demonstrations projects 

• Projects will start October 1, 2010 

Slide 5 

• Submission Requirements: Requirements/forms are in application packet 

– http://www2.ed.gov/programs/tpsid/index.html

• Must use e-Application – http://e-grants.ed.gov

• Project Narrative must not exceed 40 pages 

Slide 6 

Eligible Applicants: Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) 

• Consortia of IHEs 

– Non-profit, private, degree conferring institutions. 

– Two-year four year institutions. 

• Non-profit, private, degree conferring institutions are allowed to be a part of the 

consortium of IHEs (this includes two-year colleges and community colleges) 
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All applicants must meet the definition of Institution of Higher Education (IHE), as it is defined 

in the TPSID application package 

If consortium model, applicant must describe fiscal and work scope contribution 

Slide 7 

Eligible Applicants: Partner with LEAs to support IDEA eligible students 

– Describe contribution 

– IHE remains fiscal agent for performance period 

Slide 8 

Absolute Priority - Use of Grant Funds: Serve students with intellectual disabilities 

• Provide individual supports 

• Focus on academic and social integration that lead to gainful employment 

• Integrate person- centered planning 

• Participate with the Coordinating Center - Allocate budget evaluation and 

communications – dedicate staff 

• Partner with LEA to address IDEA eligible students 

• Plan for sustainability 

• Offer a meaningful credential 

Slide 9 

Proving Evidence... 

Slide 10 

Students with ID? 

• Targeted recruitment 

• Relevant supports 

• Deemed eligible under IDEA 

Slide 11 

Individual Supports? 

• Consistent with student needs 

• Facilitate student engagement with content and activities 

• Evaluated continuously to assess impact of supports on student progress 

Slide 12 

Leads to Gainful Employment? 

• Alignment between program content and post school goals 

• Description of work experiences and career development 

• Participation of business and industry 

Slide 13 

Person-centered Planning? 

• Approach that is consistent with student needs 
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• Evidence-base 

• Integration across program 

Slide 14 

Participation with the Coordinating Center? 

• Dedicated fiscal resources 

• Allocation of personnel 

• Description of collaboration 

Slide 15 

Partner with LEAs? 

• Meaningful activities – dedicated staff 

• Sustained over life of the project 

• IHE engagement at LEA level 

Slide 16 

Sustainability? 

• Integration across institution 

• Participation of higher education staff 

• Commitment by institutional leaders 

• Development of state systems 

Slide 17 

Meaningful Credential? 

• Articulation of credential 

• Implications of credential 

Slide 18 

The Spirit of TPSID...more than definitions... 

• Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program 

– Advising & Curriculum Structure 

– Not less than half-time integration & to the maximum extent possible 

– Activities 

• Courses (regular or auditing); and 

• Internships or work-based learning 

Slide 19 

TPSID & Student Eligibility for Federal Student Aid 

• Title VII (TPSID) vs. title IV (Financial Aid) 

– Two distinct processes 

– Decisions are independent 

• Institutional information - http://www.ifap.ed.gov/ifap/index.jsp. 
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Slide 20 

TPSID Selection Criteria

Included in the TPSID application package are the selection criteria that will be used by peer 

reviewers to evaluate the applications. The selection criteria were extracted from EDGAR 34 

CFR part 

75 sections 75.210. 

You may access EDGAR electronically by going to the following link: 

http://www.ed.gov/policy/fund/reg/edgarReg/edgar.html

Slide 21 

TPSID Program 

Selection Criteria

Need for Project (10) 

Significance (15) 

Quality of Project Design (20) 

Quality of Project Services (15) 

Quality of Project Personnel (10) 

Adequacy of Resources (15) 

Quality of Project Evaluation (15) 

______________________________ 

Total 100 points 

Slide 22 

Please Note... 

• Selection criteria are different than 84.333A 

• Describe, explain, operationalize 

• Support, examples, experience 

http://www.ed.gov/policy/fund/reg/edgarReg/edgar.html

Slide 23 

TPSID Program 

Competitive Preference 

Priorities 

Under 34 CFR 75.105 (c )(2 ) (i ), applicants responding to one or more of the previously 

mentioned priorities will receive up to an additional nine points (up to three points for each 

priority addressed) depending upon how well the application meets the priorities. 

The description of all or some of the priorities is not to exceed one page. 
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Slide 24 

Competitive Priorities 

#1 Sustained and Meaningful Partnership 

#2 Housing 

#3 Participation of Personnel Development Enrollees 

Slide 25 

Invitational Priority 

• Enhance – not supplant 

– Additional courses 

– Additional enrollment 

– Additional faculty resources 

– Additional training and staff development 

Slide 26 

Matching Requirement 

• Non-federal funds, a matching contribution equal to at least 25% of cost of the project. 

– No additional points 

– Sustain match each project year 

– Federal funds cannot be used in the match 

– IHE receiving obligation remains fiscal agent 

– Budget narrative on 524(section c) must describe contribution 

Slide 27 

Indirect Cost Rate 

• Eight percent or the applicant’s negotiated rate, whichever is lower 

• Applications not indicating an indirect cost rate will still be reviewed 

– Applicant will not lose points 

Slide 28 

Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) 

• GPRA directs Federal departments and agencies to improve the effectiveness of their 

programs by engaging in strategic planning, setting outcome-related goals for programs, 

and measuring program results against those goals. 

– The goal of the TPSID program is to promote the successful transition of students 

with intellectual disabilities into higher education 

– Required to submit annual performance reports 

– Required to participate in evaluation activities and dedicate resources to 

evaluation through the coordinating center 

Slide 29 

Evaluation Data 

• Delineate types of data to be collected 
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• Evaluation methodology, instruments, & analyses 

• Evaluation timeline 

• Use of formative data for project improvement 

Slide 30 

Performance Measures... 

• Submit annual performance reports to the Secretary, including documentation of: 

3⁄4 Resource inputs, including sources of student financial assistance and 

contributions from vocational rehabilitation and other service agencies; 

3⁄4 Student characteristics; 

3⁄4 Program staffing; and 

3⁄4 Student academic, social, and employment outcomes. 

Slide 31 

Evaluation Data Describing: 

• Student population 

• Academic and social inclusion 

• Individualized student needs and gainful employment 

• Partnerships with LEAs 

• Plans for program sustainability 

• Credential offered 

• Enrollment changes 

• Persistence and completion 

• Project goals and plans 

• Competitive priorities, if applicable 

Slide 32 

e-Reader 

Contacts 

For e-Reader related inquiries:

Helpdesk at 1-888-336-8930 

(TTY: 1-866-697-2696, local 202-401-8363) 

or mail to: edcaps_user@ed.gov

Slide 33 

Contact 

For TPSID Program 

related inquiries: 

Shedita Alston 

Shedita.Alston@ed.gov

202-502-7808