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CTP Program Brief: Educators

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Kentucky Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Program Brief for Educators

As Educators, our job is not just to get students to graduation, but to prepare them for life after they leave high school. For some students with intellectual disabilities, that may include enrollment in one of Kentucky’s Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary programs.
Jason E. Glass, Ed.D., Kentucky Education Commissioner

In Kentucky, there are increasingly more higher education options for students with Intellectual Disabilities (ID). This brief is intended to assist educators in supporting students with ID in pursuing their postsecondary education and employment goals.

Comprehensive Transition & Postsecondary Programs (CTPs)

CTPs were created by the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA, 2008). They support students with ID who want to continue academic, career or technical instruction in higher education to better prepare for competitive integrated employment and independent living. CTPs:

  • utilize person-centered planning to help students identify and explore career goals, which may include paid work and non-paid work-based experiences
  • facilitate the social and academic integration of students on a college campus
  • provide support to navigate all elements of college life, including admissions, coursework, work experiences, and extracurricular activities.

CTP Program Eligibility

Students enrolled in an approved CTP must have a documented ID, as defined by the HEOA.

Student Financial Assistance 

Student Financial Assistance:

Students with ID enrolled in an approved CTP can access federal financial aid for which they qualify and state financial aid from the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES), Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship, and College Access Program Grant programs, if eligible. Students and families can contact the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) at (800) 928-8926 or visit kheaa.com for help with the financial aid process.

To learn more about financial assistance for students enrolled in an approved Kentucky CTP, see CTP Brief: Student Financial Assistance.

What Educators May Wish to Consider

As Admissions and Release Committees develop measurable postsecondary goals in the areas of education/ training, employment, and, if applicable, independent living, members may wish to consider:

  • Is enrollment in higher education a desired goal for the student, including, if appropriate, enrollment in a CTP? If so, what transition services might the student need to achieve their goal?
  • Do the student’s IEP goals align, as appropriate, with interests identified in their Individual Learning Plan, the employment goal as stated in their Individualized Plan for Employment (if eligible for VR services), Pre-employment Transition Services the student may be receiving, etc.?
  • Is the student eligible or potentially eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services?
  • How can LEA and VR staff increase collaboration and coordination to support the student’s postsecondary employment goal(s)?
  • What are some ways the LEA can increase the awareness and understanding of students and families about higher education options for students with ID, such as CTP programs?

There are five approved CTPs in Kentucky:

More Information

Last updated 5/19/2023. To view the latest version of this document, visit www.kshep.hdiuky.org/resources

For more information, please contact:

Johnny W. Collett
Deputy Director
(859) 257-2304

johnny.collett@uky.edu

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About CTPs

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About CTPs

Image of multiple students in caps and gowns, as well as two students in a classroom. The students are both in masks.

Kentucky Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Program Brief for Potential CTPs

Comprehensive Transition & Postsecondary Programs

Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs (CTPs) were created by the Higher Education Opportunities Act (HEOA, 2008) and are designed to support students with intellectual disabilities (ID) who want to continue academic, career and technical, and independent living instruction at an institution of higher education (IHE) in order to prepare for employment.

CTPs are higher education programs for individuals with ID that lead to a meaningful credential. Hallmarks of high-quality programs include (a) the social and academic integration of students with ID with their non-disabled peers, and (b) an individualized person-centered planning process that improves the needed skills and competencies of each student.

A high-quality CTP increases the number of individuals with ID who are academically, practically, and socially prepared to obtain and retain competitive employment in integrated settings and prepares them to live full and independent lives.

What does it mean for students?

Eligible students with ID, as defined by the HEOA, who are enrolled in an approved CTP will have the opportunity to take challenging and meaningful credit and non-credit courses alongside their non-disabled peers and in their chosen fields of study.

Additionally, students enrolled in an approved CTP are eligible for federal and state financial assistance – even if they don’t have a regular high school diploma and are not matriculating toward a degree.

Student Financial Assistance:

Students with ID enrolled in an approved CTP can access federal financial aid for which they qualify and state financial aid from the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES), Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship, and College Access Program Grant programs, if eligible. Students and families can contact the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) at (800) 928-8926 or visit kheaa.com for help with the financial aid process.

To learn more about financial assistance for students enrolled in an approved Kentucky CTP, see CTP Brief: Student Financial Assistance.

What does it mean for colleges or universities?

IHEs interested in establishing a CTP must apply to the Federal Student Aid Office at the United States Department of Education (ED). The establishment of an approved CTP enables IHEs to:

  • Provide access to financial aid for students with ID
  • Receive recognition as an approved CTP on the ED website
  • Promote equitable access and success for a population of students conspicuously underrepresented in higher education

There are five approved CTPs in Kentucky:

Additional Information

ThinkCollege, the National Coordinating Center for Transition Postsecondary Programs for Students with ID, has developed a learning module on CTPs. This four-part module discusses requirements for CTPs, preparing to become a CTP, the application submission and review process, and other components to student financial aid eligibility. The module includes a CTP Application Template, a step-by-step checklist, key components from successful CTP applications, as well as other related resources.

Last updated 9/13/2023. To view the latest version of this document, visit www.kshep.hdiuky.org/resources

For more information, please contact:

Johnny W. Collett
Deputy Director
(859) 257-2304

johnny.collett@uky.edu

CTP Brief: Student Financial Assistance

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CTP Brief: Student Financial Assistance

Image of multiple students in caps and gowns, as well as two students in a classroom. The students are both in masks.

Kentucky Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Program Brief for Students

Comprehensive Transition & Postsecondary Programs (CTPs)

CTPs were created by the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA, 2008). They support students with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) who want to continue academic, career, or technical instruction in higher education to better prepare for competitive integrated employment and independent living. CTPs:

  • use person-centered planning to help students identify and explore career goals, which may include paid work and unpaid work-based experiences
  • facilitate the social and academic integration of students on a college campus
  • provide support to navigate all elements of college life, including admissions, coursework, work experiences, and extracurricular activities

CTP Program Eligibility

Students enrolled in an approved CTP must have a documented ID, as defined by the HEOA. This means a student:

  • With a cognitive impairment characterized by significant limitations in:
    • intellectual and cognitive functioning; and
    • adaptive behavior
  • Who is currently, or was formerly, eligible for a free appropriate public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Student Financial Assistance

Student Financial Assistance:

Students with ID enrolled in an approved CTP can access federal financial aid for which they qualify and state financial aid from the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES), Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship, and College Access Program Grant programs, if eligible. Students and families can contact the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) at (800) 928-8926 or visit kheaa.com for help with the financial aid process.

To learn more about financial assistance for students enrolled in an approved Kentucky CTP, see CTP Brief: Student Financial Assistance.


Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How do students interested in a CTP apply for federal student financial assistance?

Students interested in enrolling in an approved CTP should complete the FAFSA each year at www.studentaid.gov and indicate which college(s) they want information sent.

  1. The FAFSA asks about high school completion status. How do students answer this question and will this affect students’ eligibility for financial aid?

Students with any diploma or credential other than a standard high school diploma (e.g., alternative high school diploma, GED, no diploma) select “none of the above”. This answer will not affect eligibility for student aid if a student is enrolled in an approved CTP.

  1. What does it mean if a FAFSA has been selected for verification?

In some cases, the U.S. Department of Education requires the financial aid office to verify the accuracy of certain information reported on the FAFSA. The school may request additional documentation from the student or parents to complete this review before federal student financial aid can be finalized. Being chosen for verification does not suggest that an error was

made on the FAFSA, and financial aid counselors can support students throughout the process.

  1. What do students enrolled in a Kentucky CTP need to do to keep their federal student financial aid?

As outlined by college/university satisfactory academic progress (SAP) policies for students in CTPs, students must maintain SAP and meet the basic federal student aid eligibility requirements. Students must re-apply each year for federal aid by filing the FAFSA.

  1. How do students enrolled in a Kentucky CTP receive their KEES funds?

College financial aid offices work directly with the statewide KEES coordinator at KHEAA to report enrollment and request the KEES CTP awards for eligible students (KRS 164.7882). KEES amounts for students enrolled in an approved CTP are $500 if enrolled in at least six (6) hours in an academic term; or $250 if enrolled in less than six (6) hours in an academic term. Note: KEES funds can only be awarded for fall and spring terms.

  1. How do students enrolled in a Kentucky CTP continue to qualify for KEES awards?

All that is necessary to qualify for renewal of the KEES CTP award is for a student to maintain enrollment in the CTP and maintain satisfactory academic progress as outlined in the SAP policy. Students are eligible for KEES CTP awards for a maximum of eight (8) academic terms.

  1. How can CTP students apply for the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship Program (WRKS)?

Click here to learn more about the WRKS Program, including how to apply.

  1. Does receiving financial aid/grants to pay for college affect Social Security benefits for CTP students?

Grants, scholarships, fellowships, or gifts received for educational expenses are not counted as income or resources by Social Security if they are used to pay for educational expenses in a timely manner. To learn more about Supplemental Security Income (SSI) when students turn 18, including how grants and scholarships affect SSI benefits, visit: www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-11005.pdf

There are five approved CTPs in Kentucky:

More Information

Last updated 9/13/2023. To view the latest version of this document, visit www.kshep.hdiuky.org/resources

For more information, please contact:

For more information, please contact:

Johnny W. Collett
Deputy Director
(859) 257-2304

johnny.collett@uky.edu

johnny.collett@uky.edu