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 six approved CTPs in Kentucky:
- Think College has transition IEP goals and activities to prepare for inclusive postsecondary education: View the resource here.
- “Rethinking College,” a film that explores the growing movement to include students with ID in higher education.
- Employment First Kentucky
- Increasing Postsecondary Opportunities and Success for Students and Youth with Disabilities (ED, 2019)
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