Here at the Think College National Coordinating Center (NCC), the Evaluation Team works year-round to collect, maintain, analyze, and share data related to Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disability (TPSIDs). We use data to showcase the exceptional work TPSIDs are doing across the country. Information about program operations, student activities, and graduate outcomes help others understand why inclusive postsecondary programs are needed and how they can support improved outcomes for individuals with intellectual disability. Policymakers, college and university leaders, inclusive postsecondary program personnel, students, families, K-12 educators, and even many other partners are excited to learn how TPSID programs work and what students enrolled in TPSIDs achieve.
Sharing Data
One role of the NCC is to evaluate the TPSID model demonstration program, which means gathering lots of data from TPSID grantees. We share these data with others in a couple of different ways. Our most well-known method of disseminating data is the Annual Report. Beyond that, we receive requests for specific data points through our Technical Assistance email (thinkcollegeTA@umb.edu). For example, someone working on developing a program at their college or university might ask about characteristics of existing programs to prepare them to meet with their administration. Other times policy advocates like Denise from AUCD request data to share with policymakers at the state or federal level.
However TPSID data is not just for college and university leaders or policy advocates, we also prepare other Think College publications to share with the public on important outcomes like students’ TPSID program completion rates. Information on student outcomes is crucial to prospective students, families, educators, and so many others when learning about inclusive postsecondary education programs.
What data do we share?
We have been collecting TPSID data since 2010 when the first federal grants were awarded. TPSIDs run on five-year grant cycles so we share annual progress data from current TPSIDs (Cohort 3, 2020-2025), as well as trends and take-aways from completed grant cycles including Cohort 1 (2010-2015) and Cohort 2 (2015-2020). Insight into TPSID operations, accomplishments, and outcomes is most comprehensive when all of the data has been collected.
Our Resource Library is a great place to start when you are looking for data! The Think College Publications page includes highlights of all our most recent resources and data reports by publication type. If you have specific questions about TPSID data you have reported to Think College, or interest in aggregate TPSID data on a particular topic not included in our Resource Library, reach out and we can point you in the right direction!
About the post authors: The Think College National Coordinating Center Evaluation Team co-authored this post. Here's a little about each of them: Clare Papay, PhD, is Co-Coordinator of the Think College Evaluation Team and is very grateful for her hard-working and dedicated team members with whom she shares a love of all things data-related. She spends her time outside of work planning her next Broadway visit, learning to tap dance, and raising two children (sometimes all at the same time). Caitlyn Bukaty, PhD, is Co-Coordinator of the Think College Evaluation Team supporting TPSIDs in collecting and reporting data and sharing those data in meaningful and impactful ways. When she’s not busy analyzing IPSE outcomes her main focus is making sure her two dogs, Bukets and Aria, live a life of blissful luxury. Belkis Choiseul-Praslin, PhD, is a Research Associate for the Think College Evaluation Team. She loves data and is best known for her saying “uhh something about this data doesn’t make sense”. Belkis is also very appreciative of her eval team members who help solve data-related mysteries together on a daily basis so she can make them into fun presentations. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, building decorative legos, and playing with her pups. Pam McFarland is the data manager for the Think College Evaluation Team. As a self-proclaimed "nerd" who enjoys a good puzzle, she loves building/maintaining databases and diving down the problem-solving rabbit hole when any problems arise. When she's not playing around with data she's spoiling her dog Ronan, playing roller derby, playing the ukulele, or partaking in one of her approximately 800 other hobbies that include but are certainly not limited to dancing, drawing, hiking, LARPing, gaming, rubber stamp carving, playing Pokémon Go, letterboxing, and making gemstone jewelry.