Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) Programs

Becoming approved as a CTP program means that your program can offer certain types of federal financial aid to students who have an intellectual disability and financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). These students may be awarded Pell grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity grants, and work-study jobs. In addition to federal aid, in some states, vocational rehabilitation funds, Medicaid funds and/or scholarships can only be accessed by students at approved CTP programs, so becoming approved as a CTP program can also open up additional funding sources for your students.

To become approved as a CTP program, a program works collaboratively with their institution's financial aid office. The program provides a narrative explaining the key components of the program and the financial aid office submits a request to add a new program to their Title IV eligibility via the Financial Aid E-app system.  For step by step instructions, examples, and guidance, review the online course on applying to become a CTP program, available on the Think College website. 

No. CTP programs are not considered gainful employment programs.  For further information, see Federal Student Aid Frequently Asked Questions - G-09.

Enrollment intensity for students with intellectual disabilities enrolled in CTP programs may be determined using credit hour equivalencies as well as or instead of credit or clock hours. These equivalent credits, earned from audited courses and other normally noncredit activities undertaken as part of a program for students with disabilities, may be awarded for purposes of determining enrollment intensity. 

Students attending a CTP program must spend at least 50% of their time in one or more of these academic activities:

(i) Taking credit-bearing courses with students without disabilities 
(ii) Auditing or otherwise participating in courses with students without disabilities for which the student does not receive regular academic credit 
(iii) Taking non-credit-bearing, non-degree courses with students without disabilities 
(iv) Participating in internships or work-based training in settings with individuals without disabilities. 

There is no minimum hour requirement for a full time CTP program. They are designed to be flexible. Schools should state in the CTP application whether they consider the program to be part or full time. ALL required activities in the program's course of study count towards program hours, NOT just academic classes. Programs can use "equivalent credit hours" to count required activities within the program.

CTP programs are required to have a Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, and all required program components must have a process to evaluate student progress. Programs typically use a combination of typical grading procedures, rubrics, goal attainment scaling, and individualized grading systems to calculate a grade for each component of the course of study.

No. The application process requiresthe institution to INFORM their accrediting agency that a CTP program application is being submitted, but a reply from the accrediting agency is not required. 

At the present time, approved CTP programs do not have an end date and schools do not need to seek re-approval.

As with all other eligible programs, institutions must reapply to the Department when the program changes. Examples that could warrant reapplication include: changes in course sequence or content, changes in the length of time that students take to fulfill the program requirements, and changes in the educational credential offered.

CIP stands for Classification of Instructional Programs. A CIP code is used by the National Center for Education Statistics. Schools enter a CIP code into COD (Common Origination and Disbursement website) when administering financial aid. The CIP code for CTP programs is 30.0001. 

It is anticipated that institutional accreditors will include the CTP Program within the scope of the institutional accreditation review process when that occurs.