Enhancing Supports and Services for Students with Disabilities for Postsecondary Success Grant

The Enhancing Supports and Services for Students with Disabilities for Postsecondary Success grant is administered by the New York State Education Department in partnership with institutions of higher education across New York State. Established in 2021 through collaboration with statewide higher education stakeholders including SUNY, CUNY, and private college associations, the program reflects a coordinated effort to improve postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities. The initiative is funded through the state budget, with a total appropriation of four million dollars for the most recent funding cycle, and is designed to strengthen institutional capacity rather than provide direct financial aid to students. The primary purpose of the program is to support degree granting colleges and universities in enhancing their existing services for students with disabilities. Rather than creating new standalone programs, the funding is intended to supplement and expand existing accommodations, services, and institutional supports. This includes improving accessibility infrastructure, expanding assistive technologies, and strengthening administrative processes that identify and serve students with disabilities. The grant recognizes that institutional readiness and capacity are critical factors in student success and seeks to address systemic gaps. Funding under this program may be used across four defined categories. Institutions can invest in expanding accommodations and services, supporting transition and college preparation programs for incoming students with disabilities, providing faculty and staff training related to disability services, and improving data collection and identification systems. These allowable uses ensure that funding addresses both direct service delivery and the institutional systems that sustain long term support for students. Eligibility is limited to approved degree granting colleges and universities within New York State that meet specific criteria. Institutions must be eligible to disburse Tuition Assistance Program aid to undergraduate students or otherwise qualify under graduate only provisions. Additionally, institutions must annually report their enrollment of students with disabilities to the state by a specified deadline. These requirements ensure that funding is distributed to institutions with verified student populations and established reporting practices. The application process is structured as a non competitive funding opportunity, meaning all eligible institutions that meet the requirements and deadlines will receive funding. Each year, after the state budget is enacted, eligible institutions are invited to submit a mandatory Notice of Intent to Apply. Only institutions that complete this step are provided access to the full application materials. Applicants must then submit a formal application and proposed budget using their assigned tentative award amount. The timeline for the application cycle includes several key milestones. A kickoff communication is distributed in early June, followed by a Notice of Intent deadline in early July. Tentative award amounts are released shortly thereafter, and the final application and budget submission deadline occurs at the end of July. The fiscal period for awarded funds runs from September 1 through August 31 of the following year, aligning with the academic cycle of participating institutions. Award amounts are calculated using a formula based on total state appropriation and the number of enrolled students with disabilities reported across participating institutions. This results in a per pupil allocation that is multiplied by each institution’s reported student count. Because the program is formula based and non competitive, there is no formal evaluation scoring process. Instead, compliance with eligibility, reporting, and submission requirements determines participation. Institutions may contact the program officer via email for guidance, and ongoing support is provided by the administering office throughout the grant period.

Ensure timely submission of Notice of Intent to receive application materials and use assigned tentative award amounts accurately in budget documents