BRCC Awarded $1 Million Department of Education Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 31, 2025

Baton Rouge Community College was recently awarded a five-year, $1.039 million grant by the U.S. Department of Education to assist Louisiana students with intellectual disabilities.

The grant will expand educational opportunities and create a technology-driven lab for students with intellectual disabilities to help them achieve academic success and secure meaningful employment.

The grant was awarded by the DoE’s Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) initiative.

Expanding the BEARS and PSE Programs

Utilizing the grant, BRCC’s Believing in Every Ability and Realizing Success (BEARS) Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP) will expand inclusive postsecondary pathways for students with intellectual disabilities by integrating credit-bearing coursework, industry-based certifications, structured work-based learning and independent living skill development.

During the grant period BRCC will also launch a dedicated Program for Successful Employment (PSE) Lab equipped with adaptive technology, transition assessment tools and assistive learning software, along with full-time staff who will work with employers and developmental disability service providers to ensure coordinated support for internship-to-employment pathways.

“This prestigious grant is only awarded to 27 institutions of higher learning across the country. Only a few of those are community colleges, so we are extremely proud to be selected. This underscores how committed BRCC is to providing outstanding educational opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities. This grant will only enhance our ability to help these students achieve success academically, socially and in the workforce.”

BRCC’s BEARS CTP and PSE programs are designed to aid students with intellectual disabilities who aim to pursue further education, career and technical training and gainful employment.

“This grant is a monumental step forward in our mission to provide equitable access and opportunity for all learners. It represents more than funding; it's an investment in people, partnerships, and potential. Through this support, we can expand the BEARS Comprehensive Program, enhance technology and workforce training, and strengthen collaborations with local schools, employers, and service providers. Together, we are creating inclusive pathways that empower students with intellectual disabilities to thrive.”

The U.S. Department of Education’s TPSID initiative funds a select number of institutions nationwide to create or improve higher education opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities. Each selected institution will collaborate with Think College, the national technical assistance and training resource, and must utilize practices that will enhance students’ academic performance, social inclusion and workforce readiness.