WSU ROAR Program Receives $2.48M Federal Grant for Inclusive Higher Ed

The five-year grant will fund WSU ROAR Pathways, a comprehensive initiative supporting students with intellectual disabilities from high school through college and into careers.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 1:26am

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Washington State University's ROAR program has been awarded a transformative $2.48 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education to expand opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities. The five-year Transition Postsecondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) grant will fund the WSU ROAR Pathways initiative, which introduces three new components: a summer college preview experience, a two-year advanced academic/career training program, and structured post-graduation support focused on employment and independent living.

Why it matters

This award allows WSU to build a truly transformative program that responds directly to the needs students and families have voiced for years, creating pathways that didn't exist before. By providing comprehensive support from high school exploration through post-graduation employment, WSU is establishing a model for inclusive postsecondary education that can be expanded across the Pacific Northwest.

The details

The WSU ROAR Pathways initiative will expand the program from serving 30 students to reaching many more, while creating stronger on-ramps for younger students and enhanced support for graduates. This expansion reflects years of collaborative work by dedicated faculty, staff, and community partners, ensuring students have meaningful opportunities across campus and beyond.

  • The $2.48 million federal grant was awarded on March 18, 2026.
  • The five-year grant period will run from 2026 to 2031.

The players

Marcus Poppen

Associate professor of special education and lead investigator on the grant proposal.

Kristi Tippett

Director of the WSU ROAR program, who calls the award 'a lifeline for inclusive postsecondary education in the Pacific Northwest.'

WSU ROAR Pathways

A comprehensive initiative funded by the grant that supports students with intellectual disabilities from high school through college and into careers.

U.S. Department of Education

The federal agency that awarded the $2.48 million Transition Postsecondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) grant to WSU.

College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences

The WSU college that the WSU ROAR program is part of, and whose focus on community and belonging is reflected in the collaborative grant proposal.

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What they’re saying

“This award allows us to build something truly transformative.”

— Marcus Poppen, Associate professor of special education and lead investigator

“The WSU ROAR Pathways initiative represents more than program expansion — it's about changing futures.”

— Kristi Tippett, Director of the WSU ROAR program

What’s next

The WSU ROAR Pathways initiative will be implemented over the next five years, with the goal of expanding access to inclusive postsecondary education across the Pacific Northwest.

The takeaway

This federal investment recognizes WSU's leadership in inclusive education and positions the university to strengthen opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities, creating a model that can be replicated in other regions to transform the futures of these students.