THECB advisory council flags data gaps for students with IDD as enrollment climbs, sets summer report timeline

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Advisory Council for Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities met April 4, 2025, by Zoom and at THECB offices to review subcommittee findings, discuss how institutional reporting undercounts many students with IDD, and set a schedule for a board report due this summer.

The council’s discussion focused on data and reporting practices used by colleges and universities and on recommendations for ensuring continuing-education and noncredit programs are included in state counts. The issue matters because council members said current reporting methods risk undercounting students with autism and other IDD in statewide figures that inform policy and program planning.

Linda Litzinger, who opened the meeting as the convening council member, said the council is preparing a multi-committee report for THECB and outlined a timeline for drafts and internal review. “The goal was to try to have the final draft for us by July 1,” THECB Director for Student Success Wayland Matoir said during the meeting, describing internal review and an August deadline for editor review ahead of fall board materials.

Subcommittees summarized work underway. The Best Practices Committee is preparing a survey for postsecondary IDD programs in Texas to document services across categories such as academics, employment supports, independent living and family engagement. The Standards Committee is aligning committee findings with Texas Education Agency (TEA) standards and national evidence reviews used in TEA reporting.

The Data and Financial Aid committee presented trends and limitations in THECB data. Sharon Wong, assistant…