Overview
Learning-Inclusive Futures Together (LIFT) is a three-year cohort-based initiative, funded by the Oak Foundation, supporting eight community colleges in building stronger, more coherent systems to meet the needs of learners transitioning from K–12 into postsecondary education. Participating colleges will receive tailored coaching and technical assistance from ATD experts; capacity-building workshops for faculty, staff, and administrators; and structured opportunities for peer learning across institutions.
Each college will form a multidisciplinary team — including academic and student affairs leaders, disability services staff, and K–12 partners — that will develop and implement an institution-specific change action plan while working to strengthen transition pathways, expand effective accommodations processes, and advance inclusive teaching and support practices. As a result of this work ATD will develop tools and resources that enable colleges to assess their institutional conditions and scale successful strategies across their campus and communities.
Why It Matters
Students with learning differences often encounter significant barriers as they move from K–12 systems — where supports are mandated and well-defined — into community colleges, where support systems are too often disjointed or underdeveloped. Although community colleges enroll a high proportion of students with learning differences, less than half receive adequate support once enrolled. Enhanced cross-sector communication specialized professional development and clear accommodation processes can lead to increased support for students with learning differences.
Improving alignment between K–12 and postsecondary systems, strengthening institutional processes, and increasing college-wide capacity are essential steps to ensuring students with learning differences have equitable opportunities to succeed. By helping colleges redesign systems and strengthen inclusive practices, this initiative aims to create environments where more students receive effective supports, experience a sense of belonging, and build the agency and self-advocacy skills needed to thrive.
Goals and Outcomes
Through LIFT, participating colleges will:
- Strengthen partnerships between K–12 districts and community colleges to create coherent transition pathways for students with learning differences.
- Increase the number of students who receive timely and effective accommodations as they enter community college.
- Build faculty, staff, and leadership capacity to implement inclusive teaching practices and holistic supports that foster belonging.
- Equip college personnel with tools and strategies that help students develop agency and self-advocacy skills.
- Document and share promising practices, tools, and policy insights to inform broader reform across the ATD Network and the field.
The application will be available on January 8. Want to the be among the first to be notified? Complete the below form.