[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9942-9943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3887]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Redesign of the Rehabilitation Services Administration 
Rehabilitation Training Program

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 
Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments and recommendations on the 
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Rehabilitation Training 
Program.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services solicits comments and recommendations 
concerning the RSA Rehabilitation Training program.

DATES: We must receive your comments at one of the addresses provided 
in the ADDRESSES section no later than 5 p.m., Washington, DC time, on 
April 5, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments and recommendations to: Timothy Muzzio 
at the Rehabilitation Services Administration, through the Internet at 
the following address: [email protected].
    You must include the term ``Comments on the RSA Rehabilitation 
Training Program'' in the subject line of your electronic message.
    If you prefer, you may address your comments to Dr. Muzzio, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Potomac Center 
Plaza, room 5157, Washington, DC 20202-2800. Please submit your 
comments only one time, in order to ensure that we do not receive 
duplicate copies.
    All first-class and Priority mail sent to the Department is put 
through an irradiation process, which can result in lengthy delays in 
mail delivery. Please keep this in mind when sending your comments and 
please consider using commercial delivery services or e-mail in order 
to ensure timely delivery of your comments and recommendations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Timothy C. Muzzio, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Potomac Center Plaza, room 5052, 
Washington, DC 20202. Telephone (202) 245-7458. Fax: (202) 245-6824. 
Internet: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call (202) 205-5538.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Invitation To Comment

    We invite you to submit comments and recommendations regarding the 
RSA Rehabilitation Training program. We encourage you to make your 
comments and recommendations as specific as possible. Also, if 
appropriate to your comment or recommendation, please identify the 
specific provision in the statute authorizing the RSA Rehabilitation 
Training program or the particular category of training that is the 
subject of your comment or recommendation; identify the issue, if any, 
outlined elsewhere in this notice, to which your comment or 
recommendation pertains; clearly describe your comment or 
recommendation; provide a rationale supporting each recommendation; and 
specify how the proposed change will improve the overall program.
    Please include the following with your comments and 
recommendations: A description of your involvement in vocational 
rehabilitation (VR) or the RSA Rehabilitation Training program, as well 
as your role, if any (e.g., consumer, counselor, service provider, 
administrator, educator, or researcher).
    During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public 
comments about this notice in room 5053, Potomac Center Plaza, 550 12th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., 
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday of each week except Federal 
holidays.

Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities in Reviewing the Comments

    On request, we will supply an appropriate aid, such as a reader or 
print magnifier, to an individual with a disability who needs 
assistance to review the comments and recommendations. If you want to 
schedule an appointment for this type of aid, please contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RSA Rehabilitation Training program is

[[Page 9943]]

authorized by title III of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 
(Act) (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.). The RSA Rehabilitation Training program 
is designed to assist in increasing the numbers of, and upgrading the 
skills of, qualified personnel who are trained in providing vocational, 
medical, social, and psychological rehabilitation services.
    The Secretary is authorized to award grants and contracts to pay 
part of the costs of projects for the following types of projects:
    (1) Grants that provide training, traineeships, and related 
activities, including the provision of technical assistance, to assist 
in increasing the numbers of qualified personnel trained in providing 
rehabilitation services and other services provided under the Act to 
individuals with disabilities.
    (2) Grants to train qualified interpreters to meet the 
communication needs of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and 
individuals who are deaf-blind.
    (3) Grants to provide technical assistance to State-designated 
agencies and community rehabilitation programs.
    (4) Grants to provide in-service training for rehabilitation 
personnel, consistent with the needs identified through the 
comprehensive system for personnel development required by section 
101(a)(7) of the Act.
    The Department may provide financial assistance through six 
training programs:
    (1) Rehabilitation Long-Term Training.
    (2) Rehabilitation Continuing Education Programs.
    (3) State Vocational Rehabilitation Unit In-Service Training.
    (4) Training of Interpreters for Individuals Who Are Deaf and 
Individuals Who Are Deaf-Blind.
    (5) Rehabilitation Short-Term Training.
    (6) Experimental and Innovative Training.
    In fiscal year 2006, the RSA training program was funded at 
$38,437,740. The program allocated its funds as follows:

 
 
 
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training (CFDA \*\ 84.129).......   $19,653,820
Rehabilitation Continuing Education Programs (CFDA 84.264)    10,061,982
State Vocational Rehabilitation Unit In-Service Training       5,765,661
 (CFDA 84.275)............................................
Training of Interpreters for Individuals Who Are Deaf and      2,097,361
 Individuals Who Are Deaf-Blind (CFDA 84.160).............
Rehabilitation Short-Term Training(including the                 749,992
 Clearinghouse) (CFDA 84.246 and 84.275)..................
Experimental and Innovative Training (CFDA 84.263)........             0
Other (required set-asides, peer review, etc).............       108,924
                                                           -------------
Total.....................................................    38,437,740
 
\*\ CFDA: Code of Federal Domestic Assistance number.
 (See the following web page for more information: http://web99.ed.gov/GTEP/Program2.nsf)

    RSA is considering whether to redesign the RSA Rehabilitation 
Training program in order to--
    (1) Increase the number of qualified individuals who are available 
to work in the State vocational rehabilitation agencies and associated 
programs; and
    (2) Maximize the efficiency and responsiveness of programs that 
provide education to meet the training and education needs in the 
rehabilitation field.
    We are interested in obtaining public input to help identify any 
current program needs and possible future strategies for program 
improvement. We are particularly interested in comments from 
individuals with disabilities; their parents, families, guardians, 
advocates, and authorized representatives; and those entities and 
individuals serving individuals with disabilities under the Act, 
including State vocational rehabilitation agencies, centers for 
independent living, and educators who prepare individuals who work in 
the vocational rehabilitation field.
    We are specifically interested in comments that address the 
following issues:
    1. The need for more vocational rehabilitation counselors and how 
the training authority can be used to help State agencies meet the 
demand for rehabilitation professionals. Specifically, we seek input on 
the following:
    a. How to more effectively recruit individuals into the 
rehabilitation professions and counselor training programs and State VR 
agencies.
    b. How to increase the capacity of training programs to produce 
more graduates.
    c. How to improve the scholarship program to help meet national 
demand for rehabilitation professionals by State VR agencies.
    d. How to improve the geographic availability of scholarships to 
students.
    e. Other related issues.
    2. Rehabilitation Continuing Education Programs (RCEPs) and in-
service training grants to State VR agencies. These two grant programs 
address overlapping issues. In addition, the program funds two types of 
RCEPs, one type serving primarily State VR agencies and the other 
serving primarily community rehabilitation programs. We seek input on 
the following:
    a. The role and effectiveness of the RCEP program in meeting the 
needs of State VR agencies and community rehabilitation programs for 
training.
    b. How to improve coordination among in-service training programs.
    c. The effectiveness of the in-service training program in meeting 
the training needs identified in the Comprehensive System of Personnel 
Development.
    d. Other related issues.
    3. The need for and recommended approaches for providing technical 
assistance and training to State agencies to improve program outcomes.
    4. Other issues regarding the RSA Rehabilitation Training program.
    Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as 
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the 
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. 
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in 
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.


    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal 
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.

    Dated: March 1, 2007.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E7-3887 Filed 3-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P