[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19740-19744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09429]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket ID ED-2018-OSERS-0026]


Request for Information on the Future Direction of the 
Rehabilitation Training Program

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

ACTION: Request for information.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Education (Department) is requesting 
input on the portfolio of grants supported under the Rehabilitation 
Training Program, specifically those supported under the Rehabilitation 
Long-Term Training, Rehabilitation Short-Term Training, and Innovative 
Rehabilitation Training authorities to determine whether the activities 
funded under the Rehabilitation Training Program are aligned with the 
goals of the Department and the needs of State vocational 
rehabilitation (VR) agencies. We will use the information gathered in 
response to this request for information (RFI) to determine whether any 
changes are needed in designing and implementing grant activities under 
this program, including the specific mix of activities supported each 
year.

[[Page 19741]]


DATES: We must receive your submission on or before July 3, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your response to this RFI through the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand 
delivery. We will not accept submissions by fax or by email. To ensure 
that we do not receive duplicate copies, please submit your comments 
only one time. In addition, please include the Docket ID and the term 
``Future Direction of the Rehabilitation Training Program'' at the top 
of your comments.
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov to submit 
your comments electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, 
including instructions for accessing agency documents, submitting 
comments, and viewing the docket, is available on the site under the 
``Help'' tab.
    Postal Mail, Commercial Delivery, or Hand Delivery: If you mail or 
deliver your comments, address them to Mary F. Lovley, Office of 
Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Rehabilitation Services 
Administration, Attention: Future Direction of Rehabilitation Training 
Program, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Potomac 
Center Plaza, Room 5057, Washington, DC 20202-2800.
    Privacy Note: The Department's policy for comments received from 
members of the public (including comments submitted by mail, commercial 
delivery, or hand delivery) is to make these submissions available for 
public viewing in their entirety on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at: 
www.regulations.gov. Therefore, commenters should be careful to include 
in their comments only information that they wish to make publicly 
available on the internet.
    This is a request for information only. This RFI is not a request 
for proposals (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP or a notice inviting 
applications (NIA). Please note that the Rehabilitation Services 
Administration (RSA) is not soliciting input related to the technical 
assistance (TA) activities funded under the Rehabilitation Training 
Program. RSA intends to request input on TA funding opportunities and 
activities in the future. This RFI does not commit the Department to 
contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, we are not 
seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. The 
Department will not pay for any information or administrative costs 
that you may incur in responding to this RFI.
    The documents and information submitted in response to this RFI 
become the property of the U.S. Government and will not be returned.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary F. Lovley, U.S. Department of 
Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 
Rehabilitation Services Administration, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Potomac 
Center Plaza, Room 5057, Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 
245-7423.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Rehabilitation Training Program is 
authorized by title III of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 
(Rehabilitation Act), as amended by the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act (WIOA), and is administered by RSA of the Office of 
Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
    Through this RFI, we are seeking input on four areas:
    (1) The preparation of VR program professionals through the 
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program;
    (2) The training of VR professionals through the Short-Term 
Training program;
    (3) The need for investments in the development of innovative VR 
training programs; and
    (4) How the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training, the Rehabilitation 
Short-Term Training, and the Innovative Rehabilitation Training 
programs can better support the implementation of the Rehabilitation 
Act, as amended by WIOA.

Context for Responses

    We are interested in responses that contain data, specific examples 
and other relevant documentation to assist us in determining whether 
the discretionary grants funded under the Rehabilitation Training 
Program (specifically the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training, the 
Rehabilitation Short-Term Training, and the Innovative Rehabilitation 
Training programs) are aligned with the goals of the Department and the 
needs of State VR agencies. The Department wants to ensure Federal 
resources are efficiently and effectively targeted to best support 
State VR agency needs, including the requirements under the 
Rehabilitation Act, as amended by WIOA.
    WIOA amended the Rehabilitation Act by making large-scale changes 
to the work of State VR agencies and VR counselors that required 
intensive capacity-building focused on both infrastructure and human 
capital. We are interested in how we can best support States in meeting 
the requirements of the law relating to pre-employment transition 
services, competitive integrated employment, and comprehensive systems 
of personnel development (CSPD). To that end, we are re-evaluating how 
RSA can best direct the limited resources of the program to meet the 
critical needs of State VR agencies. We are not seeking letters of 
support in a particular targeted area. Rather, it is our expectation 
that respondents will consider the questions RSA has developed in the 
context of their responses. A response to each question is not 
required.
    We are seeking responses from a knowledgeable and diverse range of 
individuals, including, but not limited to, the following--
    (1) State VR agency staff, including directors, supervisors, and 
counselors;
    (2) Current or former project directors or principal investigators 
of grants funded under the Rehabilitation Training Program 
(specifically the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training, the Rehabilitation 
Short-Term Training, and the Innovative Rehabilitation Training 
programs);
    (3) Current and former scholars funded under the Rehabilitation 
Long-Term Training program; and
    (4) Consumers of VR services.
    The questions in this RFI focus on the Department's training 
programs that prepare VR professionals. Responses will assist us in 
designing priorities for grants funded under the Rehabilitation 
Training Program (specifically the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training, 
the Rehabilitation Short-Term Training, and the Innovative 
Rehabilitation Training programs) that--
    (1) Reflect current knowledge and skills needed by VR 
professionals;
    (2) Effectively link the employment needs of individuals with 
disabilities with current workforce demands;
    (3) Demonstrate cost-effective practices used by State VR 
professionals; and
    (4) Address personnel shortages in the field of VR counseling 
through training.

I. Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program

Background

    The Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program, authorized by 
Section 302 of the Rehabilitation Act and the program regulations at 34 
CFR part 381, provides financial assistance for projects that provide: 
(1) Basic or advanced training leading to an academic degree in one of 
the areas outlined below; (2)

[[Page 19742]]

a specified series of courses or program of study leading to the award 
of a certificate in one of the areas outlined below; or (3) support for 
medical residents enrolled in residency training programs in the 
specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation. The Rehabilitation 
Long-Term Training program is designed to provide academic training 
that leads to an academic degree or academic certificate in areas of 
personnel shortages identified by the Secretary and published in a 
notice in the Federal Register. These areas may include--
    (1) Assisting and supporting individuals with disabilities pursuing 
self-employment, business ownership, and telecommuting;
    (2) VR counseling;
    (3) Rehabilitation technology, including training on its use, 
applications, and benefits;
    (4) Rehabilitation medicine;
    (5) Rehabilitation nursing;
    (6) Rehabilitation social work;
    (7) Rehabilitation psychiatry;
    (8) Rehabilitation psychology;
    (9) Rehabilitation dentistry;
    (10) Physical therapy;
    (11) Occupational therapy;
    (12) Speech pathology and audiology;
    (13) Physical education;
    (14) Therapeutic recreation;
    (15) Community rehabilitation program personnel;
    (16) Prosthetics and orthotics;
    (17) Rehabilitation of individuals who are blind or visually 
impaired, including rehabilitation teaching and orientation and 
mobility;
    (18) Rehabilitation of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing;
    (19) Rehabilitation of individuals who are mentally ill;
    (20) Undergraduate education in the rehabilitation services;
    (21) Independent living;
    (22) Client assistance;
    (23) Administration of community rehabilitation programs;
    (24) Rehabilitation administration;
    (25) Vocational evaluation and work adjustment;
    (26) Services to individuals with specific disabilities or specific 
impediments to rehabilitation, including individuals who are members of 
populations that are unserved or underserved by programs under the 
Rehabilitation Act;
    (27) Job development and job placement services to individuals with 
disabilities;
    (28) Supported employment services and customized employment 
services for individuals with the most significant disabilities;
    (29) Specialized services for individuals with significant 
disabilities; and
    (30) Other fields contributing to the rehabilitation of individuals 
with disabilities.
    The Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program regulations at 34 CFR 
386.31 require that 65 percent of the total cost of the project be used 
for scholarships. Section 302 of the Rehabilitation Act requires 
individuals who receive a scholarship either to (1) work two years in a 
nonprofit rehabilitation agency or related agency or in a State 
rehabilitation agency or related agency for every year of assistance or 
(2) repay all or part of any scholarship received, plus interest, if 
the individual does not fulfill these requirements.
    Under the priorities used for the current grant cycle (78 FR 66271 
and 79 FR 42680), grantees must build close relationships with State VR 
agencies, promote careers in VR, identify potential employers who would 
meet the trainees' payback requirements, and ensure that data on the 
employment of scholars are accurate. Scholars in the program must 
complete an internship in a State VR agency or a related agency as a 
requirement for completion of a program leading to a master's degree. 
The internship must be in a State VR agency unless the VR agency does 
not directly perform work related to the scholar's course of study or 
an applicant can provide sufficient justification that it is not 
feasible for all scholars receiving scholarships to complete an 
internship in a State VR agency.
    The Department currently supports 106 academic training grants 
awarded to colleges and universities with graduate and certificate 
programs in the field of VR. Some grants support more than one degree 
or certificate. The breakdown of the degree programs offered by the 
recipients of the 106 grants is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Number of
                              Areas                                  Number of       Number of        masters
                                                                     grantees     cert. programs     programs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rehabilitation Counseling (84.129B).............................              73               0              73
Vocational Evaluation (84.129F).................................               2               1               1
Rehabilitation of Individuals with Mental Illnesses (84.129H)...              12               0              12
Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Blind or Who Have Low                    9               2               8
 Vision (84.129P)...............................................
Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing                  3               0               4
 (84.129Q)......................................................
Grants to Assist VR Agency Staff to Meet CSPD Requirements                     7               1               6
 (84.129W)......................................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Questions

    1.1. In your State or local area, what are the current and 
projected employment opportunities in the field of VR counseling and 
related specialty areas, and what are the degree and/or certificate 
requirements for these employment opportunities (e.g., bachelor's, 
masters, or doctoral degree)?
    1.2. The Department currently provides funding in six of the 
possible 30 specialty areas. What are your recommendations for the 
specialty areas that the Department should support, given the changes 
in the Rehabilitation Act, as amended by WIOA, and the current needs of 
the State VR agencies?
    1.3. Should the Department fund bachelor-level programs, and, if 
so, should they be general VR counselor programs, areas other than VR 
counseling, or a combination of the two? Please explain.
    1.4. How do VR counseling degree or certificate programs ensure 
that they are adequately preparing VR counselors to meet skill demands 
now and in the future? How have VR counseling degree or certificate 
programs changed to address the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act, 
as amended by WIOA (e.g., requirements for pre-employment transition 
services, emphasis on competitive integrated employment, etc.)?
    1.5. How do colleges and universities ensure that VR counselor 
programs remain current and effective in meeting State VR agencies' 
CSPD requirements?
    1.6. How can the Department increase the percentage of scholars who 
(a) complete a VR counseling program, (b) obtain qualifying employment 
after completing the program, and (c) obtain employment in State VR 
agencies?
    1.7. Do the curricula used by VR counseling programs reflect the 
emerging trends and evidence-based practices in VR?

[[Page 19743]]

    1.8. Currently, the Department provides colleges and universities 
with 5 year grants of up to $200,000 annually for VR counseling 
programs and grants of up to $150,000 annually for the other specialty 
areas. Are these funding levels appropriate? If not, what funding 
levels would be appropriate?
    1.9. Colleges and universities vary in the amount of scholarship 
funds they provide to scholars both within a single institution and 
across institutions. Should colleges and universities award 
scholarships that are consistently more substantial to fewer scholars 
rather than smaller amounts to a greater number of scholars? Would this 
approach increase overall outcomes in terms of successful completion of 
the VR counseling program and in obtaining qualified employment?
    1.10. What do you anticipate will be the cost of scholar support in 
the next 5 to 10 years? Based on this cost, approximately how many 
scholars could be adequately served with a $750,000 grant (i.e., 
$150,000 each year for five years) and $1,000,000 grant (i.e., $200,000 
each year for five years)?
    1.11. What percentage of your college or university's VR counseling 
degree seekers receive a scholarship through this program?
    1.12. What is the effect of the requirement that scholars complete 
an internship in a State VR agency or related agency as part of their 
program? How has the requirement for internships at State VR agencies 
or related agencies affected the scholars' ability to obtain qualifying 
employment? Should these internships be required? Are there other 
avenues for scholars to gain experience? Is there another method to 
ensure scholars receive experience beyond the practicum?
    1.13. Do State VR agencies have the capacity to support internships 
for the number of scholars who need to complete them? If not, is there 
a sufficient number of related agencies (i.e., an American Indian 
rehabilitation program; or a Federal, State, or local agency, nonprofit 
organization, or a professional corporation or practice group that 
provide services to individuals with disabilities under an agreement or 
other arrangement with a designated State agency in the area of 
specialty for which training is provided) to provide internship 
experiences?
    1.14. How has the merger of the Council on Rehabilitation Education 
(CORE) with the Council of Accreditation of Counseling and Related 
Educational Programs (CACREP) affected Long-Term Training grantees? Is 
there anything in the current Long-Term Training grant program that is 
in conflict with the CACREP requirements?
    1.15. How have the changes in WIOA related to CSPD benefited or 
hurt Long-Term Training grantees? Are there any new Long-Term Training 
needs as a result of these changes?
    1.16. RSA supported a much larger number of masters level Long-Term 
Training grants in recent years than in the past. Are the VR masters 
degree programs able to find enough qualified scholars?
    1.17. Are there sufficient vacancies for scholars to find 
employment in the State VR agencies, or in agencies that have 
agreements with the State VR agencies, especially for States that have 
multiple Long-Term Training awards?

II. Rehabilitation Short-Term Training Program

Background

    The Rehabilitation Short-Term Training program, authorized by 
section 302 of the Rehabilitation Act and the program regulations at 34 
CFR part 390, supports special seminars, institutes, workshops, and 
other short-term courses in technical matters relating to vocational, 
medical, social, and psychological rehabilitation programs; independent 
living service programs; and the Client Assistance Program. These 
projects are evaluated based on their relevance to the State-Federal VR 
programs and whether they improve the skills and competencies of 
personnel engaged in the administration or delivery of rehabilitation 
services and meet the training needs of States.
    The Department currently funds one Client Assistance Program 
training and technical assistance grantee at $200,000 each year for 
five years.
    We are seeking information about whether the existing Short-Term 
Training resources are meeting State needs to implement the 
requirements in WIOA.

Questions

    2.1. Should the Department direct more resources to Short-Term 
Training?
    2.2. Have the existing Short-Term Training resources met State VR 
agency needs? If not, how could existing resources be better leveraged 
or additional resources be used to meet needs?
    2.3. What Short-Term Training areas are the greatest needs for 
State VR agencies, especially given the changes in WIOA?
    2.4. How can this program better support State VR agencies as they 
implement their CSPD?
    2.5. How can the Short-Term Training program address the need for 
no-cost preparation for VR professionals?

III. Innovative Rehabilitation Training Program

Background

    The Innovative Rehabilitation Training program, authorized by 
section 302 of the Rehabilitation Act and the program regulations at 34 
CFR part 387, is designed to--
    (a) Develop new types of training programs for VR personnel and 
demonstrate the effectiveness of these new types of training programs 
for VR personnel in improving the delivery of VR services to 
individuals with disabilities;
    (b) Develop new and improved methods for training VR personnel so 
that there may be a more effective delivery of VR services to 
individuals with disabilities by designated State VR agencies and 
designated State VR units or other public or nonprofit VR service 
agencies or organizations;
    (c) Develop new innovative training programs for VR professionals 
and paraprofessionals that provide instruction on the evolving 21st-
century labor force and the needs of individuals with disabilities so 
they can more effectively provide VR services to individuals with 
disabilities; and
    (d) Investigate the efficacy of new curricula to address system 
change resulting from implementation of the requirements in WIOA.
    The Department does not currently fund any grants under this 
program.
    We are seeking information about whether new types of training 
programs for VR personnel, new and improved methods of training VR 
personnel, or new innovative training programs for VR professionals and 
paraprofessionals are needed.

Questions

    3.1. Should the Department fund grants under this authority?
    3.2 What topical areas would best support State VR agencies' 
implementation of the requirements in WIOA?
    3.3 In recent years, a number of VR counseling programs have 
closed, including programs that had Long-Term Training grant funding. 
Is there a more innovative way to deliver VR counselor programs? If so, 
please describe.
    3.4 What type of innovative training projects might be supported to 
develop a new training curriculum to address system changes resulting 
from implementation of the requirements in WIOA?

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    3.5 What type of innovative training project might be supported to 
prepare VR professionals and paraprofessionals to have a 21st-century 
understanding of the evolving labor force and the needs of individuals 
with disabilities?
    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, 
audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the program contact person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
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documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text 
or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe 
Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6771.

    Dated: April 30, 2018.
Johnny W. Collett,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2018-09429 Filed 5-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P