[Federal Register: January 15, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 10)]
[Notices]
[Page 2165-2167]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ja03-112]
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Part III
Department of Education
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Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program--
Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training
Program--Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of final priority.
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education
and Rehabilitative Services announces a priority under the
Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program. The
Assistant Secretary may use this priority for competitions in fiscal
year (FY) 2003 and in later years. We take this action to focus on
training in an area of national need. This priority is designed to
increase the number of rehabilitation counseling programs that provide
experiential activities for students, such as formal internships,
practicum agreements, and other partnership activities with State
vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies. This priority supports a close
relationship between the educational institution and the State VR
agency by creating or increasing ongoing collaboration in order to
increase the number of graduates who seek employment in State VR
agencies.
EFFECTIVE DATES: This priority is effective February 14, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beverly Steburg, U.S. Department of
Education, RSA, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Suite 18T91, Atlanta, GA 30303.
Telephone (404) 562-6336 or via Internet: Beverly.Steburg@ed.gov
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the TDD number at (202) 205-8133.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: State VR agencies throughout the nation are
experiencing a personnel shortage of qualified VR counselors. While
currently only a small percentage of Rehabilitation Services
Administration (RSA)-funded graduates seek employment with State VR
agencies, a survey conducted by the Council of State Administrators of
Vocational Rehabilitation indicates that individuals who are aware of
the distinct role of the qualified VR counselor and benefits of
employment within a State VR agency are more likely to seek employment
with the State.
This priority increases the number of rehabilitation counseling
projects that incorporate formal experiential activities for students
with State VR agencies.
We published a notice of proposed priority for this program in the
Federal Register on August 19, 2002 (67 FR 53870). The notice of
proposed priority included a discussion of the significant issues and
analysis used in the determination of this priority.
There are no differences between the notice of proposed priority
and this notice of final priority.
Analysis of Comments and Changes
In response to our invitation in the notice of proposed priority,
eight parties submitted comments on the proposed priority. An analysis
of the comments and of any changes in the priority since publication of
the notice of proposed priority follows.
Generally, we do not address technical and other minor changes--and
suggested changes the law does not authorize us to make under the
applicable statutory authority. We may choose to address those changes
if we received a significant number of comments on a particular issue.
Comments: Two commenters recommended that the priority not
establish new counseling training programs but be earmarked to provide
support to a greater number of existing rehabilitation counselor
training programs.
Discussion: The program authority establishes eligible applicants
for the program. We have no authority to further restrict applicant
eligibility.
Changes: None.
Comments: Three commenters recommended that funds be used to
provide existing programs with support to conduct recruitment programs
to encourage more students to enter rehabilitation counseling programs.
Discussion: We agree that recruitment activities to encourage more
individuals to enter rehabilitation counseling programs are important.
Grantees may use non-scholarship project funds to support recruitment
activities. RSA also supports recruitment activities through other
avenues, including the Regional Rehabilitation Continuing Education
Program (RRCEP).
Changes: None.
Comments: Four commenters recommended using scholarship funds to
provide paid internships with State VR agencies.
Discussion: The Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program limits
scholarship assistance to the individual's cost of attendance at the
academic degree or certificate-granting institution. Scholarships
include payback obligations upon completion of the course of study, and
grantees may not require other work as a condition of scholarships.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter recommended limiting internships with
experiential opportunities to specific need areas within rehabilitation
counseling, including the use of innovative technologies, multicultural
competency, and counseling of particular disability groups.
Discussion: While it is possible for RSA to limit the required
internship activities to particular counseling areas, we choose not to
do so in this priority. Programs may choose in their applications to
develop internships with a particular focus, including those listed by
the commenter. Peer reviews of all applications received will assess
the value of proposed projects. We encourage programs and students to
explore any experiential activities that enhance students' knowledge of
the VR system.
Changes: None.
Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose to use this priority, we invite applications through
a notice in the Federal Register. When inviting applications we
designate the priority as absolute, competitive preference, or
invitational. The effect of each type of priority follows:
Absolute priority: Under an absolute priority, we consider only
applications that meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).
Competitive preference priority: Under a competitive preference
priority, we give competitive preference to an application by either
(1) awarding additional points, depending on how well or the extent to
which the application meets the competitive priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting an application that meets the
competitive priority over an application of comparable merit that does
not meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
Invitational priority: Under an invitational priority, we are
particularly interested in applications that meet the invitational
priority. However, we do not give an application that meets the
invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other
applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
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Priority
Partnership With the State VR Agency
This priority supports projects that will increase the knowledge of
students of the role and responsibilities of the VR counselor and of
the benefits of counseling in State VR agencies. This priority focuses
attention on and intends to strengthen the unique role of
rehabilitation educators and State VR agencies in the preparation of
qualified VR counselors by increasing or creating ongoing collaboration
between institutions of higher education and State VR agencies.
Projects funded under this priority must include within the degree
program information about and experience in the State VR system.
Projects must include partnering activities for students with the State
VR agency including experiential activities, such as formal internships
or practicum agreements. In addition, experiential activities for
students with community-based rehabilitation service providers are
encouraged.
Projects must include an evaluation of the impact of project
activities.
Intergovernmental Review
This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the
regulations in 34 CFR part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive
order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened
federalism. The Executive order relies on processes developed by State
and local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal
financial assistance.
This document provides early notification of our specific plans and
actions for this program.
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR parts 385 and 386.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site:
www.ed.gov/legislation/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.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html
.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.129B Rehabilitation
Long-Term Training)
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 772.
Dated: January 10, 2003.
Robert H. Pasternack,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 03-868 Filed 1-15-03; 8:45 am]
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