[Federal Register: June 11, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 112)]
[Notices]
[Page 32105-32107]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11jn98-117]
[[Page 32105]]
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Part IV
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of proposed priority for fiscal year 1999 and subsequent
fiscal years.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes a funding priority for fiscal year 1999
and subsequent fiscal years under the Rehabilitation Training:
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program. The Secretary takes this
action in order to assist State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies
in carrying out their Comprehensive System of Personnel Development
(CSPD) plans.
DATES: Comments must be received by the Department on or before July
13, 1998.
ADDRESSES: All comments concerning this proposed priority should be
addressed to Beverly Steburg, U.S. Department of Education, 61 Forsyth
Street, S.W., Room 18T91, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Telephone: (404)562-
6336. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the TDD number at (404) 562-6347. Comments may also be
sent through the Internet to:
Beverly__Steburg@ed.gov
You must include the term ``Rehabilitation Long-Term Training
Program'' in the subject line of your electronic message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beverly Steburg. Telephone: (404) 562-
6336. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the TDD number at (404) 562-6347.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding
paragraph.
Electronic Access to This Document
Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or
portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the
following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html
To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with
Search, which is available free at either of the previous sites. If you
have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing
Office toll free at 1-888-293-6498.
Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option
G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins and press releases.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: One of the emphases in the 1992 Amendments
to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (the Amendments) is the need for
qualified personnel in the VR program. This is evidenced in both the
statutory language and legislative history, including the report of the
Senate Committee, which indicates that trained, qualified VR personnel
often make the difference between success and failure in facilitating
the achievement of quality employment outcomes for individuals with
disabilities. Accordingly, the Amendments introduced into the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (the Act) the provisions of section
101(a)(7) related to the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development.
One of the key CSPD provisions, section 101(a)(7)(B) of the Act,
requires designated State units (DSUs) to establish and maintain
personnel standards for rehabilitation personnel, including VR
counselors.
The regulations in 34 CFR 361.18(c) implement the CSPD statutory
requirements with respect to the development and maintenance of DSU
personnel standards. These provisions require, in part, that DSUs
establish personnel standards ``that are consistent with any national
or State-approved or -recognized certification, licensing, or
registration requirements * * *'' applicable to a particular
profession. In addition, those standards must be based on the ``highest
requirements in the State''--defined in the regulations to mean the
highest entry-level academic degree needed for any national or State-
approved or -recognized certification, licensing, registration * * *.''
Based on the preceding requirements, if a State has not adopted
certification, licensing, or registration requirements for
rehabilitation counselors, State VR agency counselors must meet
personnel standards that are consistent with the national standard for
VR counselors--Certification for Rehabilitation Counselors--meaning
that counselors must have a masters degree in rehabilitation counseling
or a closely related field. An informal survey by the Council of State
Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation estimates that
approximately 45 percent of the current 11,000 counselors nationwide
have a masters degree. Some State agencies have very few counselors who
meet this standard. To the extent that is the case, VR agencies are
required to develop and implement a plan (referred to as the State's
CSPD plan) for retraining or hiring counselors that meet the highest
requirements in the State.
The proposed priority would support creative, innovative approaches
for assisting State agencies to meet the previously-described statutory
and regulatory personnel requirements for VR counselors and to carry
out their CSPD plans. Distance learning and virtual training arenas are
among the potential approaches that can reach counselors conveniently,
including counselors who do not live or work near an academic training
institution. Degree-granting programs that include competency-based
components also would be appropriate under this priority. Those
programs would allow for consideration of the past experiences of
counselors, yet require rigorous assessment of skills and knowledge to
ensure competency in core areas. Generally, training approaches
proposed by applicants must address the unique learning needs of
currently employed VR counselors, reflect their learning styles and
professional experiences, and be accessible at a time and in a place
that would maximize participation.
In an effort to maximize benefit to the VR program while minimizing
costs, potential applicants may wish to consider collaborative models
with, for example, community rehabilitation programs, other public
agencies, or private entities.
The Secretary notes that the Rehabilitation Services Administration
(RSA) funds only training programs that are accredited. For purposes of
this priority, RSA may fund programs that are in the process of
applying for accreditation. However, a funded project must be
accredited by the time its first graduates complete the program. The
Council on Rehabilitation Education is the current body that accredits
programs that train rehabilitation counselors.
The Secretary will announce the final priority in a notice in the
Federal Register. The final priority will be determined by responses to
this notice, available funds, and other considerations of the
Department. Funding of particular projects depends on the availability
of funds, the nature of the final priority, and the quality of the
applications received. The
[[Page 32107]]
publication of this proposed priority does not preclude the Secretary
from proposing additional priorities, nor does it limit the Secretary
to funding only this priority, subject to meeting applicable rulemaking
requirements.
Note: This notice of proposed priority does not solicit
applications. In any year in which the Secretary chooses to use this
proposed priority, the Secretary invites applications through a
notice published in the Federal Register. A notice inviting
applications under this competition will be published in the Federal
Register concurrent with or following publication of the notice of
final priority.
Priority
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and section 302(a)(1) of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Secretary proposes to give
an absolute preference to applications that meet the following
priority. The Secretary proposes to fund under this competition only
applications that meet this absolute priority:
Projects shall--
(1) Provide training to current vocational rehabilitation
counselors, including counselors with disabilities, ethnic minorities,
and those from diverse backgrounds, toward meeting DSU personnel
standards required under section 101(a)(7) of the Act, commonly
referred to as the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development
(CSPD);
(2) Address the training needs specified in the CSPD plans of those
States with which the project will be working; and
(3) Develop innovative approaches (e.g., distance learning,
competency-based programs, and other methods) that would maximize
participation in, and the effectiveness of, project training.
Multi-State projects and projects that involve consortia of
institutions and agencies are also authorized, although other projects
will be considered.
The regulations in 34 CFR 386.31(b) require that a minimum of 75
percent of project funds be used to support student scholarships and
stipends. The regulations also provide for a waiver of this requirement
under certain circumstances, including for new training programs.
Finally, the Secretary intends to approve a wide range of
approaches for providing training and different levels of funding,
based on the quality of individual projects. The Secretary takes these
factors into account in making grants under this priority.
Goals 2000: Educate America Act
The Goals 2000: Educate America Act (Goals 2000) focuses the
Nation's education reform efforts on the eight National Education Goals
and provides a framework for meeting them. Goals 2000 promotes new
partnerships to strengthen schools and expands the Department's
capacities for helping communities to exchange ideas and obtain
information needed to achieve the goals.
This proposed priority would address the National Education Goal
that every adult American will be literate and will possess the
knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy and
exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. The proposed
priority furthers the objectives of this Goal by focusing available
funds on projects that improve the counseling skills of vocational
rehabilitation counselors of State VR agencies, which will improve the
responsiveness of the VR system to adults with disabilities and their
vocational pursuits.
Intergovernmental Review
This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. The objective of the
Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a
strengthened federalism by relying on processes developed by State and
local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal
financial assistance.
In accordance with the order, this document is intended to provide
early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for
this program.
Invitation To Comment
Interested persons are invited to submit comments and
recommendations regarding this proposed priority. All comments
submitted in response to this proposed priority will be available for
public inspection, during and after the comment period, in Room 18T91,
61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia, between the hours of 8:30
a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week except Federal
holidays.
On request the Department supplies an appropriate aid, such as a
reader or print magnifier, to an individual with a disability who needs
assistance to review the comments or other documents in the public
rulemaking docket for this proposed priority. An individual with a
disability who wants to schedule an appointment for this type of aid
may call (202) 205-8113 or (202) 260-9895. An individual who uses a TDD
may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 721 (b) and (e) and 796(e).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.129,
Rehabilitation Long-Term Training)
Dated: June 8, 1998.
Curtis L. Richards,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 98-15575 Filed 6-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P