U.S. Department of Education: Promoting Educational Excellence for all Americans

A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

State Vocational Rehabilitation Services (Including Supported Employment)

Goal 8: Individuals with disabilities served by the Vocational Rehabilitation State Grant program will achieve high quality employment.
Objective 1 of 3: ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE SERVED BY THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION (VR) STATE GRANT PROGRAM ACHIEVE EMPLOYMENT CONSISTENT WITH THEIR PARTICULAR STRENGTHS, RESOURCES, ABILITIES, CAPABILITIES, AND INTERESTS.
Indicator 8.1.1 of 7: Number achieving employment: The number of individuals with disabilities who achieve employment will increase by at least 1 percent annually.
Targets and Performance Data Assessment of Progress Sources and Data Quality
The number of individuals who achieved an employment outcome
Year Actual Performance Performance Targets
 
Number of Individuals Percent Increase
Number of Individuals Percent Increase
1997
211,503  
   
1998
223,668 5.80
   
1999
231,714 3.60
215,770  
2000
236,220 1.90
234,040  
2001
  1.90
238,582  
2002
  1.90
240,968  
Status: Unable to judge. The 2001 data are expected to be available by Summer 2002. We expect the data to show the target has been met.

Explanation: The FY 2000 target was exceeded. We have revised the targets for 2001 and 2002 based on the performance in 2000.   		Additional Source Information: RSA state data from R-113.

Frequency: Annually.
Collection Period: 2001.
Data Available: July 2002.
Validated By: On-Site Monitoring By ED.
Verified by ED attestation process and ED Standards for Evaluating Program Performance Data.

Limitations: Appropriate crosschecks and edits to verify and validate the quality of these data are in place but are not well documented. Written procedures will be developed for the collection, cleaning, and analysis of data.

 
Indicator 8.1.2 of 7: Percentage of individuals obtaining employment: The percentage of all persons served who obtain employment will increase.
Targets and Performance Data Assessment of Progress Sources and Data Quality
Percentage obtaining employment
Year Actual Performance Performance Targets
1997
61.20
 
1998
62.20
 
1999
62.50
61
2000
62.50
62.70
2001
 
63
2002
 
63.20
Status: Unable to judge. The 2001 data are expected to be available by Summer 2002, and are expected to show that the target has been achieved.

Explanation: The FY 2000 target was not met. However, we are not revising the targets for 2001 and 2002 because the downturn in this indicator for 2000 was very slight.   		Additional Source Information: RSA state data from R-113.

Frequency: Annually.
Collection Period: 2001.
Data Available: July 2002.
Validated By: On-Site Monitoring By ED.
Verified by ED attestation process and ED Standards for Evaluating Program Performance Data.

Limitations: Same as discussed under Indicator 1.1.

 
Indicator 8.1.3 of 7: Percentage of individuals obtaining competitive employment: Of individuals obtaining employment, the percentage who obtain competitive employment will increase. Among individuals with significant disabilities obtaining employment, the percentage obtaining competitive employment will increase.
Targets and Performance Data Assessment of Progress Sources and Data Quality
Percentage of all individuals with disabilities who obtained competitive employment
Year Actual Performance Performance Targets
1997
81.20
 
1998
80
 
1999
83.10
82.30
2000
86
82.50
2001
 
86.20
2002
 
86.40

Percentage of individuals with significant disabilities who obtained competitive employment
Year Actual Performance Performance Targets
1997
79.10
 
1998
78.70
 
1999
82.10
80
2000
85.10
80.50
2001
 
85.10
2002
 
85.20
Status: Unable to judge. The 2001 data are expected to be available by Summer 2002. We expect the data to show the target has been met.

Explanation: In FY 2000 the minimum wage remained constant, thus allowing time for the wages of VR consumers (with and without significant disabilities) to increase to minimum wage levels. States have been successful in assisting individuals in achieving competitive employment outcomes. Because of the marked increase in performance in FYs 1999 and 2000, we have adjusted targets for 2001 and 2002.   		Additional Source Information: RSA state data from the R-911.

Frequency: Annually.
Collection Period: 2001.
Data Available: July 2002.
Validated By: On-Site Monitoring By ED.

Limitations: Accuracy/consistency of reporting is contingent upon counselors' interpretations of definitions. Timeliness is dependent upon submittal of clean data from 80 grantees (respondents). Limited staff resources affect ability to check data for reasonableness and publish data quickly. Written procedures will be developed for the collection, cleaning, and analysis of data.

 
Indicator 8.1.4 of 7: Improved earnings: Among individuals exiting the program in competitive employment, the median ratio of their average hourly wage to the state's average hourly wage for all individuals in the state who are employed will increase.
Targets and Performance Data Assessment of Progress Sources and Data Quality
Median ratio for general and combined agencies
Year Actual Performance Performance Targets
1997
.60
 
1998
.60
 
1999
.60
.60
2000
.60
.60
2001
 
.60
2002
 
.60
Status: Unable to judge. The 2001 data are expected to be available by Summer 2002. We expect the data to show that the target has been achieved.

Explanation: The FY 2000 target was exceeded. Target for 2001 has been adjusted based on performance in 2000.   		Additional Source Information: RSA state data from the R-911.

Frequency: Annually.
Collection Period: 2001.
Data Available: July 2002.
Validated By: On-Site Monitoring By ED.

Limitations: Same limitations and planned improvements reported under 1.3 apply to this indicator. In addition, the data for this indicator are limited by the fact that the required comparison involves numbers reported from two different sets of state-reported data.

 
Indicator 8.1.5 of 7: Own income as primary support: The percentage of individuals who report upon obtaining employment that their own income is their primary source of support will increase.
Targets and Performance Data Assessment of Progress Sources and Data Quality
Percentage of individuals who report upon obtaining employment that their own income is their primary source of support
Year Actual Performance Performance Targets
1997
74.60
 
1998
75.80
 
1999
74.50
74.50
2000
77.30
75
2001
 
76
2002
 
76.20
Status: Unable to judge. The 2001 data are expected to be available by Summer 2002. We expect the data to show that the target has been achieved.

Explanation: The 2000 data show an increase from 74.5 percent, in 1999, to 77.3 percent. The 2000 figure exceeded the target for that year. The targets for 2001and 2002 have been adjusted based on performance in 2000.   		Additional Source Information: RSA state data from R-911.

Frequency: Annually.
Collection Period: 2001.
Data Available: July 2002.
Validated By: On-Site Monitoring By ED.

Limitations: Same as discussed under Indicator 1.3.

 
Indicator 8.1.6 of 7: Employment retention: Eighty-five percent of individuals obtaining competitive employment will maintain employment and earnings 12 months after closure.
Targets and Performance Data Assessment of Progress Sources and Data Quality
Percentage of consumers in the VR longitudinal study sample obtaining competitive employment who maintain employment and earnings 12 months after closure
Year Actual Performance Performance Targets
1996
85
 
1998
86
85
1999
 
85
2000
 
85
2001
 
85
Status: Unable to judge. Target exceeded for FY 1999, Unable to judge FY 2000-2001.

Explanation: Actual performance data cover an 18-24-month period. We expect future performance to be at the 85 percent level. However, the Longitudinal Study of the VR Program is ending and we will not have a new data source until this information is collected through standard 3 of section 106 Standards and Indicator in FY 2003.   		Additional Source Information: Longitudinal Study.

Frequency: Annually.
Collection Period: 2002.
Data Available: February 2003.
Validated By: NCES/Federal Statistical Agencies.
Rigorous data collection design was developed by contractor and approved by OMB. Several quality control mechanisms are in place.

Limitations: The longitudinal study sample is nationally representative, but it does not include all VR consumers. The Longitudinal study was not designed to provide fiscal year cohorts.

 
Indicator 8.1.7 of 7: Satisfaction with employment: At least 75 percent of VR consumers will report they are satisfied with their employment outcome.
Targets and Performance Data Assessment of Progress Sources and Data Quality
Percentage of consumers in the VR longitudinal study sample who reported they were very or mostly satisfied with their employment outcome
Year Actual Performance Performance Targets
1996
72
 
1998
76
 
1999
 
75
2000
 
75
2001
 
75
2002
 
75
Status: Unable to judge. No 1999 or 2000 data, but FY 1997-1998 performance exceeded the 2000 target.

Explanation: Actual performance data cover an 18-24-month period. We expect future performance to be at least at the 75 percent level. However, the Longitudinal Study of the VR Program is ending and we do not as yet have a new system in place to collect this data on a routine basis.   		Additional Source Information: VR Longitudinal Study for 1995-1998. The Department is in the process of developing a standard data collection mechanism for this indicator.

Frequency: Other.
Validated By: NCES/Federal Statistical Agencies.
Rigorous data collection design was developed by contractor and approved by OMB Several quality control mechanisms are in place.

Limitations: The longitudinal study sample is nationally representative, but it does not include all VR consumers. The Longitudinal study was not designed to provide fiscal year cohorts.

 

Objective 2 of 3: RSA WILL HELP STATES IMPROVE SERVICES AND OUTCOMES FOR CONSUMERS.
Indicator 8.2.1 of 1: Availability and use of data: The time required by RSA to produce an accessible national database will decrease until it reaches 6 months after the close of the fiscal year.
Targets and Performance Data Assessment of Progress Sources and Data Quality
Number of months after the close of the fiscal year at which time the database was available
Year Actual Performance Performance Targets
1997
14.50
 
1998
14
 
1999
13
 
2000
14
9
2001
 
6
2002
 
6
Status: Target not met. Target for FY 2000 was not met.

Explanation: Implementation of the VR standards and indicators required by Section 106 of the Rehabilitation Act will provide an incentive for states to report data in a timely manner. We expect to make positive movement toward target for FY 2001.   		Additional Source Information: RSA Central Office records.

Frequency: Annually.
Collection Period: 2001.
Data Available: September 2002.
Validated By: No Formal Verification.
Reviewed by Department staff. No formal verification procedure applied.

 

Objective 3 of 3: INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WITH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES WHO HAVE RECEIVED SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES BUT ACHIEVE COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES.
Indicator 8.3.1 of 1: Percentage of individuals with a supported employment goal achieving competitive employment: The percentage of individuals with a supported employment goal who achieve a competitive employment outcome (including supported employment outcomes in which the individual receives the minimum wage or better) will continue to increase.
Targets and Performance Data Assessment of Progress Sources and Data Quality
Percentage of individuals with a supported employment goal who achieved a competitive employment outcome
Year Actual Performance Performance Targets
1997
69.60
 
1998
69.10
 
1999
73.30
71
2000
77.20
71.50
2001
 
77.40
2002
 
77.60
Status: Unable to judge. The 2001 data are expected to be  available by Summer 2002. We expect the data to show that the target has been met.

Explanation: In FY 2000 the minimum wage remained constant, thus allowing time for the wages of VR consumers (with significant disabilities) to increase to minimum wage levels. States have been successful in assisting individuals in achieving competitive employment outcomes. Because of the marked increase in performance in FYs 1999 and 2000, we have adjusted targets for 2001 and 2002.   		Additional Source Information: RSA state data from the R-911.

Frequency: Annually.
Collection Period: 2001.
Data Available: July 2002.
Validated By: On-Site Monitoring By ED.
Verified by Ed attestation process and ED Standards for Evaluating Program Performance Data.

Limitations: Same as discussed under Indicator 1.3.

 

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