[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 102841-102847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29996]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Chapter III
[Docket ID ED-2024-OSERS-0131]
Proposed Priority and Requirements--Innovative Rehabilitation
Training Program
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Proposed priority and requirements.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) proposes a priority
and requirements under the Innovative Rehabilitation Training program,
Assistance Listing Number 84.263G. The Department may use the proposed
priority and requirements for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2025 and
later years. We take this action to promote the development of
innovative and improved methods of training on promising vocational
rehabilitation (VR) counseling, engagement, and service delivery
strategies and practices to State VR agency personnel or other public
or non-profit rehabilitation professionals and paraprofessionals
(including those enrolled in master's or bachelor's level
rehabilitation programs) to provide quality VR and supported employment
services that lead to quality employment outcomes for individuals with
disabilities.
DATES: We must receive your comments on or before January 17, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Comments must be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at www.regulations.gov. However, if you require an accommodation
or cannot otherwise submit your comments via www.regulations.gov,
please contact the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT. The Department will not accept comments submitted
by fax or by email, or comments submitted after the comment period
closes. To ensure the Department does not receive duplicate copies,
please submit your comments only once. In addition, please include the
Docket ID 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
``FAQ.''
Note: The Department's policy is generally to make comments
received from members of the public 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Felipe Lulli, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 4A10, Washington, DC 20202.
Telephone: (202) 987-0128. Email: [email protected].
A brief summary of the proposed rule is available at
www.regulations.gov/docket/ED-2024-OSERS-0131.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Invitation to Comment: We invite you to submit comments regarding
the proposed priority and requirements. To ensure that your comments
have maximum effect in developing the final priority and requirements,
we urge you to clearly identify the specific section of the proposed
priority and requirements that each comment addresses.
We are particularly interested in comments about whether the
proposed priority and requirements would be challenging for new
applicants to meet and, if so, how the proposed priority
[[Page 102842]]
and requirements could be revised to address such potential challenges.
We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 14094 and their
overall requirement of reducing regulatory burden that might result
from this proposed priority and requirements. Please let us know of any
further ways we could reduce potential costs or increase potential
benefits while preserving the effective and efficient administration of
the program.
During and after the comment period, you may inspect public
comments about the proposed priority and requirements by accessing
Regulations.gov. To inspect comments in person, please contact the
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities in Reviewing the
Rulemaking Record: On request we will provide an appropriate
accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability who
needs assistance to review the comments or other documents in the
public rulemaking record for this proposed priority and requirements.
If you want to schedule an appointment for this type of accommodation
or auxiliary aid, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Purpose of Program: The Innovative Rehabilitation Training program
is designed to develop (a) new types of training programs for
rehabilitation personnel and to demonstrate the effectiveness of these
new types of training programs for rehabilitation personnel in
providing rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities; (b)
new and improved methods of training rehabilitation personnel so that
there may be a more effective delivery of rehabilitation services to
individuals with disabilities by designated State rehabilitation
agencies and designated State rehabilitation units or other public or
non-profit rehabilitation service agencies or organizations; and (c)
new innovative training programs for VR professionals and
paraprofessionals to have a 21st-century understanding of the evolving
labor force and the needs of individuals with disabilities so they can
more effectively provide VR services to individuals with disabilities.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 709(c) and 772.
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR parts 385 and 387.
Proposed Priority
This document contains one proposed priority, Innovative
Rehabilitation Training on Emerging VR Counseling, Engagement, and
Service Delivery Strategies Leading to Quality Employment in 21st
Century Careers for Individuals With Disabilities, and six topic areas
under the priority.
Background: The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA),
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services proposes this
priority and these requirements, based on allowable activities under 34
CFR parts 385 and 387, to enable VR agency professionals to help more
VR participants benefit from the training, education, and employment
opportunities offered by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
(WIOA).
The proposed priority would support the purposes of WIOA, including
to ``improve the quality and labor market relevance of workforce
investment, education, and economic development efforts to provide
America's workers with the skills and credentials necessary to secure
and advance in employment with family-sustaining wages and to provide
America's employers with the skilled workers the employers need to
succeed in a global economy.'' (WIOA sec. 2(3)). It is also consistent
with RSA Technical Assistance Circulars 23-03 Maximizing Services and
the Use of Funds to Support Quality Employment Outcomes for Individuals
with Disabilities through the VR and Supported Employment Programs and
24-01 Promoting Meaningful and Sustained Engagement of Individuals with
Disabilities in the VR Program; the RSA Commissioner's Dear Colleague
Letters DCL-24-02 on RSA priorities and DCL-25-01 on artificial
intelligence; and priority 5(j) of the Secretary's Supplemental
priorities (Final Priority and Definitions, Federal Register, December
10, 2021), reflecting the Department's commitment to effective VR
services and use of funds, meaningful and sustained engagement with VR
participants, collaboration with workforce development partners and
community-based organizations including community rehabilitation
programs (CRPs), advanced technology employment and training, and
equity of access and opportunity for students with disabilities,
disconnected youth and adults with disabilities. The proposed priority
would promote quality employment for individuals with disabilities
through innovative rehabilitation training to VR professionals on
emerging VR counseling, engagement, and service delivery practices.
Applicants would be able to apply under one or more of the
priority's six topic areas: (1) VR Counselor Participant Engagement
Practices, (2) Career Assessment Addressing Emerging Career and
Employment Trends, (3) Preparing VR Participants for High-Quality
Employment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and
Advanced Technology Careers, including Artificial Intelligence (AI),
(4) Dual Customer Employer Engagement and Service Delivery Strategies,
(5) Engagement and Service Delivery Strategies for Underserved
Populations, and (6) Field Initiated.
Topic Area 1: VR Counselor Participant Engagement Practices
Participant engagement is described as ``an active, multifaceted
process that involves the empowerment of participants, participants'
exercise of self-determined informed choice, and their collaboration
with employment specialists in the working alliance'' (Johnson et al.,
2009). Research and program data suggests that participant engagement
contributes to successful VR services and outcomes, particularly by
increasing participant retention in VR programs. Southwick and Schultz
(2019) and Dutta et al. (2017) found that active engagement increases
participants' motivation, expectations, and confidence--characteristics
essential for successful VR services and employment outcomes. State VR
agencies are developing and implementing promising employee engagement
strategies, including Motivational Interviewing and Rapid Engagement.
Research suggests that Motivational Interviewing, for example,
strengthens counselor-participant working relationships; improves
understanding of participant circumstances, needs, and goals reflected
in Individualized Plans for Employment (IPE); and encourages
participants' sustained engagement in the resulting VR services
(Torres, Frain, Tansey, 2019).
Early and sustained engagement may mitigate participants from
exiting the VR process before receiving services under an
individualized plan for employment (IPE). Nationally, the VR
participant attrition rate was 29 percent in Program Year (PY) 2023,
with individual States' attrition rates ranging between 14 percent and
60 percent during the same period.
Topic area 1 would strengthen counselors' engagement with
participants throughout the VR continuum--from referral and application
to the provision of services under a signed IPE--leading to quality
competitive integrated employment outcomes.
[[Page 102843]]
Topic Area 2: Career Assessment Addressing Emerging Career and
Employment Trends
WIOA emphasizes the need to ensure that competitive integrated
employment outcomes optimally reflect VR participants' individual
strengths, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice. To
this end, topic area 2 of this proposed priority would increase the
effectiveness of VR professionals' vocational evaluation and
comprehensive assessment practices in identifying and supporting VR
participants' optimal career and employment goals, postsecondary
education and training pathways, comprehensive support needs including
rehabilitation technology, and potential options such as business
ownership, self-employment, and telework.
Topic Area 3: Preparing VR Participants for High-Quality Employment in
(STEM) and Advanced Technology Careers, Including AI
STEM is a promising career field for individuals with disabilities.
Across all workers, employment in STEM occupations grew by 10.5 percent
between May 2009 and May 2015, compared to 5.2 percent growth in non-
STEM occupations (Fayer et al., 2017). Currently, STEM occupations
requiring postsecondary-level scientific or technical knowledge account
for 6.6 percent of the workforce in 2023 (U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, 2024). More broadly, considering all educational attainment
levels and pathways, the National Science Foundation estimates that
workers in jobs requiring significant STEM-related knowledge account
for 23 percent of the workforce (National Science Board, National
Science Foundation, 2024). STEM fields are projected to grow by an
additional 10.4 percent through 2033, nearly three times the rate of
non-STEM jobs (with positions in computing, engineering, and advanced
manufacturing leading the way) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
STEM jobs pay substantially more than non-STEM jobs, with median annual
wages of $95,420 for STEM occupations, compared to $40,120 for non-STEM
occupations (Krutsch & Roderick, 2022).
VR agencies are working to prepare VR participants for the
expanding career potential in emerging STEM-related fields, through
pre-employment transition services and other initiatives. Of all VR
participants who achieved competitive integrated employment after
receiving VR services under an IPE during PYs 2017-2019, 20,420 (5.3
percent) were employed in STEM fields. Of these participants, 8,348
(40.9 percent) were youth aged 14-24 (Chun et al., 2023). Examples of
STEM-related pre-employment transition services, for example, have
grown significantly since the passage of WIOA in 2014, as evidenced by
the VR portions of the WIOA State Plans. Topic area 3 would support VR
professionals' efforts to maximize opportunities for VR participants to
explore, consider, and pursue careers in STEM and other advanced
technologies, including AI.
Topic Area 4: Dual Customer Employer Engagement and Service Delivery
Strategies
WIOA has fostered the growth of dual customer business engagement
initiatives that create career exploration, training, and employment
opportunities for VR participants while meeting employers' need for
skilled workers. State VR agencies have adopted a variety of business
engagement models including Progressive Employment, Rapid Engagement,
Customized Employment, Customized Training, Individualized Placements
and Supports as well as apprenticeships in partnership with businesses,
State and local workforce development partners, and community-based
organizations including CRPs. Topic area 4 would support such business
engagement trends by improving the capacity of VR counselors and
specialists to provide optimal dual customer services and training
outlined in 34 CFR 361.32.
Topic Area 5: Engagement and Service Delivery Strategies for
Underserved Populations
Publicly available, individual-level RSA-911 VR participant data
indicate that disparities exist in VR eligibility determination,
service provision, and employment outcomes for Black, American Indian/
Alaska Native, and Hispanic individuals with disabilities, and other
traditionally underserved or underrepresented populations (Shaewitz,
D.M. & Yin, M., 2021). Innovative practices can also address challenges
in accessing VR services and outcomes faced by youth in foster care;
formerly incarcerated adults; veterans; residents of rural, remote, or
impoverished communities; and individuals with intellectual,
developmental, emotional, sensory, substance abuse, traumatic head
injury-related disabilities, among others. Topic area 5 of this
proposed priority would promote access to VR services, resources, and
opportunities for these or other underserved or underrepresented
groups. Applicants may identify an underserved or underrepresented
group, or combination of populations, and develop an innovative
training program enabling VR professionals to address their challenges
through research-based promising practices.
Topic Area 6: Field Initiated
Finally, to maximize the breadth and impact of this proposed
priority, topic area 6 would offer applicants the flexibility to
propose improved methods of training on promising VR counseling,
engagement, and service delivery strategies and practices on topic
areas that are either not specified in this priority or a combination
of two or more topic areas described in this priority, consistent with
the priority's purpose.
Applicants may draw from the activities and findings of RSA's WIOA-
related discretionary grant investments, and other Federal, State, and
non-government activities, to develop innovative training proposals
under this priority. Beginning in 2015, RSA's VR Technical Assistance
Centers on Workforce Innovation (WINTAC), Youth (Y-TAC), and Targeted
Communities (VRTAC-TC) provided intensive, targeted, and universal
technical assistance and training to State VR agencies in support of
WIOA purposes and priorities, including youth transition, pre-
employment transition services, employer engagement, apprenticeships,
labor market analysis, credentialing, and measurable skill gains
leading to quality competitive integrated employment outcomes. Other
WIOA-relevant RSA investments during this period included the Career
Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities demonstration project and
the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition in partnership
with the Department's Office of Special Education Programs. These
initiatives involved evidence-based or emerging practices such as Index
Plus, Community-Based Participatory Research, Motivational
Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care, Integrated Placement and Supports,
and Integrated Resource Teams. State VR agencies engaged in these
initiatives reported improvements in VR service delivery and outcomes.
WINTAC, for example, helped the State VR agency of Alaska increase pre-
employment transition services by 384 percent in three years. VRTAC-TC
contributed to significant increases in VR applications, eligibility
determinations, IPE development, service delivery, and competitive
integrated employment outcomes for 21 priority underserved population
groups from 24 socioeconomically challenged communities in 12 States,
relative to the
[[Page 102844]]
same population groups elsewhere in their respective States.
RSA investments in support of WIOA continued with the Innovative
Rehabilitation Training grants awarded in 2019 and 2020 as well as the
VR Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment and the VR
Technical Assistance Center for Quality Management, awarded in 2020.
RSA further invested in innovative approaches related to career
advancement, transitioning from subminimum wage employment to
competitive integrated employment, State and local partnerships to
improve youth transition outcomes, and transformational approaches to
create 21st Century workforce opportunities for adults and youth with
disabilities, through Disability Innovation Fund awards in 2021, 2022,
2023, and 2024.
Currently, the Innovative Rehabilitation Training program (awarded
in 2019 and 2020) is providing training to VR professionals and
students on VR counseling, career assessment, forensic evaluation, pre-
employment transition services, business engagement, business
ownership, self-employment, and telecommuting, and specialized VR
services for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism
spectrum disorders. The grants reflect a wide range of curricula (full
academic courses, certificate program, standalone modules); products
(research studies, published articles, videos); information delivery
methods (online or on-site, synchronous or asynchronous, on-demand or
scheduled); instructional technologies (including advanced technologies
such as Virtual Reality simulations and role playing); and communities
of practice (involving VR agency leadership, cross-disciplinary VR
specialists, stakeholders, and partners). Grantees have established
strong partnerships with State VR agencies, pertinent national
associations, and IHEs to develop, evaluate, disseminate, and replicate
the curricula and recruit training participants.
This proposed priority represents a natural progression from
previous RSA investments and the existing Innovative Rehabilitation
Training program. The priority would promote key elements from WIOA
including dual customer business engagement services, with a focus on
contemporary emerging, high-paying careers in STEM, green industries,
critical infrastructure, and advanced technology fields, including AI.
Proposed Priority: Innovative Rehabilitation Training on Emerging
VR Counseling, Engagement, and Service Delivery Strategies Leading to
Quality Employment in 21st Century Careers for Individuals With
Disabilities. Projects that propose a new innovative rehabilitation
training program for rehabilitation personnel on emerging VR
counseling, engagement, and service delivery best practices or
strategies in any of six topic areas that provides a 21st century
understanding of the evolving labor force and the needs of individuals
with disabilities, resulting in more effective delivery of
rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities. The six topic
areas under this priority are:
(1) VR Counselor Participant Engagement Practices. Proposed
projects under this topic area must focus on improving VR counselors'
knowledge and skills to effectively engage with VR participants through
the VR continuum from referral and application to the provision of VR
services under a signed IPE, and through the achievement of an
employment outcome. This may include, for example, VR counseling
relationship-building skills training; early and ongoing engagement
strategies, including pre-employment transition services; benefits
counseling, financial planning, and VR participant self-advocacy skills
training; and the development of internal and external partnerships
with cross-disciplinary VR agency specialists, employers, workforce
development partners, Client Assistance Programs, and community-based
organizations, including CRPs and Centers for Independent Living
(CILs).
(2) Career Assessment Addressing Emerging Career and Employment
Trends. Proposed projects under this topic area must focus on
identifying and supporting VR participants' informed choice and optimal
career and employment goals, postsecondary education and training,
credentialing and measurable skills attainment pathways, and
comprehensive support needs including assistive technology, consistent
with participants' unique strengths, abilities, capabilities, and
interests. This may include, for example, providing vocational
evaluation and comprehensive assessments; facilitating AI-enabled
individual supports and accommodations, conducting local and national
labor market analyses; tracking emerging 21st century career trends in
STEM, advanced technologies, and green industries such as sustainable
manufacturing and renewable energy; exploring work options such as
business ownership, self-employment, and telework; and identifying the
most appropriate training and employment options including
apprenticeships, customized employment, and career pathways.
(3) Preparing VR Participants for High-quality Employment in STEM
and Advanced Technology Careers, including AI. Proposed projects under
this topic area must focus on maximizing the number of VR participants
provided the opportunity to explore, consider, and pursue high quality
careers in STEM and advanced technology careers, including AI, and
other emerging high-quality fields. This may include, for example,
early and meaningful exposure to such careers through quality pre-
employment transition services; peer mentorship by persons with
disabilities in such careers; identification of VR participants whose
unique strengths, abilities, interests, and informed choice align with
such careers; and partnerships with State and local educational
agencies, Institutions of Higher Education (IHE), career and technical
education programs, disability organizations, CRPs, and others to
provide the appropriate training, education, and support services.
(4) Dual Customer Employer Engagement and Service Delivery
Strategies. Proposed projects under this topic area must focus on
helping VR agency personnel to engage effectively with employers
through the provision of the services and training outlined in 34 CFR
361.32, meeting employers' needs for skilled workers while creating
quality employment and training opportunities for VR participants. This
may include, for example, strategies for identifying promising dual
customer employer engagement opportunities; providing training and
technical assistance to employers regarding the employment of
individuals with disabilities, including disability awareness, and the
requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other
employment-related laws; supporting VR agency capacity-building to
provide quality dual customer services and training to employers;
conducting outreach to employers, community-based organizations, and
business associations highlighting VR agency capabilities and
documented successes; and delivering dual customer service and training
through the coordinated efforts of cross-disciplinary VR personnel,
employers, and workforce development system partners.
(5) Engagement and Service Delivery Strategies for Underserved
Populations. Proposed projects under this topic area must focus on
promoting access to VR services, resources, and opportunities
[[Page 102845]]
for current or prospective VR participants from the underserved
population(s) selected by the applicant. This may include, for example,
identifying the needs, challenges, opportunities, cultural
sensitivities, or linguistic requirements of the selected population;
establishing partnerships with local or national associations,
community-based organizations including CRPs and CILs, and advocates
representing the selected population; conducting outreach strategies to
engage the selected populations throughout the VR process; and
developing VR policies, procedures, practices, and VR service delivery
approaches that address the populations' unique needs, challenges,
cultural sensitivities, or linguistic requirements. Applicants must
identify the selected underserved population(s), which may include
disability category, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other
factors.
(6) Field-Initiated. Proposed projects under this topic area must
address an area not specified in this priority, consistent with the
stated purpose of the priority, or a combination of two or more topic
areas specified in this priority.
Note: The numbering of the topic areas does not reflect an
established hierarchy or preference among the topic areas.
Types of Priorities:
When inviting applications for a competition using one or more
priorities, we designate the type of each priority as absolute,
competitive preference, or invitational through a notice in the Federal
Register. 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 (1)
awarding additional points, depending on the extent to which the
application meets the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2)
selecting an application that meets the 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 priority.
However, we do not give an application that meets the priority a
preference over other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
Proposed Project Requirements
The Department proposes the following project requirements for
applicants under this priority. Based on ongoing administration of the
current program, RSA expects that these requirements will promote
innovation, continuous improvement, and enduring impacts on VR
professionals and participants beyond the life of the grant. We may
apply one or more of these requirements in any year in which this
program is in effect.
Proposed Project Requirements:
(a) Establish the empirical basis of the proposed project
objectives and activities. The applicant must identify the particular
focus it intends to address within the selected topic area; the key
knowledge and practice determinants of VR service effectiveness and
employment outcome quality; and the empirical sources and rationale for
the identified knowledge and practices, including available research,
literature reviews, and relevant projects conducted by RSA or other
Federal or non-government entities. Applicants responding to topic area
5, Underserved Populations, must also provide supporting data regarding
their selected population group(s) and identified barriers to VR
services and employment outcomes.
(b) Establish a process, including clear and actionable steps as
well as specific timelines, to continue assessing innovative practices
and training methods for possible incorporation, especially during the
initial year of the grant, including stakeholder surveys to identify
promising practices that the State VR agencies may already be
implementing.
(c) Design an innovative, multifaceted VR counselor training plan
to convey the identified knowledge and practices. The training plan
must specify the intended participants; proposed curricula, activities,
and products, including training modules, communities of practice,
research studies, published articles, or videos; instructional and
communication technologies, including AI-based methods and tools, if
applicable; and knowledge translation methods adapted to diverse
learning styles or ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. The training plan
must address a broad range of VR professionals--decision-makers,
counselors, cross-disciplinary specialists--and pertinent partners and
stakeholders, as appropriate.
(d) Establish an advisory panel of one or more VR agencies and
other pertinent stakeholders to help develop, implement, and evaluate
the project. The applicant must describe the panel membership,
structure, and responsibilities. Panel member responsibilities may
include identifying key knowledge requirements, best practices, and
innovative approaches for the training curricula and methods;
coordinating with other interested parties to disseminate curricula,
recruit training participants, engaging additional VR agencies and
stakeholders; and participating in the project's continuous feedback,
evaluation, and improvement processes.
(e) Prioritize key stakeholder engagement, partnerships, and
information-sharing in the innovative training activities, including
with IHEs and relevant professional associations. The applicant must
identify the stakeholders to be involved within each of the project's
particular focus; the purpose and expected benefits of stakeholder
involvement; anticipated communities of practices to facilitate
stakeholder involvement; and the innovative or advanced convening or
communication technologies to be used, as applicable.
(f) Establish continuous feedback, evaluation, and improvement
processes, including action steps and clear timelines, to ensure that
the training curricula and resources are responsive to the needs of the
current and aspiring VR professionals and stakeholders; meet the
project scope and objectives; and reflect evolving research, promising
practices, and innovative training methods during the life of the
grant.
(g) Disseminate, replicate, and sustain the innovative training
curricula and resources. The applicant must post completed training
curricula and related resources on National Clearinghouse of
Rehabilitation Training Materials (NCRTM) and other appropriate venues
on an ongoing basis; facilitate replication of training curricula by
interested VR agencies, IHEs, or other interested parties; sustain and
maintain the training curriculum beyond the life of the grant; and
present innovative training curricula, resources, outcomes, and lessons
learned in at least one national forum during the final year of the
grant.
References
Chun, J., Zhou, K., Rumrill, S., & Tittelbach, T. (2023). STEM
career pathways for transition-age youth with disabilities.
Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education, v37 n1 p36-48
Dutta, A., Chan, F., Kundu, M.M., Kaya, C., Brooks, J.,
S[aacute]nchez, J., & Tansey, T.N. (2017). Assessing vocational
rehabilitation engagement of people with disabilities: A factor-
analytic approach. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 60(3), 145-
154. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355215626698
Torres, A., Frain, M., Tansey, T. (2019). The Impact of Motivational
Interviewing
[[Page 102846]]
Training on Rehabilitation Counselors: Assessing Working Alliance
and Client Engagement. A Randomized Controlled Trial. https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Frep0000267
Fayer, S., Lacey, A., & Watson, A. (2017, January). Science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations: Past,
present, and future. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2017/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-occupations-past-present-and-future/home.htm
Krutsch, E. & Roderick, V. (2022). U.S. Department of Labor Blog:
STEM Day: Explore Growing Careers, November, Source: U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics Employment Projections. https://blog.dol.gov/2022/11/04/stem-day-explore-growing-careers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Employment in STEM
occupations. Projections 2023 to 2033. STEM Occupations Projection
link (bls.gov)
National Science Board, National Science Foundation. (2024). Science
and engineering indicators 2024: The state of U.S. science and
engineering. NSB-2024-3. https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20243
Johnson, R.L., Floyd, M., Pilling, D., Boyce, M.J., Grove, B.,
Secker, J., Schneider, J., & Slade, J. (2009). Service users'
perceptions of the effective ingredients in supported employment.
Journal of Mental Health, 18(2), 121-128. https://doi.org/10.1080/
09638230701879151
Southwick, J., & Schultz, J. (2019). Participant engagement in
public vocational rehabilitation programs: An analysis of counselor
ratings. The Journal of Rehabilitation, 85(2), 13-22
Shaewitz, D.M. & Yin, M. (2021). Serving all consumers: Identifying
racial disparities in the vocational rehabilitation system. https://iel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Serving-All-Consumers_Identifying-Racial-Disparities-in-the-Vocational-Rehabilitation_FINAL_508c.pdf.
Final Priority and Requirements
We will announce the final priorities and requirements in a
document in the Federal Register. We will determine the final
priorities and requirements after considering public comments on the
proposed priority and requirements and other information available to
the Department. This document does not preclude us from proposing
additional eligibility criteria, priorities, requirements, definitions,
and selection criteria subject to meeting applicable rulemaking
requirements.
Note: This document does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose to use one or more of these proposed priorities and
these requirements, we invite applications through a notice in the
Federal Register.
Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 14094
Regulatory Impact Analysis
Under Executive Order 12866, the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) determines whether this regulatory action is ``significant'' and,
therefore, subject to the requirements of the Executive order and
subject to review by OMB. Section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, as
amended by Executive Order 14094, defines a ``significant regulatory
action'' as an action likely to result in a rule that may--
(1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $200 million or more
(adjusted every three years by the Administrator of Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for changes in gross domestic
product); or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector
of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment,
public health or safety, or State, local, territorial, or Tribal
governments or communities;
(2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an
action taken or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary impacts of entitlement grants,
user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients
thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues for which centralized review
would meaningfully further the President's priorities, or the
principles set forth in this Executive order, as specifically
authorized in a timely manner by the Administrator of OIRA in each
case.
This proposed regulatory action is not a significant regulatory
action subject to review by OMB under section 3(f) of Executive Order
12866, as amended by Executive Order 14094.
We have also reviewed this proposed regulatory action under
Executive Order 13563, which supplements and explicitly reaffirms the
principles, structures, and definitions governing regulatory review
established in Executive Order 12866, as amended by Executive Order
14094. To the extent permitted by law, Executive Order 13563 requires
that an agency--
(1) Propose or adopt regulations only upon a reasoned determination
that their benefits justify their costs (recognizing that some benefits
and costs are difficult to quantify);
(2) Tailor its regulations to impose the least burden on society,
consistent with obtaining regulatory objectives and taking into
account--among other things and to the extent practicable--the costs of
cumulative regulations;
(3) In choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, select
those approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential
economic, environmental, public health and safety, and other
advantages; distributive impacts; and equity);
(4) To the extent feasible, specify performance objectives, rather
than the behavior or manner of compliance a regulated entity must
adopt; and
(5) Identify and assess available alternatives to direct
regulation, including economic incentives--such as user fees or
marketable permits--to encourage the desired behavior, or provide
information that enables the public to make choices.
Executive Order 13563 also requires an agency ``to use the best
available techniques to quantify anticipated present and future
benefits and costs as accurately as possible.'' OIRA has emphasized
that these techniques may include ``identifying changing future
compliance costs that might result from technological innovation or
anticipated behavioral changes.''
We are issuing this proposed priority and these proposed
requirements only on a reasoned determination that their benefits would
justify their costs. In choosing among alternative regulatory
approaches, we selected those approaches that would maximize net
benefits. Based on the analysis that follows, the Department believes
that this regulatory action is consistent with the principles in
Executive Order 13563.
We also have determined that this regulatory action would not
unduly interfere with State, local, and Tribal governments in the
exercise of their governmental functions.
In accordance with these Executive Orders, the Department has
assessed the potential costs and benefits, both quantitative and
qualitative, of this regulatory action. The potential costs are those
resulting from statutory requirements and those we have determined as
necessary for administering the Department's programs and activities.
Clarity of the Regulations
Executive Order 12866 and the Presidential memorandum ``Plain
Language in Government Writing'' require each agency to write
regulations that are easy to understand.
The Secretary invites comments on how to make this proposed
priority and requirements easier to understand, including answers to
questions such as the following:
Are the requirements in the proposed priority and
requirements clearly stated?
[[Page 102847]]
Do the proposed priority and requirements contain
technical terms or other wording that interferes with their clarity?
Does the format of the proposed priority and requirements
(grouping and order of sections, use of headings, paragraphing, etc.)
aid or reduce their clarity?
Would the proposed priority and requirements be easier to
understand if we divided them into more (but shorter) sections?
Could the description of the proposed priority and
requirements in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this preamble
be more helpful in making the proposed priority and requirements easier
to understand? If so, how?
What else could we do to make the proposed priority and
requirements easier to understand?
To send any comments about how the Department could make this
proposed priority and requirements easier to understand, see the
instructions in the ADDRESSES section.
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.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification: The Secretary certifies
that this proposed priority and these proposed requirements would not
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. Participation in the Innovative Rehabilitation Training
program is voluntary. In addition, the only eligible entities for this
program are State agencies or their equivalents under State law,
Public, Private and Nonprofit Entities, including Indian Tribes and
Institutions of Higher Education, which do not meet the definition of a
small entity. We expect that in determining whether to apply for
Innovative Rehabilitation Training program funds, an eligible entity
would evaluate the requirements of preparing an application and any
associated costs and weigh them against the benefits likely to be
achieved by receiving a program grant. An eligible entity probably
would apply only if it determines that the likely benefits exceed the
costs of preparing an application.
We believe that the proposed priority and requirements would not
impose any additional burden on a small entity applying for a grant
than the entity would face in the absence of the proposed action. That
is, the length of the applications those entities would submit in the
absence of the proposed regulatory action and the time needed to
prepare an application would likely be the same.
This proposed regulatory action would not have a significant
economic impact on a small entity once it receives a grant because it
would be able to meet the costs of compliance using the funds provided
under this program. We invite comments from eligible small entities as
to whether they believe this proposed regulatory action would have a
significant economic impact on them and, if so, request evidence to
support that belief.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995: The proposed priority and
requirements contain information collection requirements that are
approved by OMB under OMB control number 1894-0006.
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities
can obtain this document in an accessible format. The Department will
provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich
Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file,
braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible
format.
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
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this
document, as well as all other documents of this Department published
in the Federal Register, in text or 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.
Glenna Wright-Gallo,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2024-29996 Filed 12-17-24; 8:45 am]
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