Request for Information on the Future Direction of the Rehabilitation Training Program, 19740-19744 [2018-09429]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2018 / Notices
is rendered ineligible for further Title IV
aid (including Federal Pell Grants,
Federal Supplemental Educational
Opportunity Grants, Federal WorkStudy, and Teacher Education
Assistance for Higher Education
(TEACH) Grants) unless the borrower
repays the excess amount or agreed to
repay the excess amount according to
the terms and conditions of the
promissory note that the borrower
signed. Agreeing to repay the excess
amount according to the terms and
conditions of the promissory note that
the borrower signed is called
‘‘reaffirmation’’, which is the subject of
this collection.
Dated: May 1, 2018.
Kate Mullan,
Acting Director, Information Collection
Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy
Officer, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2018–09494 Filed 5–3–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED–2018–ICCD–0005]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
Impact Study of Federally-Funded
Magnet Schools
Institute of Education Sciences
(IES), Department of Education (ED).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is
proposing a new information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before June 4,
2018.
ADDRESSES: To access and review all the
documents related to the information
collection listed in this notice, please
use https://www.regulations.gov by
searching the Docket ID number ED–
2018–ICCD–0005. Comments submitted
in response to this notice should be
submitted electronically through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov by selecting the
Docket ID number or via postal mail,
commercial delivery, or hand delivery.
Please note that comments submitted by
fax or email and those submitted after
the comment period will not be
accepted. Written requests for
information or comments submitted by
postal mail or delivery should be
addressed to the Director of the
Information Collection Clearance
Division, U.S. Department of Education,
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SUMMARY:
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400 Maryland Avenue SW, LBJ, Room
216–32, Washington, DC 20202–4537.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact Lauren Angelo,
202–245–7474.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department of Education (ED), in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
public and Federal agencies with an
opportunity to comment on proposed,
revised, and continuing collections of
information. This helps the Department
assess the impact of its information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. It also
helps the public understand the
Department’s information collection
requirements and provide the requested
data in the desired format. ED is
soliciting comments on the proposed
information collection request (ICR) that
is described below. The Department of
Education is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Department enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology. Please note
that written comments received in
response to this notice will be
considered public records.
Title of Collection: Impact Study of
Federally-Funded Magnet Schools.
OMB Control Number: 1850–NEW.
Type of Review: A new information
collection.
Respondents/Affected Public:
Individuals or Households.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 101.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 53.
Abstract: This Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) package requests
clearance for data collection activities to
support a rigorous Impact Study of
Federally-Funded Magnet Schools. The
Institute of Education Sciences (IES) at
the U.S. Department of Education (ED)
has contracted with Mathematica Policy
Research and its subcontractor, Social
Policy Research Associates (SPR), to
conduct this evaluation (ED–IES–17–C–
0066). The evaluation includes an initial
feasibility assessment, to determine
whether an impact study can be
conducted appropriately. First, the
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study team will interview fiscal year
(FY) 2016 and 2017 Magnet Schools
Assistance Program (MSAP) grantee
districts and schools to gather detailed
information on student recruitment and
admissions policies and practices,
paying particular attention to the use of
randomized lotteries for student
admissions. The feasibility phase will
result in a brief describing how MSAPfunded schools recruit and select
students for admission, a topic of
interest to the program office. Second, if
a sufficient number of students are
being admitted to these schools through
lotteries, the impact study will collect
survey data from principals and district
administrative records on admissions
lotteries and student progress. The
study would use these data to estimate
the impacts of magnet schools on
student achievement and diversity and
to describe whether particular features
of magnet schools are associated with
greater success.
Dated: May 1, 2018.
Stephanie Valentine,
Acting Director, Information Collection
Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy
Officer, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2018–09477 Filed 5–3–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket ID ED–2018–OSERS–0026]
Request for Information on the Future
Direction of the Rehabilitation Training
Program
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Request for information.
AGENCY:
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.
SUMMARY:
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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
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DATES:
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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.
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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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 LongTerm Training, the Rehabilitation ShortTerm 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
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19741
infrastructure and human capital. We
are interested in how we can best
support States in meeting the
requirements of the law relating to preemployment 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 LongTerm 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)
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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
grantees
Areas
Rehabilitation Counseling (84.129B) ...........................................................................................
Vocational Evaluation (84.129F) .................................................................................................
Rehabilitation of Individuals with Mental Illnesses (84.129H) .....................................................
Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Blind or Who Have Low Vision (84.129P) ......................
Rehabilitation of Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (84.129Q) ................................
Grants to Assist VR Agency Staff to Meet CSPD Requirements (84.129W) .............................
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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
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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-
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73
2
12
9
3
7
Number
of cert.
programs
Number
of masters
programs
0
1
0
2
0
1
73
1
12
8
4
6
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?
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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-
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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 LongTerm 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?
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19743
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.
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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
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. EL18–142–000]
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Louisiana Public Service Commission
v. System Energy Resources, Inc. and
Entergy Services, Inc.; Notice of
Complaint
Take notice that on April 27, 2018,
pursuant sections 206, 306, and 309 of
the Federal Power Act 1 and Rule 206 of
the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission’s (Commission) Rules of
Practice and Procedure,2 Louisiana
Public Service Commission
(Complainant) filed a formal complaint
against System Energy Resources, Inc.,
1 16
2 18
and Entergy Services, Inc. (collectively,
Respondents) alleging that Respondents’
return on equity is unjustly and
unreasonably excessive, its capital
structure is unjustly and unreasonably
rich with equity, and its depreciation
rates are excessive, all as more fully
explained in the complaint.
Complainant certify that copies of the
complaint were served on contacts for
Respondents.
Any person desiring to intervene or to
protest this filing must file in
accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of
the Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214).
Protests will be considered by the
Commission in determining the
appropriate action to be taken, but will
not serve to make protestants parties to
the proceeding. Any person wishing to
become a party must file a notice of
intervention or motion to intervene, as
appropriate. The Respondents’ answer
and all interventions, or protests must
be filed on or before the comment date.
The Respondents’ answer, motions to
intervene, and protests must be served
on the Complainants.
The Commission encourages
electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper using the
eFiling link at https://www.ferc.gov.
Persons unable to file electronically
should submit an original and 5 copies
of the protest or intervention to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street NE, Washington, DC
20426.
This filing is accessible on-line at
https://www.ferc.gov, using the eLibrary
link and is available for electronic
review in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room in Washington, DC
There is an eSubscription link on the
website that enables subscribers to
receive email notification when a
document is added to a subscribed
docket(s). For assistance with any FERC
Online service, please email
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
(202) 502–8659.
Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Time on May 17, 2018.
Dated: April 27, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018–09453 Filed 5–3–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
18:16 May 03, 2018
Jkt 244001
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. ID–8436–000]
Kipp, Mary E.; Notice of Filing
Take notice that on April 27, 2018,
Mary E. Kipp filed an application for
authorization to hold interlocking
positions, pursuant to section 305(b) of
the Federal Power Act, 18 U.S.C.
825d(f), and section 45.8 of the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission’s
(Commission) Regulations, 18 CFR 45.8.
Any person desiring to intervene or to
protest this filing must file in
accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of
the Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214).
Protests will be considered by the
Commission in determining the
appropriate action to be taken, but will
not serve to make protestants parties to
the proceeding. Any person wishing to
become a party must file a notice of
intervention or motion to intervene, as
appropriate. Such notices, motions, or
protests must be filed on or before the
comment date. On or before the
comment date, it is not necessary to
serve motions to intervene or protests
on persons other than the Applicant.
The Commission encourages
electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper using the
eFiling link at https://www.ferc.gov.
Persons unable to file electronically
should submit an original and 5 copies
of the protest or intervention to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street NE, Washington, DC
20426.
This filing is accessible on-line at
https://www.ferc.gov, using the eLibrary
link and is available for electronic
review in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room in Washington, DC.
There is an eSubscription link on the
website that enables subscribers to
receive email notification when a
document is added to a subscribed
docket(s). For assistance with any FERC
Online service, please email
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
(202) 502–8659.
Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Time on May 18, 2018.
Dated: April 27, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018–09454 Filed 5–3–18; 8:45 am]
U.S.C. 824(e), 825(e), and 825(h).
CFR 385.206.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
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[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]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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?
[[Page 19744]]
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
Federal Regulations via the Federal Digital System at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. 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 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
