Proposed Priorities, Requirements, and Definitions-Rehabilitation Training: Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center-Quality Management; and Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center-Quality Employment, 19908-19919 [2020-07402]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 69 (Thursday, April 9, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19908-19919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07402]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

34 CFR Chapter III

[Docket ID ED-2020-OSERS-0011]


Proposed Priorities, Requirements, and Definitions--
Rehabilitation Training: Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance 
Center--Quality Management; and Vocational Rehabilitation Technical 
Assistance Center--Quality Employment

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services 
(OSERS), Department of Education.

ACTION: Proposed priorities, requirements, and definitions.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services proposes priorities, requirements, and 
definitions to fund a Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance 
Center for Quality Management (VRTAC-QM) and a Vocational 
Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment 
(VRTAC-QE), Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers 
84.264J and 84.264K. The Assistant Secretary may use these priorities, 
requirements, and definitions for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2020 
and later years. We take this action to focus Federal financial 
assistance on identified national needs and to improve employment 
outcomes under the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program and raise 
expectations for all people with disabilities. We intend the VRTAC-QM 
to provide training and technical assistance to State VR agencies that 
will better enable VR personnel to manage available resources, improve 
effective service delivery, and increase the number and quality of 
employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. We intend the 
VRTAC-QE to provide training and technical assistance to State VR 
agencies that will better enable VR personnel, especially VR 
counselors, to implement innovative and effective VR and employment 
strategies and practices to increase the number and quality of 
employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before May 11, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments through the Federal eRulemaking portal 
or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. We will not 
accept comments submitted by fax or by email or those submitted after 
the comment period. To ensure that we do not receive duplicate copies, 
please submit your

[[Page 19909]]

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 ``Help.''
     Postal Mail, Commercial Delivery, or Hand Delivery: If you 
mail or deliver your comments for 84.264J, address them to Douglas Zhu, 
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5095, 
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2800. If you mail or deliver 
your comments for 84.264K, address them to Felipe Lulli, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5101, Potomac 
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2800. Privacy Note: The Department's 
policy is to make all 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: For 84.264J: Douglas Zhu, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5095, Potomac 
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-6037. 
Email: [email protected]. For 84.264K: Felipe Lulli, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5101, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-7425. Email: 
[email protected].
    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: 
    Invitation to Comment: We invite you to submit comments regarding 
these proposed priorities, requirements, and definitions. To ensure 
that your comments have maximum effect in developing the notice of 
final priorities, requirements, and definitions, we urge you to 
identify clearly the specific priority, requirement, or definition that 
each comment addresses.
    We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific 
requirements of Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 13771 and their 
overall requirement of reducing regulatory burden that might result 
from these proposed priorities, requirements, and definitions. Please 
let us know of any 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 all public 
comments about these proposed priorities, requirements, and definitions 
by accessing Regulations.gov. You may also inspect the comments in 
person in Room 5059, 550 12th Street SW, Washington, DC, between the 
hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday 
of each week except Federal holidays.
    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 these proposed priorities, requirements, 
and definitions. 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: Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 
(Rehabilitation Act), as amended by the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act (WIOA), the Rehabilitation Services Administration 
(RSA) makes grants to States and public or nonprofit agencies and 
organizations (including institutions of higher education) to support 
projects that provide training and technical assistance designed to 
assist in increasing the numbers of, and upgrading the skills of, 
qualified personnel (especially rehabilitation counselors) who are 
trained to--
    (1) Provide vocational, medical, social, and psychological 
rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities;
    (2) Assist individuals with communication and related disorders; 
and
    (3) Provide other services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act.
    Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 772(a)(1).
    Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 385.

Proposed Priorities

    This notice contains two proposed priorities.
    Background: Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act made by WIOA place 
heightened emphasis on expanding quality employment and career 
advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities, with a 
focus on competitive integrated employment as defined in the 
Rehabilitation Act. Consistent with WIOA's amendments to the 
Rehabilitation Act, the State Vocational Rehabilitation Services 
program (VR program) operates under the principle that individuals with 
disabilities, including those with significant and the most significant 
disabilities, are capable of quality employment outcomes when provided 
appropriate services, skills, and supports. WIOA places certain 
limitations on subminimum wage employment. WIOA also emphasizes pre-
employment transition services for students with disabilities, 
supported employment for individuals with the most significant 
disabilities, customized employment, and coordinated strategies such as 
career pathways to help individuals with disabilities realize 
employment goals consistent with their strengths, resources, 
priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed 
choice. The VRTAC-QM and the VRTAC-QE will assist State VR agencies in 
equipping, and increasing the number of, personnel with the necessary 
skills and training to implement these expanded provisions in the 
Rehabilitation Act made by WIOA.
    State VR agency personnel have experienced several challenges in 
implementing these expanded provisions. As of October 2019, 31 of 78 VR 
agencies were unable to serve all eligible individuals due to a lack of 
financial and staff resources and have thus introduced orders of 
selection, closed one or more priority categories, and limited the 
provision of services to eligible individuals based on the significance 
of their disabilities. Eight of these VR agencies have closed all 
priority categories, meaning that they are not providing services to 
new applicants for the VR program.
    VR agencies are implementing orders of selection for two main 
reasons, one being the inability to provide the non-Federal share 
required as match for the VR program, which prevents them from 
accessing all available Federal VR program funds, and the other being 
the requirement to reserve at least 15 percent of Federal VR program 
funds for providing pre-employment transition services to eligible and 
potentially eligible students with disabilities, which restricts the 
amount of VR program funds available to serve all other eligible 
individuals with disabilities. Consequently, fewer eligible individuals 
are being served, and the number of employment outcomes has declined.

[[Page 19910]]

    Based on data reported by VR agencies through the VR program Case 
Service Report (RSA-911) for program year (PY) 2017 (July 1, 2017-June 
30, 2018) and PY 2018 (July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019), the number of 
individuals with disabilities determined eligible for the VR program 
decreased from 414,531 to 398,205. Additionally, the number of 
participants in the VR program (those eligible individuals who received 
VR services under an Individualized Plan for Employment) decreased from 
932,835 to 916,083.
    While the employment rate or rehabilitation rate is not one of the 
WIOA primary indicators of performance, it may nevertheless inform an 
assessment of the performance of the VR program because it indicates 
whether participants are employed at the time, they exit the VR 
program. The VR program's employment rate decreased from 49.3 percent 
in PY 2017 to 47.6 percent in PY 2018. In the same period, the number 
of participants exiting with employment outcomes fell from 152,425 to 
142,722. Relatedly, the number of participants who exited the VR 
program for any reason decreased from 311,748 to 300,794 in the same 
timeframe.
    Given all of this, VR agency personnel need program and resource 
management strategies and skills to efficiently and effectively balance 
the provision of VR services, including pre-employment transition 
services to potentially eligible students with disabilities and 
eligible individuals with disabilities, to ensure that individuals with 
disabilities are served appropriately and without delay. Absent the 
commitment and ability of VR staff to use resources effectively and 
efficiently, VR agencies will not have the funds or staff resources to 
provide individuals with disabilities with timely services of high 
quality, and the number of individuals who turn to the VR program in 
their search for services leading to quality employment will decline 
further. VR personnel need to learn strategies to balance the needs of 
all populations seeking services, including students, youth, and adults 
with disabilities, and to provide timely and relevant services to meet 
their unique needs.
    The focus on serving individuals with significant and the most 
significant disabilities, coupled with the expectations under the 
Rehabilitation Act to achieve quality competitive employment outcomes 
and career advancement, also require VR agency personnel, especially VR 
counselors, to learn and employ innovative service strategies and 
practices.
    For example, recent data for PYs 2017 and 2018 provided by VR 
agencies through the RSA-911 indicate that fewer than one-quarter (21.1 
percent and 23.1 percent, respectively) of participants who were 
enrolled in an education or training program leading to a recognized 
postsecondary credential or employment achieved a measurable skill gain 
(MSG). An MSG is documented academic, technical, occupational, or other 
form of progress that participants achieve towards a recognized 
postsecondary credential or employment. The MSG rate is one of the 
primary indicators of performance under section 116 of WIOA. The VR 
program's performance, in the first two years of data collection and 
reporting, suggests that strategies and services aimed at assisting 
individuals with disabilities in achieving MSGs as they pursue 
recognized postsecondary credentials or employment may be underutilized 
or underreported.
    Next, in PY 2018, State VR agencies collected and reported 
available data through the RSA-911 for two additional indicators of 
performance: Employment Rate in the Second Quarter after Exit and 
Median Earnings in the Second Quarter after Exit. The national 
employment rate for the VR program was 49.2 percent in the second 
quarter after exit (i.e., fewer than half of VR program participants 
were employed in the second quarter after exiting the VR program with 
an employment outcome). These individuals achieved median earnings of 
$3,714 for the quarter, which translates into annual median earnings of 
roughly $14,856. These data appear to indicate that the employment 
outlook for individuals with disabilities served by the program are not 
significantly improving and that there is a need for greater 
utilization of more effective interventions by VR personnel.
    Further, through its monitoring of VR agencies, RSA has made 
numerous observations and findings related to VR program performance.
    Despite updates in VR agency policies that reflect the expanded 
provisions of the Rehabilitation Act, some VR counselors reported 
during RSA monitoring that they have struggled to implement policies 
and strategies that lead to the intended quality employment outcomes 
for those they serve.
    Under section 302 of the Rehabilitation Act, the RSA Commissioner 
may make grants or enter into contracts to provide training and 
technical assistance designed to increase the numbers of, and upgrade 
the skills of, qualified VR counselors and other VR service providers. 
In coordination and collaboration with other RSA-funded technical 
assistance centers, the VRTAC-QM will provide training and technical 
assistance to State VR agencies that will better enable VR personnel to 
manage the VR program and available resources and thus improve service 
delivery to individuals with disabilities.
    The VRTAC-QE will bring together the broad range of existing 
quality employment strategies and supporting practices, identify and 
implement new ones, and incorporate them into an integrated training 
and technical assistance plan, consistent with the circumstances and 
priorities of each State that requests technical assistance. This will 
enable State VR personnel to implement innovative and effective VR 
employment strategies and better serve individuals with disabilities.
    Both the VRTAC-QM and the VRTAC-QE will generate additional 
resources, create new information and tools, and expand collaborative 
partnerships.
    Projects must be awarded and operated in a manner consistent with 
the nondiscrimination requirements mandated by the U.S. Constitution 
and Federal civil rights laws.
    Specific Requests for Comment: The Department is particularly 
interested in comments on Proposed Priority 1 regarding the best way to 
prioritize among VR agencies needing intensive TA. We are also 
interested in comments regarding whether the activities identified 
reflect the greatest needs in the field.
    Proposed Priority 1: Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance 
Center for Quality Management.
    The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services proposes to fund a cooperative agreement to establish a 
Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality 
Management (VRTAC-QM).
    The VRTAC-QM will provide intensive training and technical 
assistance, targeted training and technical assistance, and universal 
training and technical assistance to State VR agencies on quality 
management strategies that will enable VR agencies to improve service 
delivery to, and employment outcomes achieved by, individuals with 
disabilities. For States that request intensive training and technical 
assistance, the training and technical assistance will upgrade and 
increase the competencies, skills, and knowledge of VR personnel, 
enabling them to assess current VR program performance and to identify 
the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities for

[[Page 19911]]

improvement, and threats (SWOT) that impact the effectiveness of VR 
agency service delivery and the quality of employment outcomes. This 
SWOT assessment will be based on a review of a wide variety of 
information sources, including, but not limited to, RSA's monitoring 
findings and recommendations; State audit reports; consumer feedback 
provided in public hearings and through consumer satisfaction surveys; 
results of comprehensive statewide needs assessments; and input from 
workforce partners, community rehabilitation programs, and other VR 
stakeholders. Based on SWOT assessments, the center and VR agency 
personnel will develop individualized intensive training and technical 
assistance agreements designed to provide personnel with skills and 
strategies they need to address the weaknesses identified in the SWOT 
assessments to improve service delivery and employment outcomes for 
individuals with disabilities. The center will also provide VR agency 
personnel with technical assistance on evaluating whether the quality 
management strategies they adopt lead to increasing the percentage of 
participants who achieve an MSG and exit the program with an employment 
outcome and to modify those strategies, if necessary, to achieve 
continuous program improvement. In addition to the intensive training 
and technical assistance, the VRTAC-QM also will provide targeted 
training and technical assistance and universal training and technical 
assistance to State VR agencies on a broad range of quality management 
strategies and practices, both programmatic and fiscal, to address 
needs common to many agencies.
    With regard to program management and performance, the VRTAC-QM's 
training and technical assistance will support the assessment, 
development, and enhancement of staff knowledge, skills, and abilities 
to perform the following functions in order to improve service delivery 
and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities:
     Analyzing the State VR agency's comprehensive system of 
personnel development to identify strengths and weaknesses in staff's 
ability to understand and address factors affecting program 
performance, and designing management strategies to address these 
deficits.
     Analyzing case service data to identify trends and 
inconsistencies in program performance, and developing strategies to 
improve the effectiveness and timeliness of services provided, 
including addressing inconsistencies in the quality and quantity of 
employment outcomes achieved by various groups of individuals with 
disabilities served by the program.
     Understanding statutory and regulatory requirements 
related to performance management, including calculations for the 
common performance measures required under WIOA and factors that may be 
affecting the agency's performance on these measures.
     Conducting quality assurance and performance improvement, 
including the use of data for performance management systems and the 
implementation of the common performance measures required by WIOA.
     Strategic planning to address aspects of the SWOT 
assessment that pose challenges and barriers to improving service 
delivery and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, 
particularly students and youth with disabilities and individuals with 
significant and the most significant disabilities.
     Implementing effective and efficient policies for 
delivering pre-employment transition services under section 113, VR 
services under section 103(a), and supported employment services under 
title VI of the Rehabilitation Act.
     Understanding the relationship to important outcomes of 
various cost containment measures, such as implementing an order of 
selection giving priority for services to individuals with the most 
significant disabilities, establishing a financial needs test for 
various services, implementing policies for consumer participation in 
the cost of services, and implementing the requirement to seek 
comparable services and benefits for certain services, among others.
    Under the VR program, agencies must comply with several complex 
Federal fiscal requirements related to maintenance of effort, 
reallotment, reservation of funds for pre-employment transition 
services, and match, among others. VR agencies must understand, track, 
assess, and adjust, when necessary, program activities to meet these 
requirements while maximizing program outcomes. Additionally, the lack 
of knowledge and skills in fiscal and resource management can 
negatively affect the ability of VR agency personnel to meet consumer 
needs, for example, necessitating the implementation of orders of 
selection limiting the numbers of eligible individuals served in the VR 
program. With regard to effective resource management, the training and 
technical assistance will support the assessment, development, and 
enhancement of staff knowledge, skills, and abilities to ensure that--
     Resources, including program funds and personnel, are 
being used for allowable purposes and innovative employment strategies 
and supports that maximize employment outcomes for individuals with 
disabilities, including students and youth with disabilities and 
individuals with significant and the most significant disabilities;
     Programs have sound internal controls and reliable 
reporting systems upon which to base fiscal and programmatic decision-
making to support attainment of program goals and objectives, including 
those related to increasing the numbers and qualifications of service 
delivery personnel; and
     Resources, including program funds and personnel, are 
maximized for program needs.
    The following are examples of activities the VRTAC-QM may undertake 
to address weaknesses in resource management:
     Assess grantee financial management processes used to 
support attainment of fiscal and programmatic outcomes (for example, 
whether an agency's fiscal processes support the accurate tracking and 
reporting of non-Federal funds to maximize the drawdown of Federal 
award funds to support attainment of employment outcomes). The 
assessment will be used to identify areas for improvement in fiscal 
processes that will assist the agency in meeting program goals.
     Assess personnel training and technical assistance needs 
to identify gaps in fiscal knowledge, skills, and abilities that 
prevent the agency from effective and efficient resource utilization 
necessary to achieve employment outcomes.
     Provide intensive training and technical assistance on 
financial planning to maximize program resources and attainment of 
program goals and objectives, maximizing opportunities for funds 
matching, avoiding potential maintenance of effort and match penalties, 
and meeting the reservation of funds requirement for pre-employment 
transition services in order to increase resources available for 
service delivery.
     Provide technical assistance on implementing Federal, 
State, and program fiscal requirements, including internal controls, in 
an efficient and effective manner to reduce unnecessary burden and to 
focus efforts on program outcomes.
     Provide technical assistance on the identification, 
collection, and analysis

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of program and fiscal data necessary for program management and 
maximizing available resources to support consumer services.
    Proposed Project Requirements: To meet the requirements of this 
priority, the VRTAC-QM must, at a minimum, conduct one or more of the 
following activities:
    (1) Establish a committee on quality management of State VR 
programs that meets at least semi-annually to obtain individual advice 
and recommendations for the project.
    The committee must include, but is not limited to, individuals with 
disabilities, representatives from State VR agencies, stakeholders, and 
individuals with subject matter expertise in improving outcomes through 
effective program and resource management and in employment strategies 
for people with disabilities. At a minimum, the committee members will 
provide individual input and recommendations pertaining to the 
implementation of the project and the project evaluation and quality 
assurance plan.
    (2) Establish a state-of-the-art website and information technology 
(IT) platform for communicating with State VR agencies and ensure that 
all products produced by the VRTAC-QM and posted on the website meet 
government and industry-recognized standards for accessibility.
    The website will become a key training and technical assistance 
delivery vehicle; a major communication center for the VRTAC-QM and 
State VR agencies; and the central repository of information about 
quality management strategies and practices that will form the basis 
for intensive training and technical assistance, targeted training and 
technical assistance, and universal training and technical assistance.
    (3) Complete a comprehensive review of programmatic and fiscal 
quality management strategies and practices for VR services for 
individuals with disabilities to achieve employment outcomes and 
develop an overarching training and technical assistance plan for the 
project. Both the review and the plan must be made available to the 
public, as appropriate.
    The purpose of the review is to identify those strategies and 
practices for inclusion in VRTAC-QM's overarching training and 
technical assistance plan. The center will develop an analytical 
framework and selection criteria against which to evaluate potential 
strategies and practices. The analysis will focus on: State VR agency 
needs and priorities, up-to-date information on quality management 
strategies and practices that have proven to be effective in the field 
of rehabilitation as well as other public and private sectors of the 
economy that may have applicability to the management of VR agencies, 
and quantitative and qualitative research on the effectiveness of the 
identified strategies and practices in order to improve service 
delivery and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
    Sources of information used for this review may include: State VR 
agency interviews and consultations; information from such sources as 
the RSA-911 Case Service Report aggregate data, general labor market 
data and information, Unified or Combined State Plans, and RSA 
monitoring reports; and information and resources generated by 
technical assistance centers funded by the U.S. Departments of 
Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services.
    The overarching training and technical assistance plan must 
include, at a minimum--
    (a) Quality management strategies and practices that result in 
improved service delivery and employment outcomes for individuals with 
disabilities, including the rationale for their selection;
    (b) Conceptual framework for the selected strategies and practices, 
including key assumptions, expectations, and presumed relationships or 
linkages among strategies and practices;
    (c) Nature and scope of the intensive training and technical 
assistance, targeted training and technical assistance, and universal 
training and technical assistance to be provided in support of the 
selected strategies and practices; and
    (d) Protocols and timelines for requesting and obtaining training 
and technical assistance.
    (4) Provide intensive training and technical assistance to State VR 
agencies.
    Intensive training and technical assistance will be provided to 
increase State VR agencies' capacity to adopt, expand, or sustain 
programmatic and fiscal quality management strategies and practices 
that improve the quality of service delivery and employment outcomes. 
Intensive training and technical assistance will be provided on-site, 
over an extended period, under the terms of signed intensive training 
and technical assistance agreements between the VRTAC-QM and the 
participating State VR agencies. Numerical targets for the number of 
intensive training and technical assistance agreements will be included 
in the cooperative agreement between RSA and the VRTAC-QM. Agreements 
will reflect the participating VR agencies' needs and priorities, 
goals, and objectives. They must include the following components:
    (a) Quality management strategies and practices to be implemented 
by the State VR agency and that result in improved service delivery and 
employment outcomes.
    (b) Nature and scope of the training and technical assistance to be 
provided by the VRTAC-QM.
    (c) Roles and responsibilities of the VRTAC-QM, State VR agency, 
and other workforce development partners, including the commitment of 
resources.
    (d) Logic model \1\ that includes: Performance outcomes, targets, 
and baselines; project activities, inputs, and outputs; and data 
collection and analysis commitments.
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    \1\ ``Logic model'' (also referred to as a theory of action) 
means a framework that identifies key project components of the 
proposed project (i.e., the active ``ingredients'' that are 
hypothesized to be critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and 
describes the theoretical and operational relationships among the 
key project components and relevant outcomes.
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    The intensive training and technical assistance agreements will be 
developed based on the VRTAC-QM and participating VR agency's review 
and analysis of such information sources as Unified or Combined State 
Plans; RSA-911 and other performance data; general labor market data 
and information; RSA monitoring reports; State audit reports; and a 
review of pertinent Federal, State, and local resources in the State, 
including existing employment and training programs.
    (5) Provide targeted training and technical assistance and 
universal training and technical assistance on programmatic and fiscal 
quality management strategies and practices that lead to effective and 
efficient service delivery and quality employment outcomes.
    (6) Coordinate training and technical assistance with other 
technical assistance centers.
    The VRTAC-QM must coordinate the provision of training and 
technical assistance with the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical 
Assistance Center for Quality Employment and other RSA-funded technical 
assistance and training centers. This coordination is particularly 
critical when developing intensive training and technical assistance 
agreements with the VR agencies to avoid confusion and duplication of 
efforts. The VRTAC-QM must also coordinate with other technical 
assistance centers funded by

[[Page 19913]]

the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human 
Services.
    (7) Present at a national conference or regional forums or 
specialized meetings in the fifth year of the grant to disseminate the 
VRTAC-QM's summative findings and results.
    The primary objectives are to help State VR agencies to expand and 
sustain their VRTAC-QM programmatic and fiscal management strategies 
and practices that result in improved service delivery and employment 
outcomes by promoting an exchange of ideas and experiences with other 
participating VR agencies and to encourage other State VR agencies to 
consider adopting VRTAC-QM strategies and practices. In addition, the 
VRTAC-QM will explore cost-effective approaches such as virtual 
convenings to engage VR agencies and partners who may be unable to 
attend in-person meetings.
    (8) Develop a plan for an evaluation, including a timeline for the 
evaluation and measurement benchmarks, that will determine the 
relationship between the center's training and technical assistance on 
the service delivery and employment outcomes achieved by the VR 
agencies that received the center's services. This should be done 
through an analysis of the quality, relevance, and usefulness of VRTAC-
QM training and technical assistance activities designed to improve 
State VR agencies' program and resource management and lead to improved 
service delivery and achievement of high-quality employment outcomes 
and career advancement.
    Specific Requests for Comment: The Department is particularly 
interested in comments on Proposed Priority 2 regarding whether the 
employment strategies and supporting practices identified reflect the 
greatest needs in the field. We are also interested in comments on 
whether the list of activities reflects the greatest needs in the 
field.
    Proposed Priority 2: Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance 
Center for Quality Employment.
    The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services proposes to fund a cooperative agreement to establish a 
Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality 
Employment (VRTAC-QE).
    The purpose of the VRTAC-QE is to upgrade and increase the 
competencies, skills, and knowledge of VR personnel to implement and 
sustain employment strategies and supporting practices that enable 
individuals with disabilities to achieve quality employment and career 
advancement, particularly competitive integrated employment as defined 
in the Rehabilitation Act. The center will include strategies and 
practices that meet the needs and promote the quality employment of 
individuals with significant and the most significant disabilities, 
students and youth with disabilities, and traditionally underserved 
populations. The VRTAC-QE will implement a coordinated plan to provide 
intensive training and technical assistance, targeted training and 
technical assistance, and universal training and technical assistance 
to State VR agencies on a broad range of employment strategies and 
supporting practices.
    Employment strategies for consideration include, but are not 
limited to, the following:
    (a) Career pathways education, training, and supports in high-
demand occupations, including those in science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
    (b) Registered and industry-recognized apprenticeships, pre-
apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.
    (c) Supported employment and customized employment.
    (d) Customized training and credential programs to meet employer 
demand.
    (e) Self-employment and entrepreneurship, including services 
available under the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program.
    (f) Business engagement and employer supports, including dual 
customer models such as Progressive Employment.
    Supporting practices for consideration include, but are not limited 
to, the following:
    (1) Practices to enhance the employment capacity of individuals 
with the most significant disabilities receiving supported employment 
services, such as the Individual Placement and Support model.
    (2) Pre-employment transition services that prepare students with 
disabilities and transition services that prepare youth with 
disabilities to identify career interests through work-based learning 
and early career exploration opportunities, including internships and 
job shadowing, with a focus on high-demand and STEM careers.
    (3) Career counseling techniques and resources, including labor 
market information tools such as Career Index Plus.
    (4) Strategies involving workforce development partners, community 
rehabilitation programs, and other community-based organizations to 
provide the comprehensive support services that individuals with 
significant and the most significant disabilities need to succeed, such 
as the Integrated Resource Teams model.
    (5) Approaches that encourage VR clients to enter and remain 
engaged in the VR process, such as rapid engagement, motivational 
interviewing, benefits counseling, and financial empowerment training, 
and vehicles such as the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) tax-
free accounts for individuals with disabilities.
    (6) Community outreach strategies to expand the pool of potential 
VR applicants and referral sources, including traditionally underserved 
populations.
    Proposed Project Requirements: To meet the requirements of this 
priority, the VRTAC-QE must, at a minimum, conduct one or more of the 
following activities:
    (1) Establish a state-of-the-art website and IT platform for 
communicating with State VR agencies and ensure that all products 
produced by the VRTAC-QE and posted on the website meet government and 
industry-recognized standards for accessibility.
    The website will become a key training and technical assistance 
delivery vehicle; a major communication center for the VRTAC-QE, State 
VR agencies, workforce partners, and other professionals; and the 
central repository of information about employment strategies and 
practices that will form the basis for intensive training and technical 
assistance, targeted training and technical assistance, and universal 
training and technical assistance.
    (2) Complete a comprehensive review of effective strategies and 
practices leading to quality employment for individuals with 
disabilities and develop an overarching training and technical 
assistance plan for the project. Both the review and the plan must be 
made available to the public, as appropriate.
    The purpose of the review is to identify employment strategies and 
supporting practices for inclusion in VRTAC-QE's overarching training 
and technical assistance plan. The center will develop an analytical 
framework and selection criteria against which to evaluate potential 
strategies and practices. The analysis will focus on: State VR agency 
needs and priorities; up-to-date information on national trends, 
barriers, challenges, and opportunities regarding quality employment 
for individuals with disabilities, including factors leading to 
successful employment of individuals

[[Page 19914]]

with significant and the most significant disabilities, students and 
youth with disabilities, and traditionally underserved populations; and 
quantitative and qualitative research on the effectiveness of the 
identified strategies and practices.
    Sources of information for this review may include, but are not 
limited to, State VR agency interviews and consultations; analyses of 
aggregate RSA-911 Case Service Report data, Unified or Combined State 
Plans, and RSA monitoring reports; information and tools generated by 
RSA's vocational rehabilitation technical assistance centers and 
special demonstration projects, available on the National Clearinghouse 
of Rehabilitation Training Materials website; and other resources 
funded by the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and 
Human Services, and institutions of higher education.
    The overarching training and technical assistance plan must 
include, at a minimum--
    (a) Employment strategies and supporting practices, including the 
rationale for their selection;
    (b) Conceptual framework for the selected strategies and practices, 
including key assumptions, expectations, and presumed relationships or 
linkages among strategies and practices;
    (c) Nature and scope of the intensive training and technical 
assistance, targeted training and technical assistance, and universal 
training and technical assistance to be provided in support of the 
selected strategies and practices; and
    (d) Protocols and timelines for requesting and obtaining training 
and technical assistance.
    (3) Provide intensive training and technical assistance to State VR 
agencies.
    Intensive training and technical assistance will be provided to 
increase the capacity of State VR agencies to adopt, expand, or sustain 
employment strategies and supporting practices that improve the quality 
of employment outcomes. Intensive training and technical assistance 
will be provided on-site, over an extended period, under the terms of 
signed intensive training and technical assistance agreements between 
the VRTAC-QE and the participating State VR agencies. Numerical targets 
for the number of intensive training and technical assistance 
agreements will be included in the cooperative agreement between RSA 
and the VRTAC-QE. Agreements will reflect the participating VR 
agencies' needs and priorities, goals, and objectives. They must 
include the following components:
    (a) Employment strategies and supporting practices to be 
implemented by the State VR agency.
    (b) Nature and scope of the training and technical assistance to be 
provided by the VRTAC-QE.
    (c) Roles and responsibilities of the VRTAC-QE, State VR agency, 
and other workforce development partners, including the commitment of 
resources.
    (d) Logic model \2\ that includes: State-specific performance 
outcomes, targets, and baselines; project activities, inputs, and 
outputs; and data collection and analysis commitments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ ``Logic model'' (also referred to as a theory of action) 
means a framework that identifies key project components of the 
proposed project (i.e., the active ``ingredients'' that are 
hypothesized to be critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and 
describes the theoretical and operational relationships among the 
key project components and relevant outcomes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The intensive training and technical assistance agreements will be 
developed based on the VRTAC-QE and participating VR agency's review 
and analysis of such information sources as Unified or Combined State 
Plans; RSA-911 and other performance data; RSA monitoring reports; 
relevant labor market information; and a review of pertinent Federal, 
State, and local resources in the State, including existing employment 
and training programs.
    Intensive training and technical assistance will be implemented in 
coordination with, and leveraging the resources of, State and local 
workforce and other partners.
    (4) Provide targeted training and technical assistance meeting the 
identified needs of a limited number of State VR agencies, as well as 
universal training and technical assistance broadly available to all 
State VR agencies and their partners.
    (5) Coordinate training and technical assistance with other 
technical assistance centers.
    The VRTAC-QE must coordinate the provision of training and 
technical assistance with the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical 
Assistance Center for Quality Management and other RSA-funded training 
and technical assistance investments. This coordination is particularly 
critical when developing intensive training and technical assistance 
agreements with the VR agencies to avoid confusion and duplication of 
efforts. The VRTAC-QE must also coordinate with other training and 
technical assistance resources funded by the U.S. Departments of 
Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services, and other pertinent 
Federal or State organizations, as appropriate.
    (6) Disseminate VRTAC-QE summative findings and results through a 
national conference or regional forums or specialized meetings in the 
fifth year of the grant. The primary objectives are to help State VR 
agencies to expand and sustain their VRTAC-QE strategies and practices 
and to encourage other State VR agencies to consider adopting some 
VRTAC-QE strategies and practices by promoting an exchange of ideas and 
experiences with other participating VR agencies. To maximize the 
dissemination of project findings and results in the fifth year, the 
VRTAC-QE will explore cost-effective approaches such as virtual 
convenings to engage VR agencies and partners who may be unable to 
attend in-person meetings.
    (7) Develop a plan for an evaluation, including a timeline for the 
evaluation and measurement benchmarks, that will assess VRTAC-QE 
employment strategies and supporting activities' relationship to VR 
participants' employment outcomes and career advancement. The 
evaluation will also assess the quality, relevance, and usefulness of 
the VRTAC-QE's training and technical assistance in improving State VR 
agencies' ability to identify and implement the appropriate strategies 
and practices.
    Proposed Application Requirements: The following proposed 
application requirements apply to both priority 1 and priority 2. RSA 
encourages innovative approaches to meet these requirements. Applicants 
must--
    (a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of the Evaluation Plan,'' how the proposed project will meet 
the evaluation requirements of the priority. Applicants must describe 
the anticipated implementation steps, milestones, and timelines for the 
development of a logic model for the project. The logic model must 
include data elements, inputs, activities, outputs, and short-term and 
long-term performance indicators regarding--
    (1) Quantitative outcomes resulting from the program management or 
employment strategies and practices, including--
    (i) Quality and timeliness of the VR processes and services;
    (ii) Number and quality of employment outcomes;
    (iii) VR participants' employment or career-readiness;
    (iv) Cost-effectiveness; and
    (v) Sustainability;

[[Page 19915]]

    (2) Quality, relevance, and usefulness of the project's training 
and technical assistance activities;
    (3) Quantitative or qualitative insights about the relationship 
between strategies, practices, and training and technical assistance 
activities on critical outcomes for VR personnel, VR clients, and key 
partners, including through--
    (i) Pre- and post-training assessments;
    (ii) Comparison groups;
    (iii) Focus groups; or
    (iv) Success stories.
    (b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Adequacy of Project Resources,'' how the applicant will ensure that--
    (1) The proposed project will encourage applications for employment 
from persons who are members of groups that have historically been 
underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or 
disability, as appropriate;
    (2) Projects will be operated in a manner consistent with 
nondiscrimination requirements contained in the U.S. Constitution and 
the Federal civil rights laws;
    (3) Key project personnel, consultants, and subcontractors have the 
qualifications and experience to meet all the requirements of the 
priority, including expertise in--
    (i) Programmatic areas addressed in the Project Requirements 
section of the priority;
    (ii) Program and resource management and oversight;
    (iii) Knowledge translation and dissemination, including the 
effective use of communication technologies; and
    (iv) Project evaluation leading to continuous improvement, 
including qualitative and quantitative assessments;
    (4) The applicant and key partners have adequate resources to carry 
out the proposed project activities, and achieve anticipated project 
outcomes and impact on the VR services to individuals with 
disabilities, including assurances that the proposed allocation of 
human and financial resources for project evaluation will be enough to 
meet the requirements in section (a) of the application requirement 
regarding the ``Quality of the Evaluation Plan,'' above; and
    (5) The proposed costs are reasonable in relation to the 
anticipated results and benefits.
    (c) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of the Management Plan,'' how the applicant will ensure 
that--
    (1) The project's intended outcomes, including implementation of 
the evaluation plan, will be achieved on time and within budget, 
through--
    (i) Clearly defined responsibilities of key project personnel, 
consultants, and contractors, as applicable;
    (ii) Procedures to track and ensure completion of the action steps, 
timelines, and milestones established for key project activities, 
requirements, and deliverables, in accordance with the cooperative 
agreement between RSA and the applicant;
    (iii) Internal monitoring processes to ensure that the project is 
being implemented in accordance with an established project performance 
plan, including timelines and milestones; and
    (iv) Financial and budgetary oversight processes to ensure timely 
obligations and reporting of grant funds, in accordance with the 
Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit 
Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 CFR part 200 and the terms and 
conditions of the Federal award;
    (2) The allocation of key project personnel, consultants, and 
contractors--including levels of effort of key personnel--will be 
appropriate and adequate to achieve the project's intended outcomes, 
including an assurance that key personnel will have enough availability 
to ensure timely communications with stakeholders and RSA;
    (3) The proposed management plan will ensure that the products and 
services are of high quality, relevance, and usefulness, in both 
content and delivery; and
    (4) The proposed project will benefit from a diversity of 
perspectives, including those of State and local personnel, providers, 
researchers, and policy makers, among others, in its development and 
operation.
    Additional Proposed Application Requirements for Proposed Priority 
1: The following proposed application requirements apply only to 
proposed priority 1. RSA encourages innovative approaches to meet these 
requirements. Applicants must--
    (a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Significance of the Project,'' how the proposed project will increase 
State VR agencies' capacity to improve the quality of VR services and 
employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities by enabling VR 
agencies to develop and implement efficient and effective program and 
resource management techniques leading to increases in the numbers and 
improved skills of VR counselors and other service delivery personnel. 
To meet this requirement, the applicant must demonstrate knowledge 
about--
    (1) State VR program challenges, opportunities, barriers, and 
trends regarding program and resource management or quality employment 
outcomes for individuals with disabilities including those with 
significant and the most significant disabilities, students and youth 
with disabilities, and traditionally underserved populations; and
    (2) Federal, State, and nongovernment initiatives to promote 
program and resource management and quality employment outcomes for 
individuals with disabilities, particularly in response to requirements 
under WIOA. The applicants must demonstrate--
    (i) The proposed project's potential to contribute to these 
Federal, State, and nongovernment initiatives by assisting State VR 
agencies in equipping personnel with the necessary skills and training 
to implement the substantive provisions of the Rehabilitation Act 
introduced by WIOA that are designed to improve the quality of 
employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities; and
    (ii) How the proposed project will increase State VR agencies' 
capacity to implement program and resource management strategies 
leading to improved VR services, employment outcomes, and career 
advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
    (b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application, under 
``Quality of Project Services,'' how the proposed project will achieve 
the goals, objectives, and intended outcomes of this priority. To meet 
this requirement, the applicant must describe its plan for implementing 
the project, including major implementation activities, timelines, and 
milestones (particularly for the initial fiscal year), as well as key 
assumptions and expectations, presumed relationships or linkages among 
variables, and underlying rationale and empirical support, for the 
following Project Requirements of the priority:
    (1) State-of-the-art website. Applicants must describe how the 
website will serve as an effective communication center, training and 
technical assistance delivery vehicle, and repository of information 
about quality management or employment strategies and practices, 
including--
    (i) Expected features and capabilities, including information-
delivery and stakeholder-convening technologies; and
    (ii) Anticipated uses of such features and capabilities in support 
of the project goals and objectives.

[[Page 19916]]

    (2) Comprehensive review. Applicants must describe how the 
comprehensive review will provide the factual basis for the project 
training and technical assistance plan. At a minimum, the comprehensive 
review must include--
    (i) Input from State VR agencies about their needs, priorities, and 
innovative approaches to program and resource management that lead to 
improved service delivery;
    (ii) Information regarding the latest--
    (A) National trends, barriers, challenges, and opportunities;
    (B) Effective and efficient program and resource management 
strategies, techniques, and practices that may be applicable to State 
VR agencies; and
    (C) Additional information that the applicant deems relevant;
    (iii) An analytical framework for assessing the collected 
information and selecting the program and resource management 
strategies and practices for inclusion in the training and technical 
assistance plans.
    (3) Provision of intensive training and technical assistance. 
Applicants must describe how the intensive training and technical 
assistance agreements will increase State VR agencies' capacity to 
improve the State VR agencies' performance and quality employment 
outcomes for individuals with disabilities, through State-appropriate--
    (i) Program and resource management;
    (ii) Federal, State, and local partnerships; and
    (iii) Performance outcomes, outputs, inputs, targets, baselines, 
and data collection requirements.
    (4) Provision of targeted training and technical assistance and 
universal training and technical assistance. Applicants must describe 
how each training and technical assistance modality (targeted or 
universal) will help State VR agencies to adopt, expand, and sustain 
program and resource management practices. For each training and 
technical assistance modality, describe--
    (i) Topics, activities, and products;
    (ii) Intended audience and outreach strategies;
    (iii) Content delivery and dissemination methods; and
    (iv) Steps to ensure quality, relevance, and usefulness.
    (5) Coordination. The applicant must describe how it will maximize 
coordination between the VRTAC-QE and the VRTAC-QM and seek 
opportunities to coordinate with other training and technical 
assistance investments, including those funded by the U.S. Departments 
of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services, in the provision of 
training and technical assistance to State VR agencies.
    (6) National conference, regional forums, or specialized meetings 
in the fifth year of the grant performance period. Applicants must 
describe how the project will disseminate its summative findings and 
results, including cost-effective approaches such as virtual convenings 
to engage State VR agencies and other potential Federal, State, local, 
and nongovernment partners, including--
    (i) Types of events (e.g., conferences, forums, specialized 
meetings);
    (ii) Target audience (e.g., by event type); and
    (iii) Convening modes (in-person, virtual); and
    (c) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of the Evaluation Plan,'' the applicant's capacity and 
experience in addressing the State VR agencies' training and technical 
assistance needs in the areas of program and resource management, 
including but not limited to strategic planning and performance 
improvement leading to performance improvement, including SWOT 
assessment related to implementing strategies that ensure education 
funds are spent in a way that increases their efficiency and cost-
effectiveness, including by reducing waste or achieving better 
outcomes.
    Additional Proposed Application Requirements for Proposed Priority 
2: The following proposed application requirements apply only to 
proposed priority 2. RSA encourages innovative approaches to meet these 
requirements. Applicants must--
    (a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Significance of the Project,'' how the proposed project will increase 
State VR agencies' capacity to improve the quality of VR services and 
employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities by enabling VR 
agencies to develop and implement innovative employment and support 
strategies that are designed to improve employment outcomes and career 
advancement for individuals with disabilities. To meet this 
requirement, the applicant must demonstrate knowledge about--
    (1) State VR program challenges, opportunities, barriers, and 
trends regarding program and resource management or quality employment 
outcomes for individuals with disabilities including those with 
significant and the most significant disabilities, students and youth 
with disabilities, and traditionally underserved populations; and
    (2) Federal, State, and nongovernment initiatives to promote 
program and resource management and quality employment outcomes for 
individuals with disabilities, particularly in response to requirements 
under WIOA. The applicants must demonstrate--
    (i) The proposed project's potential to contribute to these 
Federal, State, and nongovernment initiatives by assisting State VR 
agencies in equipping personnel with the necessary skills and training 
to implement the substantive provisions of the Rehabilitation Act 
introduced by WIOA that are designed to improve the quality of 
employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities; and
    (ii) How the proposed project will increase State VR agencies' 
capacity to implement employment strategies and supporting practices 
leading to improved VR services, employment outcomes, and career 
advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities
    (b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application, under 
``Quality of Project Services,'' how the proposed project will achieve 
the goals, objectives, and intended outcomes of this priority. To meet 
this requirement, the applicant must describe its plan for implementing 
the project, including major implementation activities, timelines, and 
milestones (particularly for the initial fiscal year), as well as key 
assumptions and expectations, presumed relationships or linkages among 
variables, and underlying rationale and empirical support, for the 
following Project Requirements of the priority:
    (1) State-of-the-art website. Applicants must describe how the 
website will serve as an effective communication center, training and 
technical assistance delivery vehicle, and repository of information 
about quality management or employment strategies and practices, 
including--
    (i) Expected features and capabilities, including information-
delivery and stakeholder-convening technologies; and
    (ii) Anticipated uses of such features and capabilities in support 
of the project goals and objectives.
    (2) Comprehensive review. Applicants must describe how the 
comprehensive review will provide the factual basis for the project 
training and technical assistance plan. At a minimum, the comprehensive 
review must include--
    (i) Input from State VR agencies about their needs, priorities, and 
innovative approaches to program and resource management that lead to 
quality

[[Page 19917]]

employment and career-readiness that lead to quality employment 
outcomes;
    (ii) Information regarding the latest--
    (A) National trends, barriers, challenges, and opportunities;
    (B) Effective employment strategies and practices that prepare 
individuals with disabilities to compete in the global economy and 
designed to create or expand innovative and affordable paths to 
relevant careers through postsecondary credentials or job-ready skills; 
and
    (C) Additional information that the applicant deems relevant; and
    (iii) An analytical framework for assessing the collected 
information and selecting the employment and career-readiness 
strategies and practices for inclusion in the training and technical 
assistance plans.
    (3) Provision of intensive training and technical assistance. 
Applicants must describe how the intensive training and technical 
assistance agreements will increase State VR agencies' capacity to 
improve the State VR agencies' performance and quality employment 
outcomes for individuals with disabilities, through State-appropriate--
    (i) Employment strategies and supporting practices;
    (ii) Federal, State, and local partnerships; and
    (iii) Performance outcomes, outputs, inputs, targets, baselines, 
and data collection requirements.
    (4) Provision of targeted training and technical assistance and 
universal training and technical assistance. Applicants must describe 
how each training and technical assistance modality (targeted or 
universal) will help State VR agencies to adopt, expand, and sustain 
employment strategies and practices that improve employment outcomes 
and career advancement opportunities for eligible VR participants. For 
each training and technical assistance modality, describe--
    (i) Topics, activities, and products;
    (ii) Intended audience and outreach strategies;
    (iii) Content delivery and dissemination methods; and
    (iv) Steps to ensure quality, relevance, and usefulness.
    (5) Coordination. The applicant must describe how it will maximize 
coordination between the VRTAC-QE and the VRTAC-QM and seek 
opportunities to coordinate with other technical assistance centers, 
including those funded by the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and 
Health and Human Services, in the provision of training and technical 
assistance to State VR agencies.
    (6) National conference, regional forums, or specialized meetings 
in the fifth year of the grant performance period. Applicants must 
describe how the project will disseminate its summative findings and 
results, including cost-effective approaches such as virtual convenings 
to engage State VR agencies and other potential Federal, State, local, 
and nongovernment partners, including--
    (i) Types of events (e.g., conferences, forums, specialized 
meetings);
    (ii) Target audience (e.g., by event type); and
    (iii) Convening modes (in-person, virtual).
    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)(a)); 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 Definitions

    Background: We propose the following definitions for use with these 
proposed priorities. We propose these definitions to ensure that 
applicants have a clear understanding of how we are using these terms.
    Intensive training and technical assistance means training and 
technical assistance provided to State VR agencies and State VR agency 
personnel primarily on-site over an extended period. Intensive training 
and technical assistance is based on an ongoing relationship between 
the training and technical assistance center staff and State VR 
agencies and State VR agency personnel under the terms of a signed 
intensive training and technical assistance agreement.
    Targeted training and technical assistance means training and 
technical assistance based on needs common to one or more State VR 
agencies and State VR agency personnel on a time-limited basis and with 
limited commitment of training and technical assistance center 
resources. Targeted training and technical assistance are delivered 
through virtual or in-person methods tailored to the identified needs 
of the participating State VR agencies and State VR agency personnel.
    Universal training and technical assistance means training and 
technical assistance broadly available to State VR agencies and State 
VR agency personnel and other interested parties through their own 
initiative, resulting in minimal interaction with training and 
technical assistance center staff. Universal training and technical 
assistance includes generalized presentations, products, and related 
activities available through a website or through brief contacts with 
the training and technical assistance center staff.
    Final Priorities, Requirements, and Definitions: We will announce 
the final priorities, requirements, and definitions in a notice in the 
Federal Register. We will determine the final priorities, requirements, 
and definitions after considering responses to the proposed priorities, 
requirements, and definitions and other information available to the 
Department. This document does not preclude us from proposing 
additional priorities, requirements, definitions, or selection 
criteria, subject to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.
    Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in 
which we choose to use these priorities, requirements, or definitions, 
we invite applications through a notice in the Federal Register.

Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 13771

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 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 $100 million or more, 
or adversely affect a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, 
jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or 
Tribal governments or

[[Page 19918]]

communities in a material way (also referred to as an ``economically 
significant'' rule);
    (2) Create 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 arising out of legal 
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles stated in the 
Executive order.
    OMB has determined that this proposed regulatory action is not a 
significant regulatory action subject to review by OMB under section 
3(f) of Executive Order 12866.
    Under Executive Order 13771, for each new rule that the Department 
proposes for notice and comment or otherwise promulgates that is a 
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866 and that 
imposes total costs greater than zero, it must identify two 
deregulatory actions. For FY 2020, any new incremental costs associated 
with a new rule must be fully offset by the elimination of existing 
costs through deregulatory actions. However, Executive Order 13771 does 
not apply to ``transfer rules'' that cause only income transfers 
between taxpayers and program beneficiaries, such as those regarding 
discretionary grant programs. Because the proposed priorities, 
requirements, and definitions would be utilized in connection with a 
discretionary grant program, Executive Order 13771 does not apply.
    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. 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.'' The Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB 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 the proposed priorities, requirements, and 
definitions only on a reasoned determination that their benefits 
justify their costs. In choosing among alternative regulatory 
approaches, we selected those approaches that 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 have also determined that this regulatory action does 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. 
The costs would include the time and effort in responding to the 
priority for entities that choose to respond.
    In addition, we have considered the potential benefits of this 
regulatory action and have noted these benefits in the background 
section of this document. The benefits include receiving comments 
regarding the best way to prioritize among VR agencies needing 
intensive TA and whether the activities identified reflect the greatest 
needs in the field.

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 these proposed priorities, requirements, and definitions 
easier to understand, including answers to questions such as the 
following:
     Are the requirements in the proposed regulations clearly 
stated?
     Do the proposed regulations contain technical terms or 
other wording that interferes with their clarity?
     Does the format of the proposed regulations (grouping and 
order of sections, use of headings, paragraphing, etc.) aid or reduce 
their clarity?
     Would the proposed regulations be easier to understand if 
we divided them into more (but shorter) sections?
     Could the description of the proposed regulations in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the preamble be more helpful in 
making the proposed regulations easier to understand? If so, how?
     What else could we do to make the proposed regulations 
easier to understand?
    To send any comments that concern how the Department could make 
these proposed regulations easier to understand, see the instructions 
in the ADDRESSES section.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification: The Secretary certifies 
that this proposed regulatory action would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The U.S. 
Small Business Administration Size Standards define proprietary 
institutions as small businesses if they are independently owned and 
operated, are not dominant in their field of operation, and have total 
annual revenue below $7,000,000. Nonprofit institutions are defined as 
small entities if they are independently owned and operated and not 
dominant in their field of operation. Public institutions are defined 
as small organizations if they are operated by a government overseeing 
a population below 50,000.
    The small entities that this proposed regulatory action would 
affect are public or private nonprofit agencies and organizations, 
including Indian Tribes and institutions of higher education that may 
apply. We believe that the costs imposed on an applicant by the 
proposed priorities, requirements, and definitions would be limited to 
paperwork burden related to preparing an application and that the 
benefits of these proposed priorities, requirements, and definitions 
would outweigh any costs incurred by the applicant. There are very few 
entities who could provide the type of technical assistance required 
under the proposed priorities. For these reasons these proposed 
priorities,

[[Page 19919]]

requirements, and definitions would not impose a burden on a 
significant number of small entities.
    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995: The proposed priorities, 
requirements, and definitions contain information collection 
requirements that are approved by OMB under OMB control number 1820-
0018.
    Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 385. 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.

Assessment of Educational Impact

    In accordance with section 411 of the General Education Provisions 
Act, 20 U.S.C. 1221e-4, the Secretary particularly requests comments on 
whether these proposed regulations would require transmission of 
information that any other agency or authority of the United States 
gathers or makes available.
    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 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.

Mark Schultz,
Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration. Delegated the 
authority to perform the functions and duties of the Assistant 
Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 2020-07402 Filed 4-8-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P