Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Title 92 - NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Chapter 72 - VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES
Section 92-72-010 - Vocational Training
Current through March 20, 2024
010.01 Purpose
Vocational training services enable individuals with disabilities to acquire the qualifications required for employment in their agreed-on employment goals. Vocational training is an appropriate service when it will enable the recipient to acquire necessary qualifications to enter employment in the trade, occupation, or profession that is the employment goal, and when it (alone or in combination with other vocational rehabilitation services) will resolve the recipient's impediments to employment. Employment qualifications include those academic requirements necessary to meet state or local registration, certification, or licensing requirements to practice the trade, occupation, or profession. Qualifications for employment or hire in the specific employment outcome in the recipient's approved Individualized Plan for Employment determine the type and level of vocational training required.
010.02 Vocational Training Defined
As used in this section, vocational training includes:
010.03 Scope
The scope of vocational training services includes, as appropriate to the recipient and the specific employment outcome in the recipient's approved Individualized Plan for Employment, the provision of training services and related supports to prepare for and take licensing or certification examinations required for the practice of the trade, occupation, or profession and remedy deficiencies in prerequisite course requirements necessary for acceptance into post-secondary training programs.
010.04 Expectation of Completion
The need for vocational training services must be established, based on an analysis of hiring qualification requirements for the employment goal in the local labor market or a labor market to which the recipient is willing to relocate, and the recipient's current level of vocational qualifications and functioning. In addition, there must be a reasonable expectation of successfully completing training, based on an analysis of indicators of training success such as past academic achievement or test results relating to:
010.05 Admission Requirements
Recipients must meet academic and other established requirements for admission into a post-secondary training program.
010.06 Graduate Training Requirements
Before post-secondary training beyond the bachelor's level may be provided, recipients must apply for admission to both the school and the graduate program. Recipients who have been denied admission to the school and/or the graduate program will not be eligible for program financial assistance.
010.07 Comparable Services
There must be a full search for and use of comparable services and benefits. If training will be provided in an institution of higher education, there must be maximum efforts by the program and the recipient to secure grant assistance in whole or in part from other sources including filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the United States Department of Education.
010.08 Timelines
To receive consideration for program financial assistance, recipients must have clearly indicated their choice of attending post secondary training or miscellaneous training-skill building in a time frame that allows program staff reasonable time to obtain financial aid information, cost of attendance information, and approve the Individualized Plan for Employment prior to the first day of school.
010.09 Increased Living Costs, Childcare, Occupational Tools and Transportation
If required to enable the recipient to participate in post-secondary training, financial assistance with the cost of training-related increased living costs, childcare expenses, occupational tools and transportation (in addition to the financial assistance for tuition, fee, textbooks, and supplies) may be provided if unmet need will not be exceeded.
010.10 The actual cost of tuition, fees, textbooks, and supplies may be provided if the recipient is attending Gallaudet or the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, the Southwest Institute of the Deaf or any other educational institution determined by the Director to provide a comparable level of educational support as the post-secondary institutions specifically mentioned herein.
010.11 Reasonable Progress
Recipients in vocational training programs must maintain reasonable progress, according to progress criteria stated in their Individualized Plans for Employment.
010.12 Congressional Intent
Congress intended that program recipients avail themselves of the numerous grant and student assistance programs which are available to pay for higher education before program funds are used to pay these costs. A decision to use program funds must be consistent with the intent that program resources be used as a last resort to pay for training in institutions of higher education.
010.13 Financial Aid Information
Before the amount of vocational rehabilitation financial assistance can be determined and authorized, the program must receive from the financial aid office of the school the recipient will be attending the information in subsections 010.13A - D below. If attending a school and program eligible to offer federal financial aid, the client must file a FAFSA with the United States Department of Education.
010.14 Unmet Need Limitation
There are no circumstances under which the program can provide financial assistance exceeding the amount of unmet need determined by the school's financial aid office.
010.15 Post-Secondary Training Financial Assistance Rates
Program financial assistance for training costs which include tuition, fees, textbooks and required consumable supplies shall be available at the amounts in Appendix B.
010.16 Maximum Credit Hours of Assistance for Post-secondary Training
The maximum credit hours of assistance for which the program will provide financial assistance is the number of credit hours required by the educational institution for the agreed upon program of study. The following credit hours, regardless of the funding source, shall count toward the maximum credit hours for their program of study.
010.17 Remedial or Developmental Classes
Limited program financial assistance is available for remedial or developmental classes. Remedial or developmental classes shall mean those classes designed to increase the ability of a recipient to pursue a course of study leading to a certificate or degree. Program financial assistance will only be provided for a maximum of six (6) semester hours or nine (9) quarter hours for remedial or developmental class hours. Costs for all remedial or developmental class hours in excess of six (6) semester hours or nine (9) quarter hours will be the recipient's responsibility.
010.18 Exceptions
Office Directors have the authority and discretion to make reasonable exceptions to the program financial assistance provisions in this section that do not exceed unmet need based on individual circumstances. Exceptions may be granted if the Office Director determines there is no alternative to addressing a recipient's need for vocational training necessary to achieve the employment outcome on the recipient's approved Individualized Plan for Employment.