[Federal Register: July 17, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 137)]
[Notices]
[Page 38417-38420]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17jy97-138]
[[Page 38417]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part IV
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
Rehabilitation Short-Term Training; Notices
[[Page 38418]]
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
RIN 1820-ZA09
Rehabilitation Short-Term Training
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of final priority for fiscal year 1997.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Secretary announces a final funding priority for fiscal
year 1997 under the Rehabilitation Short-Term Training program. The
Secretary takes this action in order to improve the leadership among
top-level managers and administrators of the State Vocational
Rehabilitation (VR) Services program.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This priority takes effect on August 18, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sylvia Johnson, U.S. Department of
Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 330 Switzer Building,
Washington, DC 20202-2649. Telephone: (202) 205-9312. Deaf and hearing
impaired individuals may call (202) 205-8133 for TDD services.
Internet: Sylvia__Johnson@ed.gov
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains a final priority under
the Rehabilitation Short-Term Training program. This program supports
special seminars, institutes, workshops, and other short-term courses
in technical matters relating to vocational, medical, social, and
psychological rehabilitation programs, independent living services
programs, and client assistance programs.
On May 20, 1997 the Secretary published a notice of proposed
priority for this program in the Federal Register (62 FR 27680).
Note: This notice of final priority does not solicit
applications. A notice inviting applications under this competition
is published in a separate notice in this issue of the Federal
Register.
Analysis of Comments and Changes
In response to the Secretary's invitation in the notice of proposed
priority, seven parties submitted comments. An analysis of the comments
and of the changes in the priority since publication of the notice of
proposed priority follows. Technical and other minor changes--and
suggested changes the Secretary is not legally authorized to make under
the applicable statutory authority--are not addressed.
Comment: Two commenters identified two specific issues--increasing
client choice and relationships with private sector rehabilitation--
that should be included as focal points in the development of
leadership training.
Discussion: The Secretary agrees with the importance of both of
these topics to the public program of vocational rehabilitation. The
first, client choice, was recommended as an example of an issue to be
addressed in the proposed priority. The issue of private sector
relationships was not used as an example, but the Secretary points out
that there may be many issues of high importance to the public
vocational rehabilitation program, and opinions will differ as to which
is more important. That is why the advisory committee for the
leadership institute is charged with final selection of issues that the
institute will address through its training. Given the diversity of
views reflected on the advisory committee, the most critical issues
should surface as the appropriate foci for the institute. Increasing
client choice and relationships with private sector rehabilitation may
be among them.
Changes: None.
Comment: Two commenters suggested that private sector
rehabilitation professionals be included as training participants.
Discussion: The Secretary points out that the priority was
established in response to a specific need for training of public
vocational rehabilitation professionals and their unique needs. The
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) recently established 10
community rehabilitation program continuing education centers. These
centers train staff of community rehabilitation programs that have a
service arrangement with a State vocational rehabilitation agency to
provide services to individuals with disabilities served by the State
agency. These centers provide a broad, integrated sequence of training
activities on a variety of issues, which may include leadership
training.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter pointed out that in-service training grants
would already have been awarded, along with negotiated three-year
budgets, and suggested that RSA should allow flexibility in
renegotiating in-service training grants to help pay for the States'
share of leadership training activities.
Discussion: The Secretary makes clear that the institute is
responsible for determining the fee for each participant in the
leadership training program. The Secretary did not specify that States
must use dollars from their in-service training grants for this
purpose. It is up to each State to determine how it will meet the
mandatory participant fee established by the institute.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter suggested that, since the proposed
leadership institute must coordinate with State VR in-service training
programs and Rehabilitation Continuing Education Programs (RCEPs), they
should be represented on the advisory committee.
Discussion: The Secretary agrees that the perspective from both the
in-service training program and the RCEPs should be represented on the
advisory committee as they are a very significant source of training
for State agency staff. State VR agency administrators are represented
on the proposed advisory committee, but the Secretary agrees that it
also would be important to include the State VR agency training
specialist perspective. Likewise, RCEP representation was not
specifically mentioned in the priority, but the Secretary agrees it
should also be included.
Changes: The priority has been changed to require the inclusion of
both RCEP and State agency training specialist representation on the
advisory committee.
Comment: Two commenters identified specific models of leadership
(e.g., Total Quality Management, the Bass Model of Transformational
Leadership, or models that focus on behavioral characteristics of
leadership) that should be incorporated into the activities of the
leadership institute.
Discussion: The Secretary agrees that there are many excellent
models of leadership training that could be incorporated into the
training curricula of the institute. It is the Secretary's expectation
that applicants for this institute will propose those that are most
appropriate for leaders in the field of rehabilitation. Peer reviewers
will consider the appropriateness of models in assessing the
applications.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter suggested that the competition should
include an efficient means for determining whether the leadership
models selected for the training institute apply to the field of
rehabilitation.
Discussion: As previously noted, the Secretary expects that the
applicants will propose leadership models that are most appropriate for
the field of rehabilitation. In addition, the Secretary points out that
the selection criteria for the Short-Term Training program include
``Relevance to the State-Federal rehabilitation service program.''
Within the context of the purpose of the grant, leadership training for
public vocational
[[Page 38419]]
rehabilitation administrators, this should adequately address the
concern.
Changes: None.
Comment: Two commenters suggested specific training approaches
(e.g., mentoring, distance learning, competency based training) that
should be incorporated into the curriculum of leadership training.
Discussion: The Secretary agrees that there are many excellent
training approaches that could be incorporated into the curriculum of
the leadership institute. It is the Secretary's expectation that
applicants will propose those that are most appropriate for their
particular project.
Changes: None.
Comment: Two commenters suggested that training should support the
needs of mid-level managers and supervisors in addition to top-level
managers and administrators.
Discussion: The Secretary believes that supervisory and mid-level
management training is different from leadership training--supervision
and mid-level management relate more generally to improving day-to-day
performance while leadership training moves groups of employees in new
directions and toward realizing organizational visions. The current
system of RCEPs and in-service training can provide supervisory
training. The leadership institute will focus on leadership training
for top-level managers and administrators.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter suggested that the priority should require
more than one leadership institute.
Discussion: The Secretary has determined that in order to ensure
consistency of training and to ensure consistent substantial
involvement of the Department with the institute, one leadership
institute best meets the Department's needs. The Secretary also points
out that an advisory committee, jointly selected by RSA and the
institute, will be selected specifically to maintain the responsiveness
of the institute and to keep it current in its content and approach.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter suggested that the background section of the
priority should recognize the need for improving processes in order to
achieve high quality outcomes.
Discussion: The Secretary believes that the substance of the
comment is consistent with the intent of the statements in the
background section. The context of the wording makes clear that State
agency emphasis should be placed on outcome. This is consistent with
both the current wording of the priority and the comment.
Changes: None.
Priority
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and section 302(a)(1) of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Secretary gives an absolute
preference to applications that meet the following priority. The
Secretary funds under this competition only applications that meet this
absolute priority:
National Rehabilitation Leadership Institute
Background
The Secretary has determined that it is in the best interest of the
State VR Services program to develop one national leadership training
institute that focuses on leadership skills as applied to the unique
issues facing State VR agencies. Progressive levels of training are
needed to meet the varying needs of top-level managers and
administrators. An advisory committee will provide input into the
curriculum and direction concerning which issues the institute will
address. Participating State agencies will be required to provide some
degree of support to the program, as determined by the institute. The
institute will evaluate its performance and report on progress
annually. The notice of proposed priority published on May 20, 1997 in
the Federal Register (62 FR 27680) includes more detail on the
background related to this priority.
Priority
The Secretary will establish a National Rehabilitation Leadership
Institute that will focus on developing the leadership skills of top-
level managers and administrators in State VR agencies. The project
must have plans for addressing the leadership needs in all VR agencies
funded under the Act.
The project must employ a curriculum that focuses on the
development of leadership skills and on the application of those skills
to current challenges and issues in the VR program. The project must be
capable of structuring leadership curricula around current VR issues of
national significance, such as using VR standards and indicators to
assess and improve agency performance, coordinating effectively with
generic employment and training programs, and increasing client choice.
Actual issues will be determined by the advisory committee (described
later in this notice) and the Secretary.
The project must employ a curriculum that includes several levels
of training to meet the needs of audiences ranging from new State
administrators and directors to seasoned administrators and directors.
The project's curriculum must include sequential courses that allow for
repeated practice of newly learned skills over time, with performance
feedback. The project must provide training in a peer setting.
The project must coordinate its training activities with activities
conducted under the State VR In-Service Training program and the
Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program. These programs are also
charged with improving the leadership skills of State agency personnel.
Therefore, collaboration and coordination are necessary.
The project must establish an advisory committee that includes RSA
central and regional office representatives, representatives of State
VR agency administrators and trainers, rehabilitation counselors, VR
clients, Regional Continuing Education Centers, other educators and
trainers of VR personnel, and others as determined to be appropriate by
the grantee and RSA. This committee must provide substantial input on
and direction to the training curriculum, including the specific VR
issues to be incorporated.
The project must include an evaluation component based upon clear,
specific performance and outcome measures. The results must be reported
in its annual progress report.
The project must provide for some degree of participant
contribution to training costs.
Goals 2000: Educate America Act
The Goals 2000: Educate America Act (Goals 2000) focuses the
Nation's education reform efforts on the eight National Education Goals
and provides a framework for meeting them. Goals 2000 promotes new
partnerships to strengthen schools and expands the Department's
capacities for helping communities to exchange ideas and obtain
information needed to achieve the goals.
This final priority would address the National Education Goal that
every adult American will be literate and will possess the knowledge
and skills necessary to compete in a global economy and exercise the
rights and responsibilities of citizenship. The final priority furthers
the objectives of this Goal by focussing available funds on projects
that improve the leadership skills of top administrators of State VR
agencies, which will improve the
[[Page 38420]]
responsiveness of the VR system to adults with disabilities and their
vocational pursuits.
Intergovernmental Review
This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. The objective of the
Executive order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a
strengthened federalism by relying on processes developed by State and
local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal
financial assistance.
In accordance with the order, this document is intended to provide
early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for
this program.
Applicable Program Regulations
34 CFR Parts 385 and 390.
Authority: 29 U.S.C. 774.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 84.246D,
Rehabilitation Short-Term Training)
Dated: July 14, 1997.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 97-18928 Filed 7-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P