[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 23228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9308]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Submission for OMB Review; Evaluation of State Vocational 
Rehabilitation Agency Administration of Supported Employment Programs

SUMMARY: The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program provides a wide 
range of services to help individuals with disabilities to prepare for 
and engage in gainful employment. Eligible individuals are those who 
have a physical or mental impairment that results in a substantial 
impediment to employment, who can benefit from VR services for 
employment, and who require VR services.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
May 18, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding burden and/or the collection 
activity requirements should be electronically mailed to 
ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or mailed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Copies of the 
proposed information collection request may be accessed from http://edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the ``Browse Pending Collections'' link 
and by clicking on link number 04796. When you access the information 
collection, click on ``Download Attachments'' to view. Written requests 
for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 
400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Requests may 
also be electronically mailed to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed to 202-
401-0920. Please specify the complete title of the information 
collection and OMB Control Number when making your request.
    Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-
8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35) requires that Federal agencies provide 
interested parties an early opportunity to comment on information 
collection requests. The Acting Director, Information Collection 
Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management 
Services, Office of Management, publishes this notice containing 
proposed information collection requests at the beginning of the 
Departmental review of the information collection. The Department of 
Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper 
functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and 
used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) 
how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department 
minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including 
through the use of information technology. Please note that written 
comments received in response to this notice will be considered public 
records.
    Title of Collection: Evaluation of State Vocational Rehabilitation 
Agency Administration of Supported Employment Programs.
    OMB Control Number: Pending.
    Type of Review: New.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 80.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 249.
    Abstract: If a State is unable to serve all eligible individuals, 
priority must be given to serving individuals with the most significant 
disabilities. The program is funded through formula-based grants 
awarded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to State VR 
agencies to receive funding from the basic Title I formula grant 
program.
    The Supported Employment (SE) Grant Program provides funding to 
assist States in developing and implementing collaborative programs 
with appropriate entities to provide SE services to individuals with 
the most significant disabilities who require SE services to achieve 
employment outcomes under Title VI Part B of the Rehabilitation Act for 
the SE State Grants Program. SE funds are used to supplement funds 
provided under the State VR grants program for the cost of providing SE 
services. Funds cannot be used to provide extended services necessary 
to maintain individuals in employment after the end of SE services, 
which usually do not exceed 18 months.
    RSA proposes to conduct a national survey of all 80 state VR 
agencies. RSA seeks to evaluate how State VR agencies implement 
supported employment services for individuals with disabilities, how 
state VR agencies use Title VI Part B funds in conjunction with Title I 
funds to fund supported employment programs, and whether State VR 
agencies are effective in obtaining supported employment outcomes for 
individuals with disabilities. The evaluation also seeks to identify 
the factors that contribute to successful supported employment 
outcomes.
    RSA will address the following objectives:
     Identify agency practices with respect to providing SE 
services;
     Determine how agencies use Title VI-B, Title I and other 
funds to provide SE; and
     Determine how agency practices affect the achievement of 
SE outcomes.

    Dated: April 13, 2012.
Tomakie Washington,
Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, 
Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2012-9308 Filed 4-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P