[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 130 (Wednesday, July 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37016-37020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18057]
[[Page 37015]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part III
Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________
Systems-Change Projects To Expand Employment Opportunities for
Individuals With Mental or Physical Disabilities, or Both, Who Receive
Public Support; Notices
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 130 / Wednesday, July 8, 1998 /
Notices
[[Page 37016]]
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
RIN 1820-ZA11
Systems-Change Projects To Expand Employment Opportunities for
Individuals With Mental or Physical Disabilities, or Both, Who Receive
Public Support
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of a final priority and definitions for fiscal year (FY)
1998 and subsequent years.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary announces a final priority and definitions for
Systems-Change Projects To Expand Employment Opportunities for
Individuals With Mental or Physical Disabilities, or Both, Who Receive
Public Support. The Secretary may use this priority and these
definitions for competitions in FY 1998 and subsequent fiscal years.
The Secretary takes this action to focus attention on an area of
national need. The priority is intended to enhance collaboration in
existing systems to increase competitive employment opportunities for
individuals with disabilities who are participants in public support
programs funded by Federal, State, and local agencies.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This priority and definitions take effect August 7,
1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pedro Romero, U.S. Department of
Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 3316, MES Building,
Washington, D.C. 20202-2650. Telephone: (202) 205-9797. Individuals who
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding
paragraph.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains a final priority and
definitions for Systems-Change Projects To Expand Employment
Opportunities for Individuals With Mental or Physical Disabilities, or
Both, Who Receive Public Support. The authority for these projects is
contained in section 12(a)(3) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended (the Act) (29 U.S.C. 762(b)(3)). Under this competition the
Secretary makes awards to consortiums consisting of, at a minimum, the
State vocational rehabilitation agency, the State welfare agency, the
State educational agency, the State agency responsible for
administering the Medicaid program, and an agency administering an
employment or employment training program supported by the U.S.
Department of Labor.
On May 20, 1998, the Secretary published a notice of a proposed
priority and definitions for this program in the Federal Register (63
FR 27806).
Analysis of Comments and Changes
In response to the Secretary's invitation in the notice of proposed
priority and definitions, 14 parties submitted comments. An analysis of
the comments and of the changes in the priority since publication of
the notice of proposed priority and definitions 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 stated that the priority should target
specific sub-groups of individuals with disabilities. One commenter
suggested that the priority specifically target adults with
disabilities who are on public assistance but not eligible for
assistance under Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). The
other commenter recommended that the priority target hard-to-employ
recipients of TANF.
Discussion: The Secretary believes that applicants should have the
flexibility to identify the specific groups they wish to target under
their proposed project as long as the targeted populations are
comprised of individuals with disabilities who participate in public
support programs funded by Federal, State, and local agencies.
Changes: None.
Comment: Two commenters stated that coordination between the
Department of Education and both the Social Security Administration and
the Department of Labor would enhance the priority. One of the
commenters stated that there is a need for coordination between these
projects and similar systems-change projects that will be funded by the
Social Security Administration.
Discussion: The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services, Department of Education (ED/OSERS), the Social Security
Administration, Office of Disability (SSA/OD), the Department of Labor,
and other Federal agencies are members of the Systems-Change
Interagency Workgroup, which was established by ED/OSERS in accordance
with Executive Order 13078, to develop barrier removal strategies and
assist in the preparation of this priority. Additionally, SSA/OD is
using this same priority language in a SSA/OD priority to support
similar systems-change projects. ED/OSERS, SSA/OD, Labor, and the other
Interagency Workgroup members will provide both the ED/OSERS and SSA/OD
projects with ongoing technical assistance to ensure their success.
Finally, projects supported by either agency will be required to
develop partnership agreements with the local district offices of SSA
and must participate in meetings of the Federal Interagency Workgroup--
activities that will foster further coordination and collaboration
between the projects and the Federal agencies.
Changes: None.
Comment: Two commenters suggested that educational institutions be
involved in project activities.
Discussion: The Secretary agrees that input provided by the
educational community is essential to any systems-change effort.
For that reason the priority as written requires that consortiums
include a State's educational agency. In addition, consortiums have the
discretion to include educational institutions as consortium members or
partners, if those institutions would be able to effectively assist in
removing barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter stated that a consortium of non-profit
organizations representing all individuals with disabilities should be
empowered to lead projects funded under this priority.
Discussion: The Secretary believes that the State agencies
administering public support programs and identified in this priority
as required consortium members are most able to effectuate systems-
change across State programs. Still, the Secretary encourages project
participation by non-profit organizations that represent individuals
with disabilities. Such organizations may assist consortiums, either as
members or partners, in identifying systemic barriers and in developing
and implementing strategies to remove those barriers.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter suggested that the Secretary clarify the
reference to ``employment and training organizations funded by the U.S.
Department of Labor'' under paragraph C(1) by requiring projects to
develop partnership agreements specifically with community-based and
other non-
[[Page 37017]]
profit employment and training organizations supported by the U.S.
Department of Labor.
Discussion: The Secretary agrees that the suggested change is
warranted.
Changes: The Secretary has revised paragraph C(1) by clarifying
that projects may develop partnership agreements with community-based
and other non-profit employment and training organizations funded by
the U.S. Department of Labor.
Comment: Two commenters indicated that consumer involvement must be
required in order to achieve meaningful and lasting results.
Discussion: The Secretary agrees that consumer involvement is
essential to the success of projects funded under this priority and
that the priority should better reflect the need for individuals with
disabilities to participate in the development of project activities.
Changes: The Secretary has amended paragraph A to require that
consortiums establish a Consumer Advisory Board consisting of
individuals with disabilities and their representatives. This Board
shall assist the consortiums in developing, implementing, and
evaluating appropriate barrier-removal strategies.
Comment: One commenter expressed skepticism that the limited length
of time that will likely be available for preparing project
applications would allow for meaningful participation in the
development of applications by Advisory Councils to consortium members.
Discussion: The Secretary agrees that meaningful participation in
the development of the application by the Consortium members' Advisory
Councils may be hindered by limited preparation time.
Nevertheless, the Secretary expects Advisory Councils to
participate in developing applications to the extent possible and
intends to facilitate their involvement by directly mailing
applications to State agencies that have been identified as required
consortium members once the final priority is published and by
providing approximately two months for the development and submission
of the application. Moreover, the final priority will require that
Consumer Advisory Councils assist in developing barrier-removal
strategies and in implementing and evaluating those strategies
throughout the project period.
Changes: The Secretary has revised paragraph A(3) to require
consortiums to seek consumer input during development of the
application to the extent possible. In addition, paragraph A(5)
requires consortiums to establish a Consumer Advisory Board that will
assist in the development, implementation, and evaluation of barrier-
removal strategies.
Comment: Two commenters believed that projects should be required
to identify Federal-level barriers to employment and that the Federal
Government should address these barriers to facilitate the projects'
systems-change activities.
Discussion: Projects are not limited to identifying only State or
local agency policies, practices, procedures, or rules that inhibit
individuals with disabilities from becoming competitively employed.
Pursuant to Executive Order 13078, members of the Systems-Change
Interagency Workgroup will be working together to address Federal-level
barriers, including those identified by funded projects. Thus, the
Secretary encourages projects to identify Federal-level barriers to
employment for people with disabilities and present relevant
information to the Systems-Change Interagency Workgroup. Nevertheless,
the priority requires that projects focus on those policies and
practices with which the project can readily effectuate systems-change,
i.e., State or local policies within the control of consortium members.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter indicated that, although multiple State
involvement may be feasible in some regions, submissions should not be
given preference based on the number of States included in a given
proposal.
Discussion: The Secretary does not propose to give preference to
applications that serve multiple States.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter stated that the projects' focus on
``employment'' should include self-employment and small business
ownership for adults and youths.
Discussion: The Secretary emphasizes that projects are expected to
focus on increasing ``competitive employment'' opportunities for
individuals with disabilities. Accordingly, projects may assist
individuals with disabilities to achieve self-employment and small
business employment outcomes, as long as those outcomes would be
considered competitive, i.e., the individual earns at least minimum
wage and works in an integrated setting. The Secretary also believes
that the priority should be amended to better reflect the required
emphasis on competitive employment.
Changes: The Secretary has clarified the priority to require that
projects focus on increasing competitive employment opportunities for
individuals with disabilities. In addition the Secretary has added the
term competitive employment, as defined in 34 CFR 361.5(b)(10), to the
definition section of the priority.
Comment: One commenter stated that the external evaluation of
funded projects needs to focus intently on improvements in practices by
State agency staff.
Discussion: Projects funded under this priority must participate in
an external evaluation at the Federal level that, among other things,
will examine the effect of specific innovative systems-change
approaches and strategies on State or local agency policies, practices,
including staff practices across involved programs, and rules affecting
the employment of individuals with disabilities.
Changes: None.
Note: This notice of final priority does not solicit
applications. In any year in which the Secretary chooses to use this
priority, the Secretary invites applications through a notice in the
Federal Register. A notice inviting applications under this
competition is published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
Register.
Priority
Background
According to the 1994 Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities,
two-thirds of individuals with disabilities between the ages of 16 and
64 are not working. Many of these individuals receive financial support
or services through programs funded by Federal, State, and local
agencies. Examples of these programs include Temporary Aid to Needy
Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security
Disability Income (SSDI), Medicaid (including Medicaid waiver
programs), Medicare, subsidized housing, and food stamps.
Statistical data reveal that of the 32 percent of adult recipients
of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) who had a work or
functional disability, 15 percent were able to work despite their
functional limitations (National Health Interview Survey on Disability,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1994). Studies conducted
in Kansas and Washington indicate that up to 60 percent of the current
TANF recipients in those States have some type of disability. At the
same time, the TANF program requires recipients to work and also limits
the length of TANF assistance--recent developments that further
underscore the need to reduce barriers to employment confronted by
individuals with disabilities on public support.
[[Page 37018]]
In addition, the proportion of individuals with disabilities
receiving public support through SSI or SSDI continues to increase.
Over the past decade, the total number of SSI and SSDI beneficiaries
has doubled, and cash payments for these individuals increased to over
$55 billion (World Institute on Disability, 1996). Social Security
recipients often do not work since they would lose their Social
Security and Medicaid benefits if their earnings increased beyond a
threshold level. Thus, few individuals leave the Social Security
system. New adult SSI recipients receive benefits for an average of 10
years, whereas individuals who receive SSI benefits as children remain
on the rolls for an average of approximately 27 years (Rupp and Scott,
1995).
Many individuals participating in public support programs,
including the programs discussed previously, are unable to obtain the
services or supports they need to become competitively employed and
achieve economic independence. Employment training programs that serve
the general population, as well as employers themselves, are often
unable to meet the specialized needs of these individuals. In addition,
individuals with disabilities who are not eligible for State vocational
rehabilitation services, or who do not believe that they need a
comprehensive rehabilitation program, are still unlikely to receive
work-related services from employment training programs that serve the
general population. Consequently, many individuals with disabilities
who are capable of working essentially ``fall between the cracks.'' The
Secretary expects that the models developed under the priority will
demonstrate how employment training and other related programs can more
effectively coordinate services so that individuals with disabilities
can obtain competitive employment.
Seventy-nine percent of unemployed individuals with disabilities
have indicated that they would prefer to be working (Harris Survey,
1994). The combination of the high costs associated with living with a
disability, work-related expenses, and the reduction in public supports
available to persons once they become employed often dissuade
individuals with disabilities from pursuing competitive work. Some of
the specific barriers to the employment that individuals with
disabilities commonly confront include--
Lack of adequate health insurance (e.g., individuals' fear
of losing public health care coverage, inability to obtain private
medical insurance, or limited access to treatment and prescription
services)
Underutilization of existing work incentives from Social
Security and other State and local agencies (e.g., Plan for Achieving
Self Support (PASS), and Impairment Related Work Expenses, section 1619
a and b of the Social Security Act)
Lack of affordable, accessible housing and transportation
Insufficient education and training services
Lack of child care;
Inadequate supports for employees with disabilities (e.g.,
onsite and offsite job accommodations and long-term follow-along
services)
Inadequate supports for employers (e.g., incentives for
hiring, retaining, and promoting individuals with disabilities and
technical assistance and follow-along consultation to assist employers
in addressing the ongoing needs of employees with disabilities and to
clarify employer misperceptions and misinformation).
Lack of information and coordination of public support programs can
cause program-related barriers that inhibit individuals with
disabilities from effectively using available services. In many
instances, individuals with disabilities are simply unaware of existing
employment-related programs, work incentives, or available services.
Another common barrier is the lack of coordination between separate
programs with separate eligibility criteria even though the same
individuals often require services from each program. The Secretary
expects projects to address these types of program-related barriers, as
well as any other type of barrier that impedes individuals with
disabilities from becoming employed and self-sufficient.
There is a critical need for greater coordination between multiple
public programs that support individuals with disabilities that would
foster increased economic self-sufficiency and a more efficient use of
public resources. In an effort to address this need, the Secretary
announces the following priority in order to provide a framework for
assisting individuals with disabilities to reduce their reliance on
various public support programs and obtain and maintain employment in
the competitive labor market.
The requirements in the priority are designed to facilitate
systems-change projects that eliminate barriers to employment for
individuals with disabilities and are based on existing studies and
reports, the experiences of State vocational rehabilitation agencies in
working with individuals participating in other public support
programs, and on information provided by other Federal agencies that
administer disability-related programs. These Federal agencies were
particularly helpful in assisting the Secretary to identify the
employment-related barriers confronted by individuals with disabilities
that the Secretary is targeting through this priority and to identify
the types of State agencies whose participation in the project would be
most critical to eliminating those barriers. The identified State
agencies serve as members of a consortium that the systems-change
project establishes under paragraph (A) of the priority.
The Secretary emphasizes that the model systems-change projects
supported under this priority are part of a larger effort on the part
of the Federal Government to create a coordinated and aggressive
national policy to reduce the unemployment rate of individuals with
disabilities and to assist those individuals in obtaining competitive
jobs. This effort is directly reflected in Executive Order 13078,
signed on March 13, 1998, entitled ``Increasing Employment of Adults
With Disabilities'' (63 FR 13111, March 18, 1998). For example,
Executive Order 13078, in part, calls for an analysis of existing
programs and policies to determine what modifications and innovations
may be necessary to remove work-related barriers experienced by
individuals with disabilities; the development and recommendation of
options for eliminating barriers to health insurance coverage for those
with disabilities; and an analysis of work-related youth programs and
the outcomes of these programs for young people with disabilities. The
Secretary announces the following priority as one means of addressing
the purposes of Executive Order 13078. As other Federal agencies design
and carry out activities in response to the Executive order, it is
expected that many of those activities will complement the systems-
change projects funded under this priority.
The Secretary also emphasizes the need for projects supported under
this priority to begin implementing strategies for removing barriers
early in the project period in order for the project to have a
measurable effect on the rate by which individuals with disabilities
become competitively employed. For that reason, the Secretary expects
project recipients to work with Rehabilitation Services Administration
staff to ensure that planning steps, including development of
partnership
[[Page 37019]]
agreements and, if appropriate, submission of Medicaid waiver requests
under paragraph (C) of the priority, are promptly completed and that
projects begin implementing their barrier-removal strategies as soon as
possible.
The purpose of the absolute priority is to establish five-year
model demonstration projects that stimulate and advance systems change
in order to expand competitive employment outcomes for individuals with
mental or physical disabilities, or both, who are participants in
Federal, State, and local public support programs (e.g., TANF, SSI,
SSDI, Medicaid, Medicare, subsidized housing, and food stamps, etc.)
Absolute Priority
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) and section 12(a)(3) of the Act, 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:
A. General Requirements for Applicants
Applicants under this priority shall satisfy the following
requirements:
(1) Applicants shall form a consortium of, at a minimum, the State
vocational rehabilitation agency, the State welfare agency, the State
educational agency, the State agency responsible for administering the
Medicaid program, and an agency administering an employment or
employment training program supported by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Additional entities (e.g., public and private non-profit organizations)
that could effectively assist in removing barriers to employment for
individuals with disabilities also may be included as part of the
consortium.
(2) The members of the consortium shall either designate one of
their members to apply for the grant or establish a separate, eligible
legal entity to apply for the grant. The designated applicant shall
serve as the grantee and be legally responsible for the use of all
grant funds, overall fiscal and programmatic oversight of the project,
and for ensuring that the project is carried out by consortium members
in accordance with Federal requirements.
(3) Consortium members shall be substantially involved in the
development of the application. To the extent possible, consortiums
also shall involve consumers in the development of the application.
(4) The members of the consortium shall enter into an agreement
that details the activities that each member plans to perform and that
binds each member to the statements and assurances included in the
application. Each member is legally responsible for carrying out the
activities it agrees to perform and for using the funds that it
receives under the agreement in accordance with Federal requirements
that apply to the grant. The agreement must be submitted as part of the
application.
(5) Consortiums shall establish a Consumer Advisory Board
consisting of individuals with disabilities and, as appropriate, their
representatives that will assist in the development, implementation,
and evaluation of barrier-removal strategies.
(6) The application submitted under this priority also must
identify the specific locality or region that would be served by the
project.
B. Project Objectives
Projects supported under this priority must--
(1) Identify systemic barriers, including State or local agency
policies, practices, procedures, or rules that inhibit individuals with
disabilities who are participants in public support programs from
becoming competitively employed.
(2) Develop and implement replicable strategies to remove
identified barriers, including, at a minimum, strategies for--
(a) Establishing effective collaborative working relationships
among project consortium members and their partners as described in
paragraph (C)(1) of this priority (e.g., providing interagency staff
training and technical assistance on program requirements and services
or collaboratively using labor market and job vacancy information);
(b) Establishing coordinated service delivery systems (e.g., common
intake and referral procedures, customer databases, and resource
information) and developing innovative services and service approaches
that address service gaps (e.g., developing employee and employer
support networks);
(c) Improving access to health insurance for individuals with
disabilities who become employed;
(d) Increasing the use of existing resources by State and local
agencies (e.g., Medicaid waivers, Home Community Based Services
waivers, Job Training Partnership Act income exemptions, and work
incentive provisions such as Plan for Achieving Self Support);
(3) Design and implement an internal evaluation plan for which--
(a) The methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and
appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the project;
(b) The methods of evaluation provide for examining the
effectiveness of project implementation strategies;
(c) The methods of evaluation include the use of objective
performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes
of the project and will produce quantitative and qualitative data to
the extent possible;
(d) The methods of evaluation will provide performance feedback and
permit periodic assessment of progress toward achieving intended
outcomes; and
(e) The evaluation will provide guidance about effective strategies
suitable for replication or testing in other settings; and
(4) Disseminate information on effective systems-change approaches
developed under these projects to Federal, State, and local
stakeholders and facilitate the use of systems-change models in other
geographic areas. As examples, consortiums may make presentations
before national, State, or local conferences, consult with and provide
technical assistance to other States or localities, develop Internet
web sites, and distribute project publications.
C. Project Requirements
In carrying out the priority, the projects must--
(1) Develop partnership agreements, as described under DEFINITIONS,
with the local district offices of the Social Security Administration;
the State agency or agencies responsible for mental retardation,
developmental disabilities, and mental health services; existing
transportation or paratransit service providers; and appropriate public
and private sector employers. Partnerships also may be formed with
other appropriate entities identified by the consortium, including but
not limited to, Centers for Independent Living, consumer advocacy
organizations, economic development councils, Private Industry
Councils, Governor's committees on the employment of persons with
disabilities, developmental disabilities councils, mental health
centers, community rehabilitation programs, Indian Tribes, labor
unions, and community-based and other non-profit employment and
training organizations funded by the U.S. Department of Labor;
(2) Make timely, formal requests for Medicaid waivers if necessary
for projects to be able to implement developed strategies;
(3) Implement, in a timely manner, the strategies developed by the
project
[[Page 37020]]
to expand employment outcomes for individuals with mental or physical
disabilities, or both;
(4) Participate, as appropriate, in meetings of a Federal
Interagency Employment Initiative Workgroup and inform workgroup
members of project activities; and
(5) Participate in, and provide data for, an external evaluation of
the systems-change projects as directed by the Commissioner of the
Rehabilitation Services Administration. The evaluation would examine--
(a) The effect of specific innovative systems-change approaches and
strategies on State or local agency policies, practices, or rules
affecting the employment of individuals with disabilities;
(b) The effect of specific innovative systems-change approaches and
strategies on increasing the number of individuals with disabilities
who obtain competitive employment, including job retention, promotion,
and satisfaction, and wage growth; and
(c) The cost effectiveness of employment supports and services
implemented by the project.
Definitions
Competitive employment, as defined in 34 CFR 361.5(b)(10), means
work in the competitive labor market that is performed on a full-time
or part-time basis in an integrated setting, and for which an
individual is compensated at or above the minimum wage, but not less
than the customary wage and level of benefits paid by the employer for
the same or similar work performed by individuals who are not disabled.
Consortium means a group of eligible parties formed by the
applicant seeking a Federal award under this priority. Members of the
consortium shall enter into an agreement and carry out their
responsibilities consistent with the requirements in paragraph (A) of
the priority. Members of the consortium shall also ensure that project
partners carry out their agreed-upon activities.
Disability with respect to an individual means a physical or mental
impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life
activities of that individual, having a record of such an impairment,
or being regarded as having such an impairment.
Locality means specific geographical areas within a State or
States.
Partner means an entity with which the consortium has entered into
an agreement to carry out specific activities, goals, and objectives of
the project.
Partnership agreement means a written arrangement between a
consortium and its partners to carry out specific activities related to
the project.
Public support means Federal, State, and local public programs that
provide resources or services to individuals with disabilities. These
programs include, but are not limited to, Temporary Aid to Needy
Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security
Disability Income (SSDI), Medicaid (including Medicaid waiver
programs), Medicare, subsidized housing, and food stamps.
Region means two or more States participating in the project.
Selection Criteria
In evaluating an application for a new grant under this
competition, the Secretary uses selection criteria chosen from the
general selection criteria in Sec. 75.210 of the Education Department
General Administrative Regulations. The selection criteria to be used
for this competition will be provided in the application package for
this competition.
Electronic Access to This Document
Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or
portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the
following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html
To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with
Search, which is available free at either of the previous sites. If you
have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing
Office toll free at 1-888-293-6498.
Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under option
G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register.
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 addresses the National Education Goal that
every adult American, including individuals with disabilities, will
possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global
economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Executive Order 12866
This final priority has been reviewed in accordance with Executive
Order 12866. Under the terms of the order the Secretary has assessed
the potential costs and benefits of this regulatory action.
The Secretary has determined that there are no costs associated
with this priority. Announcement of this priority will not result in
costs to State and local governments, recipients of grant funds, or to
individuals with disabilities and their families. The benefit from this
priority will be to focus activities and Federal assistance on
increasing competitive employment outcomes for individuals with
disabilities who are participants in public support programs through
enhanced collaboration and coordination.
The Secretary has also determined that this regulatory action does
not unduly interfere with State, local, and tribal governments in the
exercise of their governmental functions.
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.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(b)(3).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.811A, Systems-
Change Projects to Expand Employment Opportunities for Individuals
With Mental or Physical Disabilities, or Both, Who Receive Public
Support)
Dated: July 1, 1998.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 98-18057 Filed 7-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
