Title 34—Education--Volume 1
PART 387—INNOVATIVE REHABILITATION TRAINING
§ 387.1   What is the Innovative Rehabilitation Training program?
This program is designed—
(a) To develop new types of training programs for rehabilitation personnel and to demonstrate the effectiveness of these new types of training programs for rehabilitation personnel in providing rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities;
(b) To develop new and improved methods of training rehabilitation personnel so that there may be a more effective delivery of rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities by designated State rehabilitation agencies and designated State rehabilitation units or other public or non-profit rehabilitation service agencies or organizations; and
(c) To develop new innovative training programs for vocational rehabilitation professionals and paraprofessionals to have a 21st century understanding of the evolving labor force and the needs of individuals with disabilities so they can more effectively provide vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities.
§ 387.2   Who is eligible for assistance under this program?
Those agencies and organizations eligible for assistance under this program are described in 34 CFR 385.2.
§ 387.3   What regulations apply to this program?
(a) 34 CFR part 385 (Rehabilitation Training); and
(b) The regulations in this part 387.
§ 387.4   What definitions apply to this program?
The definitions in 34 CFR part 385 apply to this program.
§ 387.5   What types of projects are authorized under this program?
The Innovative Rehabilitation Training Program supports time-limited pilot projects through which new types of rehabilitation workers may be trained or through which innovative methods of training rehabilitation personnel may be demonstrated.
§ 387.30   What additional selection criteria are used under this program?
In addition to the criteria in 34 CFR 385.31(c), the Secretary uses the following additional selection criteria to evaluate an application:
(a) Relevance to State-Federal rehabilitation service program. (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows that the proposed project appropriately relates to the mission of the State-Federal rehabilitation service program.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows that the project can be expected either—
(i) To increase the supply of trained personnel available to public and private agencies involved in the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities; or
(ii) To maintain and improve the skills and quality of rehabilitation personnel.
(b) Nature and scope of curriculum. (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that demonstrates the adequacy and scope of the proposed curriculum.
(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows that—
(i) The scope and nature of the training content can be expected to enable the achievement of the established project objectives of the training project;
(ii) The curriculum and teaching methods provide for an integration of theory and practice relevant to the educational objectives of the program;
(iii) There is evidence of educationally focused practicum or other field experiences in settings that assure student involvement in the provision of vocational rehabilitation or independent living rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with significant disabilities; and
(iv) The didactic coursework includes student exposure to vocational rehabilitation processes, concepts, programs, and services.
§ 387.40   What are the matching requirements?
A grantee must contribute to the cost of a project under this program in an amount satisfactory to the Secretary. The part of the costs to be borne by the grantee is determined by the Secretary at the time of the grant award.
§ 387.41   What are allowable costs?
In addition to those allowable costs established under 34 CFR 75.530-75.562, the following items are allowable under Innovative Rehabilitation training projects—
(a) Student stipends;
(b) Tuition and fees; and
(c) Student travel in conjunction with training assignments.