21278 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 78 / Friday, April 23, 2010 / Notices 

Dated: April 20, 2010. 

Alexa Posny, 

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services. 

[FR Doc. 2010–9508 Filed 4–22–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

National Institute on Disability and 

Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)— 

Disability and Rehabilitation Research 

Projects and Centers Program— 

Rehabilitation Research and Training 

Centers (RRTCs)—Individual-Level 

Characteristics Related to Employment 

Among Individuals With Disabilities 

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

(CFDA) Number: 84.133B–1. 

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services, Department of 

Education. 

ACTION: Notice of final priority. 

SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for 

Special Education and Rehabilitative 

Services announces a priority for the 

Disability and Rehabilitation Research 

Projects and Centers Program 

administered by NIDRR. Specifically, 

this notice announces a priority for an 

RRTC on Individual-Level 

Characteristics Related to Employment 

Among Individuals with Disabilities. 

The Assistant Secretary may use this 

priority for competitions in fiscal year 

(FY) 2010 and later years. We take this 

action to focus research attention on 

areas of national need. We intend for 

this priority to improve rehabilitation 

services and outcomes for individuals 

with disabilities. 

DATES: Effective Date: This priority is 

effective May 24, 2010. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Donna Nangle, U.S. Department of 

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 

room 5142, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), 

Washington, DC 20202–2700. 

Telephone: (202) 245–7462 or by e-mail: 

donna.nangle@ed.gov. 

If you use a telecommunications 

device for the deaf (TDD), call the 

Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 

1–800–877–8339. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

This notice of final priority is in 

concert with NIDRR’s Final Long-Range 

Plan for FY 2005–2009 (Plan). The Plan, 

which was published in the Federal 

Register on February 15, 2006 (71 FR 

8165), can be accessed on the Internet 

at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/ 

about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/ 

policy.html. 

Through the implementation of the 

Plan, NIDRR seeks to: (1) Improve the 

quality and utility of disability and 

rehabilitation research; (2) foster an 

exchange of expertise, information, and 

training to facilitate the advancement of 

knowledge and understanding of the 

unique needs of traditionally 

underserved populations; (3) determine 

best strategies and programs to improve 

rehabilitation outcomes for underserved 

populations; (4) identify research gaps; 

(5) identify mechanisms of integrating 

research and practice; and (6) 

disseminate findings. 

Purpose of Program: The purpose of 

the Disability and Rehabilitation 

Research Projects and Centers Program 

is to plan and conduct research, 

demonstration projects, training, and 

related activities, including 

international activities, to develop 

methods, procedures, and rehabilitation 

technology, that maximize the full 

inclusion and integration into society, 

employment, independent living, family 

support, and economic and social selfsufficiency of individuals with 

disabilities, especially individuals with 

the most severe disabilities, and to 

improve the effectiveness of services 

authorized under the Rehabilitation Act 

of 1973, as amended. 

RRTC Program 

The purpose of the RRTC program is 

to improve the effectiveness of services 

authorized under the Rehabilitation Act 

of 1973, as amended, through advanced 

research, training, technical assistance, 

and dissemination activities in general 

problem areas, as specified by NIDRR. 

Such activities are designed to benefit 

rehabilitation service providers, 

individuals with disabilities, and the 

family members or other authorized 

representatives of individuals with 

disabilities. In addition, NIDRR intends 

to require all RRTC applicants to meet 

the requirements of the General 

Rehabilitation Research and Training 

Centers (RRTC) Requirements priority 

that it published in a notice of final 

priorities in the Federal Register on 

February 1, 2008 (73 FR 6132). 

Additional information on the RRTC 

program can be found at: http:// 

www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/resprogram.html#RRTC. 

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements 

of RRTCs 

RRTCs must— 

• Carry out coordinated advanced 

programs of rehabilitation research; 

• Provide training, including 

graduate, pre-service, and in-service 

training, to help rehabilitation 

personnel more effectively provide 

rehabilitation services to individuals 

with disabilities; 

• Provide technical assistance to 

individuals with disabilities, their 

representatives, providers, and other 

interested parties; 

• Disseminate informational materials 

to individuals with disabilities, their 

representatives, providers, and other 

interested parties; and 

• Serve as centers of national 

excellence in rehabilitation research for 

individuals with disabilities, their 

representatives, providers, and other 

interested parties. 

Applicants for RRTC grants must also 

demonstrate in their applications how 

they will address, in whole or in part, 

the needs of individuals with 

disabilities from minority backgrounds. 

Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) 

and 764(b)(2). 

Applicable Program Regulations: 34 

CFR part 350. 

We published a notice of proposed 

priority (NPP) for NIDRR’s Disability 

and Rehabilitation Research Projects 

and Centers Program in the Federal 

Register on December 18, 2009 (74 FR 

67186). The NPP included a background 

statement that described our rationale 

for the priority proposed in that notice. 

There are no differences between the 

NPP and this notice of final priority 

(NFP) as discussed in the following 

section. 

Public Comment: In response to our 

invitation in the NPP, three parties 

submitted comments on the proposed 

priority. An analysis of the comments 

and of any changes in the priority since 

publication of the NPP follows. 

Generally, we do not address 

technical and other minor changes, or 

suggested changes the law does not 

authorize us to make under the 

applicable statutory authority. In 

addition, we do not address general 

comments that raised concerns not 

directly related to the proposed priority. 

Analysis of Comments and Changes 

Comment: One commenter 

recommended that NIDRR award grants 

to applicants who propose research that 

will contribute to the improvement of 

rehabilitation programs for underserved 

populations. This commenter also 

suggested that NIDRR select applicants 

who clearly identify robust methods for 

research and practice. 

Discussion: NIDRR agrees that the 

research funded under this priority 

should contribute to improved 

employment practices for underserved 

populations. We have structured the 

requirements of this priority with the 

aim of identifying individuals with 

disabilities who are at risk for poor 

employment outcomes and generating 

new knowledge that can be used to 

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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 78 / Friday, April 23, 2010 / Notices 21279 

improve their outcomes. Some 

individuals with disabilities who are at 

risk for poor employment outcomes will 

undoubtedly have been individuals who 

were underserved. Activities under 

paragraph (b) of the priority are 

intended to generate new knowledge 

about the populations of individuals 

with disabilities who have the poorest 

employment outcomes. Activities under 

paragraph (c) of the priority, in 

particular, are intended to generate new 

knowledge about the barriers to, and 

facilitators of, employment experienced 

by these subpopulations, and activities 

under paragraph (d) are intended to 

promote the incorporation of these 

research findings into practice or policy. 

NIDRR also agrees that robust 

methods for research in this area are 

critical. The peer review process will 

determine the merits of each proposal 

and will take into consideration the 

applicant’s proposed research methods. 

Changes: None. 

Comment: One commenter stated that 

the priority should include a focus on 

best practices for assisting individuals 

with disabilities to transition from 

school to employment. 

Discussion: NIDRR agrees that 

identifying effective practices to 

improve the transition from school to 

employment for individuals with 

disabilities is an important area for 

research. However, this priority was 

developed to generate broad knowledge 

about employment outcomes among a 

variety of subpopulations of individuals 

with disabilities. It is not the purpose of 

this priority to focus on the transition 

from school to employment, in 

particular, or on transition-age youth 

with disabilities. That said, research 

conducted under paragraphs (a) and (b) 

of the priority may demonstrate that 

transition-age youth have poor 

employment outcomes relative to other 

subpopulations and therefore require 

greater research attention. Thus, while 

NIDRR declines to require all applicants 

to focus on transition-age youth with 

disabilities, it is possible for an 

applicant’s proposal to include such a 

focus. The peer review process will 

determine the merits of each proposal. 

Changes: None. 

Comment: One commenter 

recommended that the priority focus on 

the interactions between the person and 

the environment that lead to 

employment outcomes and that the title 

of the priority be changed to reflect this 

focus. 

Discussion: Paragraph (c) of the 

priority requires the RRTC to investigate 

barriers to, and facilitators of, 

employment for subpopulations of 

individuals who are at risk for poor 

employment outcomes. Barriers to, and 

facilitators of, employment are likely to 

be found at both the individual level 

and in the environment. Paragraph (c) of 

the priority provides examples of 

environmental-level barriers to, and 

facilitators of, employment, such as 

availability of transportation, social 

support, and employer practices. 

Nothing in this priority precludes 

applicants from proposing methods for 

gathering and analyzing data in ways 

that emphasize how experiences of 

environmental factors at the individual 

level influence employment 

opportunities and outcomes. However, 

NIDRR’s focus in this priority is on 

individual-level characteristics related 

to employment of individuals with 

disabilities, which is a broader focus 

than simply examining the interactions 

between the person and the 

environment. Therefore, NIDRR 

declines to change the title as suggested 

by the commenter. 

Changes: None. 

Comment: One commenter suggested 

that the priority include a focus on the 

effects of community-level factors that 

affect employment outcomes for 

individuals with disabilities, including 

research on community-level 

interventions. 

Discussion: The priority requires the 

RRTC to collect and analyze individuallevel data about barriers to, and 

facilitators of, employment for 

individuals at risk for poor employment 

outcomes. Nothing in the priority 

precludes collection of data about 

community-level barriers to, or 

facilitators of, employment experienced 

by individuals with disabilities. 

Changes: None. 

Final Priority 

The Assistant Secretary for Special 

Education and Rehabilitative Services 

announces a priority for a Rehabilitation 

Research and Training Center (RRTC) on 

Individual-Level Characteristics Related 

to Employment Among Individuals with 

Disabilities. This RRTC must identify 

subpopulations of individuals with 

disabilities who are at risk of poor 

employment outcomes, and document 

the barriers to, and facilitators of, 

employment that these subgroups 

experience. This new knowledge is 

intended to serve as a foundation for 

future interventions research that will 

target those who are most at risk of poor 

employment outcomes. The RRTC must 

be designed to contribute to the 

following outcomes: 

(a) A synthesis of available knowledge 

about employment disparities among 

subpopulations of individuals with 

disabilities. The RRTC must contribute 

to this outcome by conducting a review 

and synthesis of existing research on 

individual-level characteristics related 

to successful and poor employment 

outcomes among individuals with 

disabilities. Such individual-level 

characteristics may include, but are not 

limited to, the following: Disabling 

condition, severity of disability, age, 

gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic 

status, education level, and urban/rural 

status. Successful and poor employment 

outcomes may be measured by the 

following indicators: An individual’s 

employment status (e.g., employed, 

unemployed, underemployed), income, 

and job retention or promotion. The 

RRTC must complete this activity by the 

end of the first year of the grant. 

(b) New knowledge about the 

individual-level characteristics that are 

most strongly associated with 

employment-related outcome variables 

among individuals with disabilities. The 

RRTC must contribute to this outcome 

by conducting research on the extent to 

which employment of individuals with 

disabilities is related to individual-level 

characteristics. This research must 

include, but is not limited to, 

multivariate analyses of existing 

national datasets. Analyses of existing 

data must examine possible variations 

of employment, including full- or parttime work, self-employment, and 

industry sector. The RRTC must 

complete this activity by the end of the 

second year of the grant. 

(c) New knowledge of the 

employment experiences of individuals 

who are at risk of poor employment 

outcomes. The RRTC must contribute to 

this outcome by collecting and 

analyzing information from members of 

subpopulations identified under 

paragraphs (a) and (b) of this priority. 

The RRTC must collect individual-level 

data about the barriers to, and 

facilitators of, employment that 

members of these subpopulations have 

experienced (e.g., the availability of 

transportation to and from work, social 

support, workplace accommodations, 

and employer practices). 

(d) Increased incorporation of 

disability and employment research 

findings into practice or policy. The 

RRTC must contribute to this outcome 

by: 

(1) Collaborating with stakeholder 

groups to develop, evaluate, or 

implement strategies to promote 

utilization of the RRTC’s research 

findings. 

(2) Conducting training and 

dissemination activities to facilitate the 

utilization of the RRTC’s research 

findings by individuals with 

disabilities, employers, policymakers, 

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21280 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 78 / Friday, April 23, 2010 / Notices 

and State vocational rehabilitation 

agencies. 

In addition, this RRTC must 

collaborate with relevant Rehabilitation 

Services Administration grantees, such 

as the 10 regional Technical Assistance 

and Continuing Education projects. 

Types of Priorities 

When inviting applications for a 

competition using one or more 

priorities, we designate the type of each 

priority as absolute, competitive 

preference, or invitational through a 

notice in the Federal Register. The 

effect of each type of priority follows: 

Absolute priority: Under an absolute 

priority, we consider only applications 

that meet the priority (34 CFR 

75.105(c)(3)). 

Competitive preference priority: 

Under a competitive preference priority, 

we give competitive preference to an 

application by (1) awarding additional 

points, depending on the extent to 

which the application meets the priority 

(34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting 

an application that meets the priority 

over an application of comparable merit 

that does not meet the priority (34 CFR 

75.105(c)(2)(ii)). 

Invitational priority: Under an 

invitational priority, we are particularly 

interested in applications that meet the 

priority. However, we do not give an 

application that meets the priority a 

preference over other applications (34 

CFR 75.105(c)(1)). 

This notice does not preclude us from 

proposing additional priorities, 

requirements, definitions, or selection 

criteria, subject to meeting applicable 

rulemaking requirements. 

Note: This notice does not solicit 

applications. In any year in which we choose 

to use this priority, we invite applications 

through a notice in the Federal Register. 

Executive Order 12866: This notice 

has been reviewed in accordance with 

Executive Order 12866. Under the terms 

of the order, we have assessed the 

potential costs and benefits of this final 

regulatory action. 

The potential costs associated with 

this final regulatory action are those 

resulting from statutory requirements 

and those we have determined as 

necessary for administering this 

program effectively and efficiently. 

In assessing the potential costs and 

benefits—both quantitative and 

qualitative—of this final regulatory 

action, we have determined that the 

benefits of the final priority justify the 

costs. 

Discussion of Costs and Benefits 

The benefits of the Disability and 

Rehabilitation Research Projects and 

Centers Programs have been well 

established over the years in that similar 

projects have been completed 

successfully. This final priority will 

generate new knowledge through 

research and development. 

Another benefit of this final priority is 

that the establishment of a new RRTC 

will improve the lives of individuals 

with disabilities. The new RRTC will 

disseminate and promote the use of new 

information that will improve the 

options for individuals with disabilities 

to obtain, retain, and advance in 

employment. 

Accessible Format: Individuals with 

disabilities can obtain this document in 

an accessible format (e.g., braille, large 

print, audiotape, or computer diskette) 

by contacting the Grants and Contracts 

Services Team, U.S. Department of 

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 

room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC 

20202–2550. Telephone: (202) 245– 

7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, 

toll-free, at 1–800–877–8339. 

Electronic Access to this Document: 

You can view this document, as well as 

all other documents of this Department 

published in the Federal Register, in 

text or Adobe Portable Document 

Format (PDF) on the Internet at the 

following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/ 

fedregister. To use PDF you must have 

Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is 

available free at this site. 

Note: The official version of this document 

is the document published in the Federal 

Register. Free Internet access to the official 

edition of the Federal Register and the Code 

of Federal Regulations is available on GPO 

Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/ 

index.html. 

Dated: April 20, 2010. 

Alexa Posny, 

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 

Rehabilitative Services. 

[FR Doc. 2010–9506 Filed 4–22–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

National Advisory Committee on 

Institutional Quality and Integrity 

(NACIQI) Meeting 

AGENCY: National Advisory Committee 

on Institutional Quality and Integrity, 

Office of Postsecondary Education, 

Department of Education. 

What is the purpose of this notice? 

The purpose of this notice is two-fold. 

It is to: 

(1) Announce the public meeting of 

the NACIQI to be held TuesdayThursday, September 14–16, 2010, in 

Washington, D.C., at the U.S. 

Department of Education, which is 

predicated on the appointment of 

members prior to that date; and 

(2) Invite written comments 

concerning the recognition of any 

agency published in this notice. 

This notice presents the proposed 

meeting agenda and informs the public 

of its opportunity to attend this meeting. 

The notice of this meeting is required 

under section 10(a)(2) of the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act, section 

114(d)(1)(B) of the Higher Education 

Opportunity Act, and section 

114(d)(1)(B) and (D) of the Higher 

Education Act, as amended. 

In all instances, written comments 

about agencies seeking initial 

recognition, continued recognition, and/ 

or an expansion of an agency’s scope of 

recognition must relate to the Criteria 

for Recognition found at section 496 of 

the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 

amended, and 34 CFR parts 602 and 

603. In addition, comments for any 

agency whose interim report/ 

compliance report is proposed for 

review must relate to the issues raised 

within the letter that requested the 

report. 

When and where will the meeting take 

place? 

Depending on when the appointment 

of members is made to the NACIQI, the 

public meeting will be held on TuesdayThursday, September 14–16, 2010, from 

8:30 a.m. until approximately 5:00 p.m., 

at the U.S. Department of Education, 

Eighth Floor Conference Center, 1990 K 

Street, NW., Washington, DC. 

What assistance will be provided to 

individuals with disabilities? 

The meeting site is accessible to 

individuals with disabilities. If you will 

need an auxiliary aid or service to 

participate in the meeting (e.g., 

interpreting service, assistive listening 

device, or materials in an alternate 

format), contact Melissa Lewis at 

melissa.lewis@ed.gov at least four weeks 

before the scheduled meeting date. 

Although we will attempt to meet a 

request received after that date, we may 

not be able to make available the 

requested auxiliary aid or service 

because of insufficient time to arrange 

it. 

What is the role of the NACIQI? 

The NACIQI is established under 

Section 114 of the Higher Education Act 

(HEA), as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1011c. 

Congress created NACIQI to assess the 

process of accreditation and the 

institutional eligibility and certification 

of institutions of higher education under 

Title IV of the HEA. 

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