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# U.S. Department of Education Awards Nearly $199 Million to Improve Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities Through Partnerships

# U.S. Department of Education Awards Nearly $199 Million to Improve Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities Through Partnerships

September 15, 2023

**Contact:  **press@ed.gov

                                    -        
The U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)  announced today it will fund 20 model demonstration projects focused on  improving economic self-sufficiency for children and youth with disabilities by  creating systemic approaches to enhance post-school outcomes.

The nearly $199  million in funding for the Pathways to Partnerships innovative model  demonstration project supports collaborative partnerships between state  vocational rehabilitation agencies, state and local educational agencies, and  federally funded centers for independent living to help individuals with  disabilities seamlessly transition to life after high school, preparing them  for independent living, competitive integrated employment and community  integration. Pathways to Partnerships is the largest discretionary grant ever  administered by RSA.

“The Department is committed to providing children and  youth with disabilities the supports they need to access self-advocacy  training, career pathways and independent living. The Pathways to Partnerships  will bridge gaps from school to adult life, independent living, and career  success,” said Glenna Wright-Gallo, Assistant Secretary for the Office of  Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), which oversees RSA.  “This investment will not only require state and local agencies to improve  outcomes for individuals with disabilities by finding innovative ways of  working together, but it will also look to unlock post school and career  success for those individuals.”

Pathways to Partnerships, part of the Disability Innovation Fund program aimed at  increasing for youth and other individuals with disabilities, serves as a step  to improving economic self-sufficiency and decreasing the unemployment disparity between youth without  disabilities and youth with disabilities.

This announcement builds on a key component of the  Department’s “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” initiative to support individuals  from underserved communities, ensure every student has a pathway to college or a career, and improve transition services for students with  disabilities.

The Department awarded recipients of the Pathways to  Partnership grants the full funding for a five-year project period – meaning  successful applicants receive all project funds at the beginning of year one.  Through the five-year project period, award recipients will pilot, refine and  implement their proposed projects while also collecting and analyzing project  data.

The following agencies received Pathways to Partnerships  innovative model demonstration project funding:

**State**

**Agency**

**Funding    Level**

**Alaska**

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

$10,000,000

**Arkansas**

Arkansas Department of Education/ Division of    Elementary and Secondary Education

$9,913,236

**Colorado**

Colorado Labor & Employment, Division of Vocational    Rehabilitation

$14,116,234.89

**Connecticut**

Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability    Services/Bureau of Rehabilitation Services

$10,000,000

**Georgia**

Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency

$10,588,912

**Idaho**

Idaho State Department of Education/Special Education

$9,798,372.94

**Illinois**

Illinois Department of Human Services/  Division    of Rehabilitation Services

$10,000,000

**Kansas**

Kansas Department of Education/Division of Learning    Services

$8,442,103

**Kentucky**

Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Special    Education and Early Learning

$9,942,934

**Louisiana**

Louisiana Department of Education

$10,000,000

**Maine**

Maine Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

$7,632,256

**Maryland**

Maryland State Department of Education/ Rehabilitation    Services

$9,989,423

**New    Jersey**

New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special    Education

$8,667,855

**New    Mexico**

New Mexico Public Education Department, Office of    Inclusive Education

$9,943,500

**Nevada**

Nevada Department of Education/Office of Inclusive    Education

$9,964,894.81

**Oklahoma**

Oklahoma State Department of Education

$9,992,898

**Pennsylvania**

Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry/Office of    Vocational Rehabilitation

$9,990,688.97

**South    Carolina**

South Carolina Department of Education

$9,992,013

**Vermont**

Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging, and    Independent Living/Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired

$10,000,000

**Wyoming**

Wyoming Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

$10,000,000

 

Visit rsa.ed.gov to learn more about each model  demonstration projects.
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