Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for State Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by sections 101(a) and 606 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA.
h. Waiver of Statewideness.
The State plan shall be in effect in all political subdivisions of the State, however, the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (Commissioner) may waive compliance with this requirement in accordance with Section 101(a)(4) of the Rehabilitation Act and the implementing regulations in 34 C.F.R. § 361.26. If the VR agency is requesting a waiver of statewideness or has a previously approved waiver of statewideness, describe the types of services and the local entities providing such services under the waiver of statewideness and how the agency has complied with the requirements in 34 C.F.R. § 361.26. If the VR agency is not requesting or does not have an approved waiver of statewideness, please indicate “not applicable.”
Current Narrative:
Louisiana Rehabilitation Services is requesting approval for a waiver of statewideness in accordance with 34 CFR Section 361.26 for the following Third Party Cooperative Arrangements: LRS has fifteen (15) Third Party Cooperative Arrangements (TPCA’s) established with the following school districts and charter schools: Bossier, DeSoto, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Livingston, Natchitoches, Iberia, Calcasieu, Sci Academy, Livingston Collegiate, GW Carver, Collegiate Baton Rouge, Educators for Quality Alternatives, and Rosenwald Collegiate. Transition Specialists are funded through these arrangements to provide the required Pre-Employment Transition Services to students with disabilities within their school or school district.
All Vocational Rehabilitation services provided under this waiver are specified in the Third Party Cooperative Arrangement contract. Services are not initiated until the consumer has been approved by the Rehabilitation Counselor for services and required services documented on either the Pre-Employment Transition Services application or an approved VR Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE).
The Third Party Cooperative Arrangement (TPCA) Contractors assure that all State Plan requirements, including the potentially eligible Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) or Order of Selection will apply to all individuals receiving services through the agreement. Currently, all TPCAs are for the provision of Pre-Employment Transition Services. TPCAs are monitored monthly to determine that students meet the definition of a student with a disability and services provided meet the definition of Pre-Employment Transition Services required activities. TPCA contractors are required to provide monthly invoices and supporting documentation (Attendance and Progress Reports). TPCA contractors are monitored annually to insure they are meeting all contract deliverables. Regional Managers, District Supervisors, Rehabilitation Counselors and Rehabilitation Counselor Associates assure VR service requirements are met according to the LRS Technical Assistance and Guidance Manual procedures written and updated by LRS State Office personnel and monitored by LRS Quality Assurance division.