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.
- j. Coordination with Education Officials.
In accordance with the requirements in Section 101(a)(11)(D) of the Rehabilitation Act—
- j. Coordination with Education Officials.
j. 1. Describe plans, policies, and procedures for coordination between the designated State agency and education officials responsible for the public education of students with disabilities, that are designed to facilitate the transition of the students with disabilities from the receipt of educational services in school to the receipt of vocational rehabilitation services, including pre-employment transition services.
Current Narrative:
LRS engages with the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) which are routinely reviewed, updated, and renewed. These instruments allow for exchange of records and information for mutually served students/consumers, LRS staff to meet with potential and current consumers in the school setting for the provision of Pre-Employment Transition Services, and to educate students and parents on the programs offered by LRS. If a School Board expresses interest in a Third-Party Cooperative Arrangement with LRS for the provision of Pre-Employment Transition Services, literature explaining the federal requirements is provided, or a presentation is conducted conveying this information with questions posed by the Board being answered directly.
The MOU does not reduce the obligation under IDEA, or LEA, or any other agency to provide or pay for transition services, including pre-employment transition services, that are also considered to be special education or related services necessary for a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in accordance with Section 101 of the Rehabilitation Act and 34 CFR 361.22(c). The LDOE and LEA will use appropriate federal, state, and local funds for the provision of educational services on the approved Individualized Educational Plan that relates directly to the achievement of the agreed upon educational goal.